Alice ............... Im confused.
Did you smoke some killer weed cause.............
your not Alice??LOL
WT Spending
by brotherdan 94 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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sherah
Alice - Most members of the Governing Body aside from the first ones weren't always in an administrative position and did secular work, not to mention most men their age are retired. The first ones worked secular prior to their theocratic involvement.
You can read this and every year book contains information about missionary activity.
Really? Please cut and paste this information, thanks!
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sherah
"Branch offices supported by donations? Let's see......
Massive layoffs of Bethelites in the US Branch. Printing downsized, equipment sold off
Downsizing in German Branch
Downsizing in Italian Branch
Downsizing in Spanish Branch
All Branch offices in Central America to be shut down, merged with Mexico (despite growth in Latino congregations and more Spanish publications being printed than in English)
Now, the Irish Branch Office gets dumped
Looks like the donations aren't coming in, Alice. I wonder what the Governing Body will cut next?
No matter what they lose, the fraud continues. They never can admit that something is very very wrong with their 'spiritual paradise". Jehovah is closing His Celestial Wallet.
metatron"
Alice - There was 276,233 baptized in 2009. Reorganization in facility structure doesn't say anything about the organization's expansion. Where did you get your information from? The reason I ask is because brotherdan says they have an extensive cash buffer and should thus have a charity service and you say the funds are drying up. So which is it?
The WT has an extensive real estate inventory worldwide (branches, KH's, Assembly Hall, Brooklyn) that they can tap into at anytime. The closings and probable sale of equipment and branches will supply the WT with cash. Also, they have an arrangement for elderly JW's to sign over their estate when they die. So even without the donations, they are not 'broke'.
It's telling that in these dire economic times, they are choosing to expand their empire in NY and not help the financially, struggling publishers who have contributed their time, energy and money to help build said empire. Even Jesus gave fish and bread to go along with his sermons.
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alice.in.wonderland
There's nothing in the Bible that says a religious organization has to have a formalized charity division. For one, formal religious charity services are often fronts for greedy religious leaders. There's plenty of secular charity services that are more trustworthy.
In this country we also have forced philanthropy imposed by Democrats; welfare, disability, medicaid, medicare. Thanks to the government everyone who pays taxes is fulfilling their duty to be a philanthropist. If you feel you're are not doing enough, petition your local congressman for a tax increase or forfeit your refund.
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wasblind
"There's nothing in the Bible that says a religious organization has to have a formalized charity division."
I have not seen where the Bible speaks of an Organization period.
Maybe I missed something feel free to show me.
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Darth plaugeis
Again maybe it's me............. but if we didn't have poor people. How would we know we have it good?
So why would I help those who inspire me to maintain a way to survive?
Can you spare some spare change brother???
Sorry I have only hundreds on me..... no spare change.
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ruruj
Let's see: Lesser members means lesser $$ to spend.
More skipping college means lesser job opportunities or lesser income. Therefore Watchtower is on its way to $$ drain.
Solution: Watchtower converts assembly halls into colleges.
Just playing ...
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sherah
Your right, no organized charities in the bible. Just numerous examples of practical charitable acts by the likes of Jesus and others, go figure. Also, no mention of billion dollar publishing companies claiming to be hand-picked by god, yet here we are.
Alice said - In this country we also have forced philanthropy imposed by Democrats; welfare, disability, medicaid, medicare. Thanks to the government everyone who pays taxes is fulfilling their duty to be a philanthropist.
Too bad the WT can't claim to be philanthropist's by default because they don't pay taxes.
Alice - Most members of the Governing Body aside from the first ones weren't always in an administrative position and did secular work, not to mention most men their age are retired. The first ones worked secular prior to their theocratic involvement.
You can read this and every year book contains information about missionary activity.
Now how about enlightening us about the secularly employed First Governing Body members, where exactly is this information found? Feel free to cut and paste all you find.
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GLTirebiter
There's nothing in the Bible that says a religious organization has to have a formalized charity division.
Why a formal organization? Individual Christians can do charitable acts on their own. But they are more effective when working together as a group. One person acting alone can buy some sandwiches, thus feeding one meal to one homeless family. A church congregation working together can provide volunteers to run the kitchen at the homeless shelter for a week, feeding hundreds. When every church in town does their part, the shelter can feed the hungry year round.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus emphasizes that Christians have a duty to be charitable, that charity is the path to salvation. If a church does not encourage and support charitable work, should we believe their claim to be Christian?
For one, formal religious charity services are often fronts for greedy religious leaders.
"Often", that's a strong accusation. Please cite statistics from reputable sources to support this, Alice. Please don't forget that a notorious recent charity scandal involved a large secular organization.
There's plenty of secular charity services that are more trustworthy.
Yes, a good secular charity can be more trustworthy than a bad religious one. The same logic applies in the other direction, so this line of reasoning proves nothing. It also is irrelevant; what is important is supportting the charities of your choice, whether secular or religious.
Any anecdotal "proof" you cite can be countered with anecdotes about fraudulent secular charities and officers of secular charities who pay themselves lavishly or embezzle funds. The world is full of sinners, but it is also full of honorable people (with considerable overlap between those groups). Both secular and religious charities are run by humans, with the vices and virtues that humanity entails. Deal with it, by checking into any charity's reputation and integrity before offering them your money and time. The bad examples are no excuse for doing nothing at all.
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alice.in.wonderland
"The bad examples are no excuse for doing nothing at all."
That's not what they do.
http://www.jw-media.org/aboutjw/article44.htm
Contributions to the Community
Disaster Relief
Since World War II, Jehovah’s Witnesses have organized relief efforts to help fellow members and others who suffer the effects of war, natural disasters, or other calamities. Our experience in organizing and managing large numbers of people at our Kingdom Hall building projects and annual conventions contributes to their success in this regard. Often we are the first relief agency to appear on the scene.
On May 2, 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with devastating force. Almost 140,000 people were reported dead or missing after a massive storm surge engulfed the Irrawaddy Delta region.
In one area of Yangon, Myanmar, Jehovah’s Witnesses helped many people find refuge in the Kingdom Halls during the cyclone. For example, at the Kingdom Hall in Dala, a Witness couple took in 20 distraught neighbors who had fled there for safety. In the morning, those families were hungry, but they had no homes to return to. The husband found someone selling rice and bought enough to feed all the people.
Initially, the cyclone left the branch office completely cut off because large trees had fallen and blocked the roads nearby. Just a few hours after the storm subsided, more than 30 members of the branch staff joined in clearing the trees by hand. As they worked, other local residents watched. Within a short time, a group of Witness women arrived with cold drinks and fresh fruit for the workers as well as for the neighbors, who could not believe what they were seeing. When a journalist observed the activity, he asked, “Who are these people who are working so efficiently?” After being told, he remarked, “I wish more people showed such true community spirit as Jehovah’s Witnesses do!”
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ relief efforts in Haiti highlight international unity
In cooperation with local authorities and other relief agencies, the Witnesses organized to help care for the immediate needs of their fellow worshippers and other victims in Haiti.
Katrina relief: Local Jehovah's Witness lends a hand
There are opposers that will put the spin on anything Jehovah's Witnesses do. Identify yourself with a religious organization that can be subjected to criticism first, criticize second.