What social classes were in your KH?

See Beckford's "Trumpet of Prophecy". This is the best academic discussion of the issue. Though dated, he concludes that Witnesses (in Britain where the study was conducted) are mainly lower middle class, with few representatives from the extremes of the upper classes or lower classes. He rejects the theory (as stated by Stroup and Cohn) that Witnesses appeal maily to those suffering material deprivation and instead focuses on the techniques for conversion (supply instead of demand) that Witnesses employ. He also claims that the Witnesses' "work ethic" often enables Witnesses to climb ladders, while acknowledging that the promotion of the preaching work within the community against secular activities at the same time inhibits the Witnesses' scope for bettering themselves from an economic/social class persepective.

So a mixed bag.

rebel8

Of course the KHs create their own internal social classes, which has been discussed a lot on the forum. For example--lower class was people w/DFd or unbelieving mates, higher class being pioneers and elders' families.

Lilycurly

We had one or two pretty rich families in our KH, big houses, big cars....of course the fathers were elders and their kids were early baptized/pionner/assistants, etc.

Most of the others were middle class, including us...and then there were a few poor - to very poor families and people who it looked like they were there just to be accepted and helped by a group.

Mary

I did a post on this quite a while ago, but here's the link to help you discover where you fit into the congregation:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/86425/1.ashx

AK - Jeff

If you are talking about the social strata within the congregation - then;

Elder/Pioneer - Elite class

Publisher/MS/those that cared but were not 'promoted' - Worker Bee Class

Those that were not noticed - Serf Class

Jeff

Bstndance

At my old cong:

elites - elders, top ms, and their kids

commoners - other ms, brother's with responsibilities in hall (microphones etc), pioneers (pioneers were always charity invites to gatherings)

the below - people studying, elderly, people with unbelieving mates or DF'd, people who didn't attend regularly

as a kid of any of the classes you could associate with the elite simply by going to Saturday basketball that the PO would organize. Various elite teens from other congs would also come and you could become part of the circuit elite. I used to use basketball as an excuse to hang out with my "worldly" friends: "after basketball i hung out with so and so from the ______ congregration" :-)

ocsrf

LOL,

I have been at every social level within the congregation from fatherless boy to Elder with a good job and no problems that other could see. And since I am social by nature, many gravitated to me at that time. I was that way for a several years and than the slow decline in status, than I began to see the other side of being tolerated. LOL

By the way, I know enjoy the status of being invisible...that is the best one yet...lol

Country Girl

The Elite. Those members that have been in the religion since birth, with many generations before them. Those that have many family members in that are pioneers, bethel workers, elders, etc. Because this group generally is revered in the congregation, their economic status is a bit elevated as they have myriads of workers in their businesses who are able to work cheaply, industriously, and therefore enrich them. Their businesses generally are built on the backs of cheap workers, while enjoying contracts with other wealthy JW businessmen. They are granted exempt status in the congregation, as their family members that do things that could be disfellowshipping offenses are often overlooked because of the fact that other members of the congregation often are beholden to the elder.

Single Moms. This group is oftentimes the most zealous and faithful of the bunch. They are often considered not worthy company because they do not possess a "head" nor a complete family unit. They are condescended to and patronized because they are most times considered less worthy without a spiritual head. They make up most of the group that goes out in the field service, despite the hardships on them. They are looked upon as interlopers by other Witness women because of their single status, and viewed as potential threats to these women, as Witness women are oftentimes blamed for the sexual weakness and lust of the men in the congregation. Single mothers are viewed as threats because they are always on the prowl for a spiritual head, and doing anything they can to take other women's husbands, despite the fact that they have children to deal with.

Mentally Ill. These people are viewed with a skewed eye. Despite the fact that most women in the congregation are on anti-depressants, it's the ones that have more serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and DID that are looked at with disdain. Despite this religion supposedly being a LOVING religion, they are often shunned and made to feel like hot steaming turds: to be avoided with gusto. No one wants to hang out with the "crazies" in the group, nor are they invited to get-togethers or special outings. They do not want to associate with these people because in the back of their mind, the religion demands perfection, and these people are definitely not "perfect."

The Elderly. Everyone forgets the elderly. If they are not part of a family that reveres them already, the congregation sure as hell ain't gonna do it. The Elderly are often forgotten and left to their own devices. Despite many years of service to God's organization, it is almost sure that the younger folks in the congregation don't want to be saddled with giving them a ride to the meeting, sitting with them, reading to them, etc. Too much trouble. Unless they cross section with the Elite. Then they will be given the utmost care and attention, so long as Brother Elite knows that someone brought his Mother to the meeting.

The Fringies. These are the people that are somewhat poor, but not decidedly so. They sometimes come to the meetings, sometimes not. No one gives them a mind, and so why should I?

The Teens. The only reason they are staying there is because their parents said so, and as long as they're in their house, they'll do as they say. Since they haven't been prepared for the real world, or for college, they'll stay there as long as they can because they don't know how to operate in the real world.

CG

greendawn

In the congo I went to they were mainly lower and upper middle class with a sprinkling of high class. Most had their own houses. I had the impression that most evaluated their personal status according to their material and not spiritual wealth so to me they were governed by the spirit of the world not the Holy Spirit. Didn't think much of them.