When I first came to Bethel, the going reassurance was that if you stayed more than 5 years, you would be considered permanent. Many of the Bethelites bought into the idea and stayed many years. However, a few years back they had a test of faith. Many were asked to leave and return to their families. These were individuals that gave their best years and thought Bethel would see them through. Imagine, some of them spent 30+ years and now they had to leave and hopefully become a special pioneer. At least this way they would get $600 dollars a month to cover housing, food, etc. If they were married, this would be $1200.00
Actually, when they first implimented the mass departure, the going rate was $500.00, so evidently there has been a little raise. There have been boasts of Watchtower's great income over the years on top of free labor. So the dollar amount for the Pioneers is perhaps too light, do you think? Where in the United States can you live off that amount? Also, there have been many that volunteered their best years for service and became sick or injured. These individuals are asked to leave and hope that someone will volunteer to take care of them.
It appears that the perfect system has been created. Get non profit status as a religious organization, pay no taxes, get mothers and fathers to send their kids, work them hard, let them build your properties in the name of love, and if they get sick or hurt along the way===send them back home to Mom and Dad. They don't want to have anything to do with you again, because you are lame, or maybe someone in the congregation will help you out, however, while you figure that out=======start packing your bags and give us a 30 day notice, so it looks like you volunteered to leave.
Maybe Obama will give a Stimulus Package to all the Bethelites that got AND WILL GET RailRoaded. Hey, let's all send him a letter at the Big House