Circuit Ass last weekend

XBEHERE

Theme was based on the scripture to "clothe yourselves with the new personality"

Program had 2 symposiums and various other talks. I didnt take notes... stopped doing that a while ago but I did manage to listen to some of the program. Noteworthy was the fact there there was no "Higher Education" bashing in this program. There was some strong counsel against the "immoderate" use of alcohol, that was on the local circuit needs so may not be on every CA though.

Also an interesting comment from DO that the org is bleeding... he also said that an elder told him that their cong. is "hemmoraging" He specifically was referring the the fact that the young ones are leaving the org. in droves and he implored the young in attendance to think about it before you leave. He said the "world is garbage, why even be curious about it". Anyway it pretty much was your typical assembly and I have to admit that I was dozing off throughout and took numerous bathroom breaks to play games on my cell phone in the bathroom stall so I dont remember everything. As I do think of more points I will post them.

XBEHERE

Thought of another one...the CO said that almost 60 in our circuit went inactive in the past year he said its VERY sad that we basically lost a small congregation, speaking of the amount of publishers. He implored the "spiritual shepherds to leave the 99 and find these lost sheep" Poor guy, he has no clue the elders dont have time for themselves and their families let alone people who probably dont want to go back anyway. Why doesnt the WT just leave these poor people alone.

sir82

Fascinating that they admit to such problems in such a public and prominent manner.

Way way back, like 5 or so years ago, the poster "Maximus" referred to internally-known-but-never-revealed statistics that something like 80% of JW youth eventually get d-f'ed or fade away. A certain percentage of them eventually come back, but it is a significantly lower number. The poster's thoughts were that if such information ever became common knowledge, JW parents would essentially throw up their hands and say "why bother even trying to raise my kids as JWs?"

And now, the message is being proclaimed by high-ranking personnel from a Circuit Assmebly stage?!?

fullofdoubtnow

That is quite interesting information, they are finally admitting publicly what has been a source of private concern for years - dwindling attendances due to peopls, mainly young ones, leaving. In my old hall, attendance has been dropping steadily for several years, and the elders have been at a loss as to how to do anything to stop it. Of course, I haven't been for a while, but I doubt it's changed.

As for the counsel on the immoderate use of alcohol, I assume that was mainly directed at elders - they are the worst culprits aroung here.

tall penguin

I recall at my last CA before I left last year, the speaker implored the youths to give the organization 3 years of wholehearted devotion and they would see that it is the best way of lie...er...life. :)
tall penguin

Star Moore

Thanks, since I don't go anymore...i like hearing about them...I like to reaffirm why I left.. Isn't it true 90% of it is telling you what to do...or not do...(they are so bossy)

metatron

They are stuck in a dilemma and playing with fire by these honest admissions!

What choice do they have? If they admit that kids are leaving en masse and contributions drying up, they risk exposing the

fact that the organization is slowly dying. If they say nothing, it is guaranteed to get worse.

If the average Witness admitted that the organization is fading into history, how many circuits would collapse?

metatron

AuldSoul

I think I may go just to wait for that comment about young ones leaving so I can stand up and yell (I can yell very loudly) "And there's DAMNED good reasons for it!"

I won't sit next to my wife to reduce her inevitable mortification response...ain't that thoughtful of me?

AuldSoul

kwintestal

Also an interesting comment from DO that the org is bleeding... he also said that an elder told him that their cong. is "hemmoraging"

Since they're refusing a transfusion, their future looks bleak.

Kwin

Elsewhere

Projected growth of the Watchtower Society

I took the growth figures from 1945 through 2005 and use the past growth rates to predict the future rates and this is what I got...

By 2010 the growth rate will reach 0 and after that the Average Number of Publishers will start to go down. Their Average Number of Publishers should stop rising at about 6.6 million members and by 2025 they should be back to 5 million. It took them 122 years to reach 5 million publishers and it will only take 10 years to go back to 5 million publishers after they peak out at 6.6 million in 2010.

Year Average Publishers Percent Change
1945 "127,478"
1946 "158,034" 19.34%
1947 "181,071" 12.72%
1948 "230,532" 21.46%
1949 "279,421" 17.50%
1950 "328,572" 14.96%
1951 "384,694" 14.59%
1952 "426,704" 9.85%
1953 "468,106" 8.84%
1954 "525,924" 10.99%
1955 "570,694" 7.84%
1956 "591,556" 3.53%
1957 "653,273" 9.45%
1958 "717,088" 8.90%
1959 "803,482" 10.75%
1960 "851,378" 5.63%
1961 "884,587" 3.75%
1962 "920,920" 3.95%
1963 "956,648" 3.73%
1964 "1,001,870" 4.51%
1965 "1,034,268" 3.13%
1966 "1,058,675" 2.31%
1967 "1,094,280" 3.25%
1968 "1,155,826" 5.32%
1969 "1,256,784" 8.03%
1970 "1,384,782" 9.24%
1971 "1,510,245" 8.31%
1972 "1,596,442" 5.40%
1973 "1,656,673" 3.64%
1974 "1,880,713" 11.91%
1975 "2,062,449" 8.81%
1976 "2,138,537" 3.56%
1977 "2,117,194" -1.01%
1978 "2,086,698" -1.46%
1979 "2,097,070" 0.49%
1980 "2,175,404" 3.60%
1981 "2,247,486" 3.21%
1982 "2,347,334" 4.25%
1983 "2,501,722" 6.17%
1984 "2,680,274" 6.66%
1985 "2,865,183" 6.45%
1986 "3,063,289" 6.47%
1987 "3,237,751" 5.39%
1988 "3,430,869" 5.63%
1989 "3,624,773" 5.35%
1990 "3,846,811" 5.77%
1991 "4,071,954" 5.53%
1992 "4,289,737" 5.08%
1993 "4,483,900" 4.33%
1994 "4,695,111" 4.50%
1995 "4,950,344" 5.16%
1996 "5,167,258" 4.20%
1997 "5,353,078" 3.47%
1998 "5,544,059" 3.44%
1999 "5,653,987" 1.94%
2000 "5,783,003" 2.23%
2001 "5,881,776" 1.68%
2002 "6,047,997" 2.75%
2003 "6,184,046" 2.20%
2004 "6,308,341" 1.97%
2005 "6,391,500" 1.30%
2006 "6,455,415" 1.00%
2007 "6,513,514" 0.90%
2008 "6,552,595" 0.60%
2009 "6,578,805" 0.40%
2010 "6,587,029" 0.13%
2011 "6,567,268" -0.30%
2012 "6,534,431" -0.50%
2013 "6,488,690" -0.70%
2014 "6,423,803" -1.00%
2015 "6,340,294" -1.30%
2016 "6,245,190" -1.50%
2017 "6,139,021" -1.70%
2018 "6,016,241" -2.00%
2019 "5,877,867" -2.30%
2020 "5,725,043" -2.60%
2021 "5,564,742" -2.80%
2022 "5,397,799" -3.00%
2023 "5,219,672" -3.30%
2024 "5,036,983" -3.50%

Circuit Ass last weekend

Share this