by AndersonsInfo 87 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
the WT used to protect their assets (retaining HQ ownership of all kingdom halls),
I'm still waiting for anyone to provide proof that the WT owns Kingdom Halls. Every Kingdom Hall I have ever been associated with has been owned by a local corporation. Thats why every year there is a "corporate meeting", usually following a Service Meeting.
No Apologies
That's right, No Apologies. I can't speak to other countries, but in the US, the local congregation that holds the territory the KH building is in, selects 3 elders to be on a non-profit corporation that controls the property. If a brother no longer qualifies (has died, stepped down as an elder, or moved to a different congregation), a new brother is selected. Once a year, they submit a signed form to the IRS confirming that they are still a non-profit organization. Should the congregation be dissolved, the property will revert to the parent non-profit organization/corporation the WTS, but not until then does the WTS have any legal/official control over the property.
A local congregation here refused to sell their excess property and donate the proceeds to another congregation at the "request" of the WTS. The WTS was not able to step in and sell the property without the agreement of the local congregation's non-profit corporation.
Blondie
In March 2004 I gave testimony affecting JW abuse cases in California, as some of them come from congregations with which I was associated. Alan F commented very well on the second point about "confessional" confidence. However, the first point is significant, because the Society has tried very hard to shield the Pennsylvania Corporation from being involved in these proceedings. They did this by claiming that the Pennsylvania Corporation has no real connection to local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. This ruling means that the Court does not accept the Watchtower's argument, and the Pennsylvania Corporation must be included. This will have serious ramifications for the Watchtower Society as they cannot play the shell game with their plethora of corporations. It looks like the buck stops in Napa, California.
Jim Whitney
Chew on this (from the March 1, 2000 BoE letter):
18 Please note that the following two paragraphs are to be included in your charter or articles of incorporation (this may require an amendment to your existing charter or articles of incorporation):
The property of this Corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious purposes, and no part of the new earnings or assets of this corporation shall inure to the benefit of a director, officer, or member of the Corporation or any private individual. No substantial part of the activities of this Corporation shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this Corporation participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. This Corporation is organized exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States tax code) or (2) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States tax code).
Upon the winding up and dissolution of this Corporation, after paying or adequately providing for debts and obligations of the Corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. No assets will be deemed to be received by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., until such acceptance is evidenced in writing. If Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., is not then in existence and exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States tax code), then said assets shall be distributed to any organization designated by the ecclesiastical Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses that is organized and operated for religious purposes and is a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding section of any future United States tax code).
19 If the above two paragraphs are not included in your present articles of incorporation, please file an ammendment to your articles of incorporation to include them. You should contact the Legal Department for all questions regarding amending existing articles of incorporation.
The WTS owns the KH's in the end. I would say there is certainly a connection there. But did you notice a couple of items? What would happen to the KH's if the WTS lost its tax exempt status? And what if the term "governing body" was done away with? I'm wondering if the breakup of the org into a multitude of tax exempt corporations was to give them many many options of transferring the ownership of the KH's if most of them eventually lost their tax exempt status. How many corps were there? The gov't would have to nail each and every one of them. Otherwise, if just ONE tax exempt org existed, the gb has the legal power to keep the KH's under WTS ownership.
No wonder the WTS keeps banging away with the "gb is great" routine. That is their ultimate fallback if they lose their tax exempt status. Lose the gb and they have a big gap in the articles of incorporation of the KH's.
Yep, looks like the GB do serve a purpose by the WT in anticipation of worst case scenario--loss of tax exempt status. And it looks like the court caught on to the NY/Penn shell game being played.
Axel
GOD, PLEASE BE WITH LOVE AND NORRIS!!!!
~BIG UPS~
I am at a loss--what does bttt mean? O.K. so I am out of the lingo loop. But maybe I might want to bttt someone someday. Or someone could conceivably bttt me-then what would I do? Can someone throw me a bone here? Thanks
"bttt" = Back To The Top. Commonly used to bump a thread to the top of the Active Topics list so it will continue to be noticed and not slide into yesterday's news.
Glad to be of help!
Nina
Thanks Cruzanheart--If I pronounced bttt it sounded like Barbara Anderson was giving someone the rasberry. I didn't think that was the explanation!!!! (but it does make a funny sound just the same)
