Watchtower announces new international conventions while “downsizing” district conventions for 2014

Watchtower has announced a lucrative new round of international conventions for 2014/2015 as news is leaked that district conventions will be scaled down next year

Watchtower has started recruiting delegates for a fresh round of international conventions in 2014/2015, to be held in eight countries. (To skip straight to the details, please click here) But the news follows revelations that regular district conventions in the USA for next year will undergo drastic cutbacks.

A local newspaper in the State of Washington seems to have inadvertently leaked information related to a surprising shift in strategy on the part of Watchtower for conventions in 2014, and possibly beyond.

Owners of a convention venue in Washington have been informed by Watchtower that no convention will be booked for next year due to “consolidation.”

Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau in Kennewick, told the Tri-City Herald, “What they told me is the decision has been made nationally to downsize the number of conventions from 400 to 100. They’re simply consolidating.”

For some time now it has been rumored in online Witness circles that District Conventions will either be reduced in scope or phased out entirely as the organization continues to downsize. Although it is unclear precisely how Watchtower plans to slash 400 conventions down to 100, this revelation would certainly seem to indicate that drastic changes are afoot – at least in America, if not further afield.

Interestingly, the Tri-City Herald reporter failed in attempts to verify the development with Watchtower officials. “Multiple calls Thursday to the Jehovah’s Witnesses were not returned,” said the reporter, Loretto J. Hulse.

Despite being alerted to this change in strategy, Tri-Cities CEO Kris Watkins apparently remains hopeful that Watchtower will be returning to book her venue in 2015. “We were surprised, but not shocked. They’ve done this in the past,” she said. “It’s one of the larger groups to come to the Tri-Cities and really does affect many levels of our economy — retail shopping, hotels, dining, sightseeing. All those activities have a major impact.”

While it may be true that Watchtower has switched its local convention arrangements in the past, it certainly isn’t true that Watchtower is in the regular habit of scaling down conventions in America from 400 to 100. In fact, it’s unheard of. Watkins’ optimism that Watchtower will return in the near future to boost the local economy once more is therefore likely misplaced.

Why the changes?

Precise reasons for the change will always be speculative, but clues may be found in Watkins’ use of the words “downsize” and “consolidating.” It goes without saying that third-party convention venues are enormously expensive to rent. Though many see district conventions as money-spinners for the Society due to the three-day influx of donations, it may well be that the proceeds are either struggling to meet overheads or are otherwise failing to provide a justifiable profit margin for Watchtower. If that is the case, reducing venue rental costs would certainly make sense.

Nevertheless, the hinted changes leave many questions. For example, how can Watchtower slash 3 in 4 conventions next year, but still provide a convention program for more than 1.2 million American publishers and their families? Will Watchtower-owned circuit assembly facilities be utilized? If so, how will the Society justify calling these makeshift events “district conventions” when the program will be heard by, in most cases, a radically smaller local audience? And will these changes affect America alone, or other countries too?

Doubtless we will learn more details as future announcements are made, although it is unlikely that Watchtower will ever openly admit to changes being necessitated by financial difficulties. As evidenced by the recent spate of branch closures, ostensibly due to “improvements in communications and printing technology,” Watchtower is able to put a positive spin on almost every setback.

 

International Conventions for 2014/15 announced

Even if plans for district conventions in America in 2014 are currently something of a mystery, JWsurvey can reveal that Watchtower is well underway in its recruitment drive for next year’s International Conventions.

In a letter dated July 30, 2013 (addressed to all service committees in the United States branch territory), elders have received detailed instructions for those wishing to apply for next year’s events, which are to be held in the following cities…

  • Melbourne, Australia – October 2014
  • London, England – August 2014
  • Quito, Ecuador – January 2015
  • Frankfurt, Germany – July 2014
  • Athens, Greece – June 2014
  • Seoul, Korea – September 2014
  • Mexico City, Mexico – November 2014
  • Harare, Zimbabwe – August 2014

Prudence, or discrimination?

Of particular note in the instructions for new applicants is the insistence that those with significant health difficulties should not apply as delegates. As the letter to elders states on the first page…

“We ask that the elders be very open with those who are not in good health or are dependent on another person to function. If a person has poor health or frailties due to age or some other handicap, it is best to inform him that he should not apply. In the past, applications have been received from individuals with serious sight or hearing limitations not corrected by glasses or hearing aids. Others suffered from severe obesity and could not walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time. In such cases, long trips under difficult physical conditions could prove harmful to the person’s health and may also adversely impact the activities of other delegates. Therefore, all applicants are encouraged to give serious and prayerful consideration to their health limitations and personal safety before applying to become a delegate.”

Disabled publishers who want to attend the international conventions could find themselves subject to discrimination

It is understandable that the rigours of travel require that international convention delegates must have some degree of autonomy if they are to be considered for selection on an individual basis. Even so, the array of physical ailments considered prohibitive by Watchtower does seem overly restrictive, to the point of being discriminatory in some cases.

For example, if you are a deaf publisher who wants to attend an international convention simply to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the association, even if you cannot get the full benefit of the program, based on the above directions you could find yourself being dissuaded from applying by your elders.

And if you are a wheelchair user there is no way you will be allowed to go, no matter how independent you are. The “Applicant Instructions” document to be issued to all interested in attending stipulates: “All applicants should be in good health and not in need of the assistance of someone else, nor dependent on a wheelchair, an auxiliary oxygen supply, or similar health-related devices.” Surely Watchtower should not be arranging these events if they are not available to all, including those with disabilities?

Exemplary publishers only

Another intriguing feature of the instructions is that, as in previous years, selection is to be based on a publisher being considered “exemplary” by his elders. Approval to attend an international convention may even be withdrawn if the delegate loses this status, including up to the day of departure!

“If an individual selected to attend a special convention loses his exemplary status and is no longer qualified to attend, the delegate should be thoroughly informed of the reason for your decision. Such a person would be fully responsible for any financial loss associated with his abrupt disqualification as a delegate, even up to the time he was supposed to depart.”

It is remarkable to think that, having donated hundreds if not thousands of dollars to Watchtower in order to attend an international convention, a publisher can still be blocked from going if he is stripped of his “exemplary status” without being able to claim a refund. This direction flies in the face of Christ’s words at Mark 2:17, where he said, “Those who are strong do not need a physician, but those who are ill do. I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.”

Convention accommodation cover-up?

Finally, one more strange feature of the instructions to elders relates to accommodation. As indicated, in order to become an official Watchtower delegate to an international convention, you need to part with hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending on where you are travelling to or from, and the grade of hotel you are staying in. This money is paid straight to Watchtower, who takes a sizeable cut before paying all your travel and hotel expenses themselves at a heavily discounted bulk purchase rate.

Now it seems Watchtower is prepared to let “longtime, faithful servants” with limited funds attend, but they don’t want everyone to know about it!

The bold and underlining in the following quote are the same as in the original letter…

Special rooming: Confidentially, we will be asking the host branch office to poll local brothers to determine if some might be able to provide limited rooming provisions in private homes. This information is not to be made known to the applicants in general. However, if the elders are aware of a longtime, faithful servant, perhaps with many years of full-time service, who is not able to fully finance such a trip, he could be encouraged to apply and the secretary can check the box on the electronic jw.org application that this delegate qualifies for the special rooming provision, if available.”

Jesus condemned those who seek to profit from worship of God

Though it is commendable that special allowances are being made for delegates who are not able to “fully finance” their attendance, it is astonishing that these provisions are to be kept secret from ordinary congregation members.

The only conceivable reason for withholding such information is because Watchtower wants to receive as much money as possible from those wealthy enough to bear the full cost, and seeks to give the impression that those without money cannot attend, when in truth they are admitting that it IS possible for arrangements to be made without hotels if sufficient organizational effort is put forth.

The whole thing smacks of the incident in Matthew 21:12 when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and traders who were profiting from those coming to worship at the temple. International Conventions are big business for Watchtower and an ingenious means of generating a large amount of income from a core customer base of wealthy publishers. The fact that deception is now being employed to yield maximum profits will not bode well with most sincere Witnesses who learn of this subterfuge.

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading…

112 thoughts on “Watchtower announces new international conventions while “downsizing” district conventions for 2014

  • November 3, 2013 at 12:32 pm
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    skally says:

    On November 3, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    “Case in point, the above post went through, no glitch. What gives?”

    @ Skally ~ There are very tight spam filters on this site in which case you will usually be notified that it is being moderated but if you get no notification and the page flashes and reloads? We can pretty much figure it was hijacked and redirected by our hacker friends at the Society in which case Cedars may, usually still gets a copy (to give the appearance of normalcy I suppose) but it won’t post!

  • November 3, 2013 at 12:53 pm
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    @ Skally ~ “We would her JudgeJudy because of the caustic way she dealt with anyone who was an opposer”

    The use of operatives and planted reps by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society on the Internet is nothing new by a longshot and in fact the JWforum on topix. com was set up as a puppet site by the Society for that very purpose…

  • November 4, 2013 at 9:26 am
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    @JBob,

    And also, (Now that there are hopefully no one(s) commissioned to or deliberately attempting to divert attention away from this thread and derail it…)
    The Watchtower spawned all of the Bible Student organizations that are still in existence today in some form or another after the 1919 purging and house cleaning during that same time as well so all was not well… which by the way, was a nasty affair in which Rutherford employed the police and violence! In spite of the propaganda, they are very much alive and active as various Bible Student Churches and Societies although they may have changed names to evade their past and association…some still actually use Russell’s books still!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Student_movement

  • November 4, 2013 at 9:28 am
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    Also this as just one:
    [Evangelical link removed – Konrad, you know the drill. Don’t let me down!]

  • November 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
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    Sorry, I thought it was more academic in this case…

    • November 4, 2013 at 10:16 am
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      It’s ok, I understand. :)

  • November 4, 2013 at 11:30 am
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    @nicole, I believe Jesus had the infirm on cots/beds lowered down to him? Suffer the little children come unto me..

    Perhaps some of the wheelchair bound simply want to touch the hem of the GB’s garments? I dunno–just a thought.. just a thought..

    And, if anyone had an excuse to ban the infirm because they were “holding Him back” it would be the “I’m-on-an-urgent-mission-from-God-because-I’m-the-Divine-Son-of-God” Jesus, no? Yet, suffer the children come unto me, touch the hem of my garment, and lower the infirm to me..

  • November 26, 2013 at 1:32 am
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    Dear or dear, a lot of angry hogwash has been written pursuant to my comments. For the record, I live in Australia not Canada. My daughter lives in Canada. Re the 2014 international conventions: it is not just about attending the convention – there is an itinerary to visit places attached to the invitation, as part of a package. Common sense should prevail here not emotional outbursts decrying the Society at every turn.

  • December 19, 2013 at 4:49 am
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    I inadvertently clicked onto this page and what a laugh I had!
    What a pack of lies, any real Jehovah’s witness would know that no-one is discouraged from coming to the conventions. If anyone is unable for health reasons then the genuine program recording is made available to them, not one of the apostate altered ones either that seem to circulate following conventions designed to unsettle weak ones.
    If anyone is deaf, then specific signing areas are provided.
    Yes, i heard the letter being read out in our congregation, and the edited version that is written out here is not that letter. However there was a mention to the whole congregation that those with health issues that demand dedicated the care of others which may put an unnecessary burden on others may wish to consider attending a local convention.
    As for consolidation, what a sensible idea! No sense wasting money is there. For instance we are now consolidated with another district meaning that now we have a fuller undercover convention rather than two half full stadia which are outside. This website is clearly apostate, listen to the tone, highly critical of the faithful slave. DO not listen to voice of strangers.

    • December 19, 2013 at 8:44 am
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      Welcome to the website J Sherwood.

      I assure you, I am not in the business of editing letters to make them say things they don’t say. I have more productive things to do with my time.

      It sounds from your comment as though you don’t know the difference between a District Convention and a Special or “International” Convention. Of course no disabled people are prohibited from attending a normal District Convention (I never said that in the article), but restrictions ARE placed on certain disabled ones who want to be delegates at an International Convention, as shown above.

  • December 19, 2013 at 12:41 pm
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    Yes, J Sherwood, shame you did not read the article properly.
    Its also a shame that in accidentally finding this site you saw what you wanted to see to confirm your prejudice.
    I hope you wake up soon and do not waste your life in something that creates guilt and fear, intolerance and ignorance.

  • December 26, 2013 at 5:44 am
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    I couldn’t agree more with Babs.

    In our congregation, we had a sister so zealous, that many new ones would look at her and think she’s of the anointed. Yet, what did she get for her zeal? She never married (she was a Witness through the 1975 scam) she spent a fortune in what she believed were ‘godly works’. She continued to attend meetings and ministry until the day she couldn’t walk.

    When she was house-bound, how many witnesses visited her? Not one elder, nor any of the flock, she told me when I once visited the withering sister. I was clearly apalled (but my devotion to the Watchtower would not let me see that at that point in time). She shrivelled away, alone, with no one around to alleviate her suffering in her final moments.

    One day, her unbelieving family members called a brother to say she had passed away.

    After a rather hypocritical funeral service (including the reading out of the Psalm that says In case my own father and moterh abandoned me, Jehovah himself would take me up), I heard one holier-than-thou regular pioneer lament, “What a pity she never willed her wealth and property to the Society!”

    Please, please, please, wake up to the what the Watchtower is really after, and the great price it craftily exacts from its followers.

    Babs, I hope things go well your way – peace and love.

  • December 26, 2013 at 9:47 am
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    *I am curious how you would scrutinize US NAVY SEAL Training? From the inside or from the outside…?
    Doc. Alamo Reno
    BUD/S Class 142

  • January 13, 2014 at 6:50 pm
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    Absolutely rubbish .!! No momey is made at conventions. International or other wise.. here in Australia we will have on line link up and over 100thousand will be in attendance listening to and watching same programe! Modern day miracle.

    • January 13, 2014 at 7:32 pm
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      Why did 1% of congregations in Australia close or dissolve from 2012 (801 down to 786)?

      • January 13, 2014 at 7:40 pm
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        correction: that would be a 2% decrease in congregations.

  • January 14, 2014 at 3:43 am
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    Money may not be “made” at conventions but they sure do keeping asking for “contributions” during the days. here are according to 2013 report there are 66,918 JWs in Austraila. Line link to 100,000, who make up the other 33,000? Modern day miracle! Not anymore, its common place to do such things these days.

  • January 19, 2014 at 7:40 am
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    Judy,

    You said you married a non-believer and experienced no personal shaming, no shunning, or dirty looks. That must have been a while ago if your daughter is 38. I’m thinking the attitudes were different forty years ago.

    As many commenters here have already written, today, if a witness is romantically involved with a non-witness, they will be discouraged, marked and shunned. Something as innocuous as a Facebook photo of you and a non-witness, to whom you presently may or may not be talking, will initiate a judicial committee inquiry. They will ask you the most initimate of details, tell you no worldly person is capable of love and not to expect God to listen to your prayers if you marry a non-witness.

    This policy should be dissolved. It is a violation of a God-given basic human right.

  • January 21, 2014 at 11:25 pm
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    When I was growing up there was 2-3 weeks in the Tacoma dome with almost 30,000 people then it went to 4-6 weeks at 5-10,000 people AND the 4 weeks in Kennewick and 3 weeks in Portland. My guess is they will be going back to the big conventions.

  • February 3, 2014 at 11:19 pm
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    It was 21 years ago; whilst it may be discouraged, ultimately who you marry is a personal choice.

  • February 4, 2014 at 3:56 am
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    Judy,

    You are right. It is a matter of personal choice whom one marries.

    Just as it is personal choice to leave the WTBTS. However, in both instances, there will be repercussions.

    I am glad that you did not suffer any adverse effects from your choice.

    Sadly, others have not had that experience.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • April 13, 2014 at 7:23 am
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    So much misinformation, oversimplification and twisting of facts in this article and the following comments! So disturbing when disgruntled individuals obsese at stabbing truly good people on the back!

  • April 13, 2014 at 7:25 am
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    Oops, “obsess” and “in”. :-)

  • April 13, 2014 at 7:42 am
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    Talmon,

    Would you care to provide examples of the misinformation, oversimplification and twisted facts, please?

    John Cedars has stated that he will correct any mistakes that are brought to his attention.

    Here is your chance to set the record straight.

    How can “truly good people” cover up child abuse? Or domestic violence? Or force a rape victim to prove that they cried out and resisted or face disfellowshipping for fornication? The list goes on and on.

    As a truly good person, I am extremely disgruntled about the facts listed above.

    I do not stab people in the back. The WTBTS does by promising love and then shunning those who disagree with their decrees.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 15, 2014 at 7:48 am
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    What a brilliant example of sophistry! I can always count on you guys in that area. I can tell people, “you want to see a sophist in action go to JWSurvey.” As usual, junk news and baseless innuendos. Some of it is outright slander. You say all of this without a HINT of evidence that the Watchtower is making money off of hotels etc. and don’t even explain what they will do by “increasing their profit margins.” What???? Print more BOOKS!!!! These people print BILLIONS OF BOOKS every year. Unlike other organizations like the Baptists, Mormons, Catholics, they keep all this money in their pockets! There are no conventions and no publications. What are these organizations doing with this money???

    Most people pay money directly to the hotel. Oh I GET IT, you think the HOTELS are giving money back to the Watchtower!!! WOW!

    Furthermore, you claim they are discriminating against the disabled? What???? They can attend their LOCAL conventions like everyone else! That is bull! The biggest issue is you’d condemn them if they did something different as well.

    • May 15, 2014 at 8:52 am
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      Your credulity is astounding. Have you ever actually paid to go to an international convention, or met someone who has and asked how much money changed hands? If there is one thing you can count on when going to an international convention as a delegate it is that you will part with far-and-away more cash (we’re talking many hundreds of dollars) than you would pay if you made your own arrangements. And who do you think profits from all this, the hotels?

      Your naivety is astounding if you think printing books is the only thing Watchtower is involved in. Google “Candace Conti” (or search articles on this site) if you want to know how expensive child abuse lawsuits can end up being. Who do you think stumps up the huge bundles of cash when there is a multiple-victim child abuse lawsuit, such as the Gonzalo Campos case, that needs settling? The IRS? The tooth fairy? All of that ugly stuff gets paid for out of, you guessed it, the “worldwide work” funds – which YOU contribute to. If you’re fine with your hard earned bucks going towards bailing out pedophiles and organizations that protect them – hey, it’s your money. But don’t imagine everyone will be thrilled.

      As for my comments about the disabled, you like others are clearly very selective as to how much of the article you choose to read. I never said that disabled Witnesses aren’t allowed to attend regular conventions – only that there is clear evidence of discrimination when it comes to their ability to meet the criteria as delegates for international conventions.

      • May 15, 2014 at 11:41 am
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        I respect you’re viewpoint, however I do have to disagree with your conclusions from personal experience. We are attending an international convention this year and the expenses are comparable to any trip to and stay in a large city. As a matter of fact we got a discount on our hotel because of being a convention visitor. We do not pay the Watchtower Society for attending the convention and only voluntary donations pay for renting the complex, etc. Also, my mom, wife and niece are all disabled and will be attending the convention also. Being disabled always makes doing most things more difficult, but the brothers always provide assistance and make it easier for the disabled to attend and enjoy our gatherings.

        Have a good day!

        • May 15, 2014 at 11:47 am
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          Thanks Talmon, but you are not quite on my wavelength. I am aware there are a glut of international conventions in the States this year, but if you are not staying in a fancy hotel and paying Watchtower a lump sum for the privilege of attending, and if you didn’t have to fill out a special form to attend, then frankly you’re not a delegate. The information in this article pertains mostly to delegates and the way Watchtower uses the international convention arrangement to make profits from one-off “meet a governing body member” pep-rallies, and discriminates against disabled people in the process.

          • May 15, 2014 at 12:14 pm
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            Cedars, again I have to correct you, our congregation has been invited as delegates to the convention. There is a list of many hotels that have agreed to give us discounts and the nightly rates are well below their regular rates and the one we are staying in is not a fancy one at all. I have been a witness for over 25 years and I can assure you there are no special meetings with the governing body members or any such money schemes in place at all. What is sad is that when someone reads your misinformation and doesn’t know the truth of such matters, they may assume you are correct. As I stated before, this kind of decisive tactic only served to mislead others an harms the innocent.

          • May 15, 2014 at 12:33 pm
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            Talmon, you do not “correct” me. You are merely flaunting your ignorance for all to see. Your congregation may be deemed “delegates” while attending an international convention in your home country, the United States, but this is not the same as attending an international convention in ANOTHER COUNTRY as an official Watchtower delegate, which is what this article refers to. Read it again, please, and hopefully some of it will sink in.

            There are nine foreign destinations that US publishers have been invited to apply to attend as delegates, namely the following…

            Melbourne, Australia – October 2014
            London, England – August 2014
            Quito, Ecuador – January 2015
            Frankfurt, Germany – July 2014
            Athens, Greece – June 2014
            Seoul, Korea – September 2014
            Mexico City, Mexico – November 2014
            Harare, Zimbabwe – August 2014

            A US publisher who was sufficiently wealthy and non-disabled enough to be approved as a delegate for one of THESE international conventions would indeed need to part with A LOT of money. Don’t believe me? Find a fellow Governing Boy worshiper and ask how many thousands of dollars they are paying for the privilege of jetting off to Germany, Ecuador, Greece etc to rub shoulders with their dear leaders and exchange tacky JW.org souvenirs.

            I have no doubt at all that local US publishers attending international conventions IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY (for which, BTW, publishers in the UK, Germany etc will be paying their own premium to attend) are doing so without having to pay the normal exorbitant costs, otherwise there would be an uproar.

            Talmon, I am not trying to deceive anyone. I am merely repeating what it says in a letter that was read out at your congregation (but that you have obviously forgotten about) and explaining what it entails. If you are naive enough to think that Watchtower doesn’t profit from the international convention arrangement then fair enough, but others like myself know the organization a little better, understand how it all works, and aren’t afraid to blow the whistle.

          • May 15, 2014 at 12:59 pm
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            Cedars, I DO personally know several individuals and families that have attended international conventions overseas and abroad as delegates and they are not wealthy by any stretch. Yes the travel overseas can be expensive but none of that money goes to the brothers. I do know what I’m talking about. The things you say are simply not true and are distortions to say the least. I can’t comment as to your motives but you do seem to harbor a lot of resentment to be spreading so much misinformation. I’m curious why someone who feels as you do about the witnesses would want to even attend meetings? Do you enjoy or benefit from the meetings in some way?

          • May 15, 2014 at 1:14 pm
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            This is interesting. I’ve just explained how you have completely misconstrued the information in this article, and rather than acknowledge that you got the wrong end of the stick regarding delegates you are now back-peddling and saying, in effect, “well actually I DO know people who have been delegates at conventions overseas who weren’t that wealthy and they didn’t pay that much!” Erm, I think I’ll be the judge of that if you don’t mind.

            When my father attended an international convention in Rome (from the UK) I was simply astonished at how much Watchtower was charging him for the privilege. He could have flown to Australia for the same price. It was extortion, plain and simple. So you see, I write from experience on these matters, but unlike you I am not naive enough to think Watchtower doesn’t profit from these arrangements. You are clutching at straws and, as with everything else in your blinkered existence, you are determined to think only the best of your dear leaders, the Governing Body, despite the mountain of evidence that they are merely deluded cult leaders who have you and your family utterly hoodwinked.

            “I’m curious why someone who feels as you do about the witnesses would want to even attend meetings?”

            I don’t attend meetings any longer. I derive no benefit from attending indoctrination seminars the whole purpose of which is to make me view loyalty to an organization as more important than anything else, including family (in the case of shunning).

          • May 15, 2014 at 1:24 pm
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            Ok, NOW I can comment on your motives because you are even twisting my own words back to me!!! You have chosen not to address my questions and now you’re trying to misrepresent what I am saying putting your own spin on it. No thanks, I won’t give you that opportunity again. I have important things to do instead. Have a good day.

          • May 15, 2014 at 1:37 pm
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            This gets more and more interesting. I am not twisting your words at all, I am merely pointing out your failure to grasp the point of the article, and your subsequent failure to acknowledge doing so when this was brought to your attention.

            And I have addressed your ‘questions’ comprehensively to the point of citing the congregation letter, repeating the list of international convention destinations, and relating my own personal experience of the international convention arrangement by way of demonstrating that the whole thing is a thinly-veiled scam.

            Hopefully one day you will do objective research on cognitive dissonance and learn how cult victims like yourself use it to block out information they don’t want to hear. You have raised your objections, I have answered them, and because you don’t like the idea that you are being conned your cognitive dissonance is forcing you to beat a hasty retreat rather than confront the awkward truth.

            I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of you, but I hope for your sake you eventually summon the courage to investigate these matters without your rose-tinted spectacles.

          • May 15, 2014 at 1:58 pm
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            This guy creditability is so questionable why even bother talking to him. He provides no evidence for all his innuendos. Regardless of what you think of the Jehovah’s Witness organization, it doesn’t justify being slanderous. But there are a lot of hateful people out there who care little about facts just spreading hate and intolerance. You’d think that opponents of the JWs would have higher standards since they claim the WT’s are so low. Kinda hard to tell who’s really telling the truth when you read trash news like this.

          • May 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm
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            notice too how loaded his statements are. But lets take him seriously, ” if you are not staying in a fancy hotel and paying Watchtower a lump sum for the privilege of attending,”

            Well heck, why not pay MORE for help with your disability. Oh yeah and they can start charging more for those high quality pieces of paper no one reads but are given out for free.

            Why don’t they just charge away? No one would question them since all the other churches do the same. God to LifeWay and get a free Bible?

            I wonder what the Baptists and Catholics do with their money.

            My point simply is a LACK OF OBJECTIVITY! ANYONE! ANYONE! can find something to criticize! Wow it makes Cedars look intelligent for a moment until someone starts thinking.

  • May 15, 2014 at 11:25 am
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    From my research the Jehovah’s Witness organization has only lost one lawsuit due to pedophiles. This is pathetic sophistry!

  • May 15, 2014 at 11:58 am
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    Excelsior, where would I start? From comments I just read that state “the elders will tell you that a worldly person can not show love” to “if you are in a Facebook picture with a non-believer it will start a judicial committee meeting”, these show that there is either a fundamental misunderstanding of the real facts or an intentional misrepresentation of the truth of matters. All of this is just grasping at straws and superfluous attempts at distracting from the real issue that has existed since the garden of Eden, either we love and accept the creator of everything, Jehovah’s laws and his right to determine what is right and wrong, or we reject him and choose to decide what is right and wrong for ourselves based on our own limited abilities, understanding and opinions. The choice is indeed ours and God allows us to decide either way.

    • May 15, 2014 at 12:54 pm
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      “The choice is indeed ours and God allows us to decide either way.”

      …before having birds eat our rotting corpses at Armageddon if we make the wrong ‘choice.’

  • May 15, 2014 at 3:56 pm
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    Talmon,

    Can you please provide more detail? Which articles are your quotes from? Which paragraph do they appear in?

    If you have found errors, then you need to prove they are errors. Please provide a refutation of the points you disagree with.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 15, 2014 at 4:03 pm
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    Talmon,

    Please provide independent, non biblical evidence for God, the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve.

    You assume that I have any interest in your religious beliefs. I do not. That is your prerogative and your right.

    I am concerned with the cover up of child abuse, domestic abuse and the shunning of former members, not the finer points of religious belief.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 17, 2014 at 2:09 am
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    Jacob,

    How many child abuse cases have the WTBTS settles out of court?

    Have you read the articles about JW paedophiles on this site?

    What do you think the WTBTS’ response should be to the Candace Conti case? Do you agree with the WTBTS appealing the case?

    Why has the Candace Conti trial NEVER appeared on JW.org?

    Why has the issue of child abuse and domestic abuse never featured on the JW.org website?

    What do you think is the best feature of the WTBTS’ child protection policy?

    These cases are not sophistry. They are the tip of an iceberg that will rip into the very heart of your so called righteous religion.

    I look forward to reading your response to my sincere questions.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 20, 2014 at 3:27 am
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    Talon and Jacob,

    Folks, it’s been five days and no response. I know everyone is very busy these days, but I would have thought that you would both relish a chance to put your case.

    My questions still stand.

    I shall wait patiently for your replies.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 22, 2014 at 7:16 am
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    Talmon and Jacob,

    I’m still waiting for a response to my sincere questions. It’s the 22nd of May now. Are you ever going to substantiate your arguments?

    You have both made strong accusations against this site, myself and Mr Cedars.

    I shall wait. I wonder how long I will have to wait?

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • May 23, 2014 at 4:24 am
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    It seems that Talmon and Jacob, are doing the usual JW thing. When the questions get tough, avoid them.
    They do the same thing when they knock on someones door.
    Ask an awkward question and they usually say “Thats interesting, I’ll find the answer and come back.”
    But they never do.

  • May 23, 2014 at 5:22 am
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    Just because wheelchairs were’nt mentioned per se I’m quite sure Jesus didn’t discouraged anyone from receiving the word and following him. By the way no one has pictures from those times.

  • May 29, 2014 at 6:17 am
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    Talmon and Jacob,

    It is now the 29th of May, and still no response to my requests!

    Is this how you operate? You comment on this site, despite being told NOT TO by your religion and spread doubts over the veracity of the information and then you just leave?

    You raised some very serious points in your comments. I asked you to respond with FACTS and there is no response from either of you.

    I shall take this lack of answers as a sign that you do not have anything to say. You have no evidence to back up your assertions and all you have said is an ad hominem attack on this site.

    Shame on you. You slander a good man who is trying to help all of you to understand the reality of your religion.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • June 3, 2014 at 6:02 am
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    Talon and Jacob,

    You have had ample opportunity and time to answer my questions.

    You have proven to the world that you have no intention to answer my honest and sincere questions.

    Any unbiased reader of our exchanges will chalk up two points to us and zero to you two.

    You have proven yourselves to be very useful in furthering our cause. Thanks for proving we are right.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • June 17, 2014 at 10:37 am
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    Quite. But I doubt Jesus is going to be on the bill. He’s stopped making personal appearances now for quite some time.

  • June 17, 2014 at 6:18 pm
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    I will make my comment short. The foundation the Society is NOW based on is 1919. The evidence is found in the books Finished Mystery (1917-1918) and Millions Now Living Will Never Die.(1920) (Amazon.com) Copies of the Society’s own publications from the time. Read them and then ask, Would Jesus really have selected them (1914-1919) and then direct them in the 1925 false prophesy? (THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF IT ALL) This is the NEW LIGHT they are now teaching. Think & Reason

  • June 18, 2014 at 2:06 pm
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    Bottom Line: I tried to post some comments that didn’t get posted. Simply, I tried to get people to read The Finished Mystery book and the Millions now living book from the time period of the 1919 foundation this organization is now resting on. They say that the evidence points to them as Jesus choice. Really! I have found that no evidence points to anybody being appointed to this role in 1919 and especially not to them and the false 1925 prophecy. Once again, Peace too all.

  • June 18, 2014 at 2:11 pm
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    Bottom Line: I tried to post some comments that didn’t get posted. Simply, I tried to get people to read The Finished Mystery book and the Millions Now Living Will Never Die book from the time period of the 1919 foundation this organization is now resting on. They say that the evidence points to them as Jesus choice. Really! I have found that no evidence points to anybody being appointed to this role in 1919 and especially not to them and the false 1925 prophecy. Once again, Peace too all.

  • June 20, 2014 at 3:17 pm
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    Exactly! And to the point this Journalist made about the funds for the trip i.e hotel and travel, gets paid directly to the Watchtower was hysterical, stating that they charge extra to make a profit. Publishers could hire their own travel agent or book their trip themselves. Once booked they provide their itinerari, flight and hotel info. to the society. Whatever happened to journalist writing facts and not what they believe to be the truth.

  • June 25, 2014 at 12:35 am
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    Absolutely 0$ dollars goes to “watchtower” or anybody affiliated with it. The cost it speaks of here is that of paying the airline for your ticket and hotel. And you are responsible to handle that part on your own. They don’t get involved with any of the money portion and at no point do you give money to them, at all, period, end of story.

  • July 15, 2014 at 9:20 pm
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    AMEN! BROTHER SO GLAD U STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT THESE APOSTATES R FULLFILING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT BROW BEATING THEIR BROTHERS.I WILL SAY NO MORE!

  • July 16, 2014 at 10:53 am
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    Mark and Mary

    Hello?????? Watchtower is a commercial business. Wake Up!

Comments are closed.