just found a letter from wt to my son acknowledging his letter to them asking for a bethel application and that is the letterhead at the top...AND they signed it that way..........i have NEVER heard of this!!..........weird...anybody?.........i guess because it is about bethel they consider it like a convent or monastery?...................oompa
"Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses"...letter from WT!
by oompa 6 Replies latest jw friends
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civicsi00
This is just one of the many titles they use...
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Elsewhere
The Religious Order of Jehover's Witnesses = Bethel
Christian Congregation of Jehover's Witnesses = GB, DO's, CO's, writing and printing publications
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Hopscotch
oompa
*** yb95 5-6 ; Jehovah's Witnesses-1995 Yearbook Report ***
"Among the full-time workers were 15,145 members of the global Bethel family. They help to provide literature, supervision, and other beneficial services in support of the worldwide work of Bible education. Of these, 5,082 serve at the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and at nearby facilities. All of them are members of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants, a religious order that is devoted exclusively to the ministry."I believe there was a name change to this 'order' as in the 2003 yearbook it has changed a bit
2003 Yearbook page 30
"Worldwide, a total of 19,823 ordained ministers staff such branch facilities. All are members of the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah's Witnesses."From what I gather it is purely for tax reasons. When they join bethel they take this "vow of poverty" which to me is laughable. Some of the minor plebs at bethel probably live in 'poverty' but the higher up ones (such as my BIL in the writing dept) do not live a lifestyle which could by any stretch of the imagination be called poverty. More like jetsetters.
Hopscotch
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oompa
surprised this got by me all these years....course you could not have dragged me to bethel....too structured....bells and all........oompa
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blondie
*** km 1/02 p. 7 New Corporations Formed ***
New Corporations Formed
The January 15, 2001, issue of TheWatchtower reported on the organized way in which Jehovah’s Witnesses are continuing to move forward with the Kingdom work in all the earth. It also explained how various legal entities are used as instruments to facilitate the spreading of the good news. Such entities or corporations are necessary to conform to local and national laws, as required by God’s Word. (Rom. 13:1) Because of the diversity and scope of our work, the Governing Body has approved the formation of additional corporations to care for certain needs of Jehovah’s Witnesses here in the United States. The new corporations are as follows:
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Kingdom Support Services, Inc.
These will operate along with Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Congregations and publishers may receive correspondence from any of these corporations. Your cooperation with these adjustments made by the Governing Body in fulfilling its assignment to care for all the Master’s belongings will be greatly appreciated.—Matt. 24:45-47.
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kurtbethel
Such entities or corporations are necessary to conform to local and national laws, as required by God’s Word. (Rom. 13:1) Because of the diversity and scope of our work, the Governing Body has approved the formation of additional corporations to care for certain needs of Jehovah’s Witnesses here in the United States.
FAIL!
There is no legal requirement for a religion in the US to incorporate. There are business and tax reasons why a religion may desire to to so.