Bethel Letter to Publishers (US Bethel Layoffs)

by V 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  metatron

  Pure crap.

  Do you send workers out into a work that is as astonishingly unproductive as the door to door "ministry" is now?

  Do you think that Watchtower headquarters is handling the publishers needs effectively? so that they can dump

  manpower?

  When I was an elder, I was disgusted with Bethel's utter lack of helpful response to growing youth problems

  in local congregations. Can this sister declare her rebellious son an emancipated minor? They don't know.

  Can she attend "ToughLove" meetings, brother? Never heard of them, they don't know.

  If they needed an "Evolution" book years ago, don't they need one now, even more? Don't they need

  MORE responses to challenges to their doctrines, given the influence of the internet?

  No, apparently these broadgauge liars need more useless hours counted in their increasingly

  sterile "preaching work".

  metatron
• 

  moshe

  I imagine the brothers are all hoping that one of those mature Bethel couples doesn't get sent to their KH for them to support and pay their medical Ins. They wouldn't really have much time to preach , if they have to work fulltime, cook and clean,too. Also , the KH that they are assigned to will in all likelyhood be expected to buy them an automobile and pay the car insurance. This extra 10 hrs a week preaching help could easily cost a KH several thousand dollars up front costs and another grand a month in subsidized help.
• 

  sspo

  
  Well Bethel put the burden on the local cong. to take care of these laid off bethelites.

  Some PO in TN were very busy looking for cheap apartments for them.

  Does anyone know how they went about in choosing those to be axed?
• 

  Alligator Wisdom

  My inquiry is: "Exactly who among the Bethel family are being laid off?"

  Are we just talking about older ones? Or are the ones being released of a certain "elite" class (regardless of age) in regards to teaching and/or taking the lead in congregational activitiy which can help local congregations in those areas?

  There are some older ones at Bethel who may work at simple jobs (i.e. laundry or kitchen) and have been doing so for their entire Bethel career. Would they be chosen to leave because of their experienced qualification in congregation functionality? I know of several old timers who are very comfortable in the way of life at Bethel doing simple and unadorned jobs and aren't the type that are power hungry or zealous in climbing any ladder in any organizational setting. Of course, they can easily be replaced by a 19 year old youth. By they haven't been for decades in some cases. Is the WTS being selective ("wise and discreet") when picking certain ones to be dismissed?

  It sounds to me that the Branch letter basically hinted toward the area of printing/distribution/packing/shipping, are such ones in those departments confined to these layoffs?

  There can be alot of rumors, but I would like to know some truthful facts about such. Are there any "hidden" Bethelite lurkers posting here that can give us something concrete facts instead of speculation? I'm extra curious on this because I know quite a few who work at Bethel. Besides, why is only the U.S. Branch being effected?

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously by WTS standards)
• 

  looking_glass

  As one member of the Governing Body observed: "We can buy machines to do our printing for us, but machines cannot preach the good news."

  Well, I am rather disturbed by the fact that some old man who is a part of the GB who clearly will never be laid off because he is part of the GB, so what does he care. His job is secure. He will never be forced out and have to find a job w/ only a HS diploma and minimal skills. Instead of someone putting that comment in the letter, they should have walked over to the guy and kneed him in the balls.
• 

  headmath

  As in any large corporation the downsizing finally rears it's ugly head. They have purchased new machinery to put that finishing touch on the borg industrial machine, The WTS couldn't care less about the door to door work now anyway. Basically it's the GB in the control rooms pressing the buttons that actuate the machinery. Even the directives from the GB are on a computer disc.
• 

  Quandry

  V-

  I am afraid that I will have to take issue with your view that the ones who have been asked to leave Bethel face a dim future.

  First of all, as we know, the Society has assured us that years of reading WT and Awake magazines is equivalent to a college education. Therefore, these older ones should have absolutely no trouble getting positions in the community. Look for many new doctors, lawyers, business executives, etc. in the areas that they are sent to.

  Second, there will be a boost to the local economy as these new residents begin using their stipend of $500 a month to finance businesses, down payments on houses, vehicles, furniture for homes, washers and dryers, cooking utensils, etc.

  Think also of the excitement of a new life as these older ones, some of whom have not cooked a meal for themselves or washed their own clothes in years, experiment with new recipes, and perhaps enjoy new color patterns in garments.

  Last but not least, think of the joy the extended families of these experienced ones will encounter as they support these former workers while they are awaiting the executive positions that are sure to come their way.

  As many of them may not be able to drive, coming from the WT Headquarters, look forward to a bussload coming to a city near you!!!
• 

  dozy

  Alligator Wisdom - why is only the U.S. Branch being affected

  This does seem to be only a US issue. The UK & German branches are not affected (which raises the question that if the real reason for the layoffs is new technology , then why is there not a worldwide "cull" as new presses have also been installed in Millhill and Selters).

  The charitable and religious environment in Europe in general and the UK in particular is far more benign. In the UK , healthcare costs aren't an issue and the branch has taken over the bulk of the responsibilities of the French branch , which has basically been wound down *due to the well publicised tax case). The British branch is recruiting staff like there is no tomorrow and isn't laying off anybody.

  The criteria for recruiting new Bethelites has been drastically reduced and anybody can join up. Those who have specific skills are fasttracked into Bethel. I know of a brother in a neighbouring cong who sent in his application with the covering letter from his body which basically stated - "Do not assign this brother - he is a completely useless and unspiritual individual". A few weeks later , he got the call up , to the complete bewilderment of the elders. The PO phoned the branch to tell them that they had made a big mistake , and asking if they had actually read the accompaning letter , to be told "We are desperate for brothers - absolutely desperate."

  As many are being "invited" to serve as special pioneers , presumably the number is increasing in the USA. Does anybody have the latest figures for special pioneers (as published in the KM) and whether that number has increased substantially in 2006?
• 

  blondie

  Did I miss the point in the KM where these people will be getting a $500 monthly stipend? For how long, their lifetime?

  The fact is that these people will not qualify for unemployment insurance and because most of them had not paid into social security for a minimum of ten years, not likely to collect SS until they do.

  Even if they were assigned as special pioneers, I was not aware that was the monthly going rate, not even for COs and DOs.

  I'm sure this is going to be a shock to those being asked to leave. It will take time for all the ramifications to their lives to shake down. With luck they have family and friends that will be willing to help out ex-Bethelites. I have seen many ex-Bethelites land on their feet as prosperous ones in the congregation help them out because of their "special" sacrifices for God (not like a mother with 3 children and an "uncooperative" non-JW husband who faithfully makes all the meetings and gets in more than the national average in hours).

  Blondie
• 

  brutusmaximus

  How many are getting the axe, 5, 10 ,20, 100, 1000 maybe we need to put it into perspective?

  BM