At what age can a bethelite retire?

by moomanchu 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  moomanchu

  What circumstances or age would allow a bethelite to retire?

  They don't get social security right?

  What if anything do they get paid when and if they retire?

  I found an interesting scripture you will never see in any Watchtower publications.

  Numbers 8

  23 The LORD said to Moses, 24 "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, 25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."
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  onacruse

  When I was there, there were a couple of older brothers and sisters who had physically and mentally degraded to the point of being virtually incapacitated. Bethel assigned a brother/sister team to assist these dear old people, walking them down the hallways, tending to their bedsores, etc.

  But, there is no retirement. You live, and die, in the Big House.

  Craig
• 

  blondie

  Bethelites leave in 3 ways

  1) The Bethelite asks to leave (actually you can do this indirectly by getting married). Bethelites who marry have to reapply as a married couple. Sometimes they don't leave depending on their "importance" to Bethel. They just get approved.

  2) They are asked to leave Bethel. Sometimes for "wrongdoing" but not always.

  3) They stay until they die. But this is again at the discretion of Bethel.

  If they stay until they die, Bethel looks after them. If they leave, there is no official way they are compensated and are don't think they are legally obligated to do so.

  Those who leave go to work at a job that pays into social security and rack up the ten years required by the US Social Security Department to be able to collect social security. Others go into circuit or district work where a monthly allowance is paid and expenses are paid by the local congregations. Some relocated to a congregation as a special pioneer and might have had an apartment provided (this is a tax issue now in the US). Some might be looked after by JW family because of the "Bethel" status and be given a job with a local brother or family member.

  Of course if they are sick, no medicare or insurance. If they are lucky, the state they live in has a good program.

  Blondie
• 

  onacruse

  blondie:

  1) The Bethelite asks to leave (actually you can do this indirectly by getting married). Bethelites who marry have to reapply as a married couple. Sometimes they don't leave depending on their "importance" to Bethel. They just get approved.

  I'd forgotten that! If I recall, it was like a minimum of 4 years Bethel service for each, and a combined 10 years, before such a marriage would be considered "conforming."
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  carla

  Old Bethelites never retire, they come to jwd and fade away.
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  OnTheWayOut

  I'd forgotten that! If I recall, it was like a minimum of 4 years Bethel service for each, and a combined 10 years,
  before such a marriage would be considered "conforming."

  It's not "Bethel" service, but "pioneer" service. I am not sure about the numbers, but they make
  tons of exceptions. I have known of Bethelites who applied while engaged, and were turned
  down. The "sister" was destroyed by the rejection, because she thought that she would leave her
  job, but finds out that she is the main bread-winner after the marriage takes place. He has to find
  a job. I suppose, in the long-run, Bethel did them a favor. Better to be rejected than kicked out
  after years of faithful service.

  If a single "brother" applies for this, they want to know that he will get married even if they reject the
  application, so he can't even apply unless he's prepared to leave Bethel. If he breaks the engagement
  over this, they send him packing, anyway.
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  moomanchu

  Thanks for the information.

  My two close relatives had been at bethel for 20+ years and are now special pioneers.They're getting up in age now with no money except whatever they make as special pioneers and side jobs.

  Who pays special pioneers salaries? The local congregation?
• 

  onacruse

  Who pays special pioneers salaries? The local congregation?

  The WTS.

  But then, with all due respect...your two close relatives are special pioneers? Why not ask them this question?
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  OnTheWayOut

  your two close relatives are special pioneers? Why not ask them this question?

  Get a feel for how they feel. Were they forced out onto the road again?

  Asking them friendly questions can reveal a bitterness they might have.

  It's good to have bitterness toward the WTS.
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  blondie

  Yes, special pioneers get a monthly payment from the WTS as long as they make their monthly hour quota.

  ***

  dx86-05WatchTowerBibleandTractSocietyofPennsylvania***

  expenses by year in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, traveling overseers

  During the 2004 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent over $93 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments.