by Joliette 38 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I would like to see a copy of the original announcement letter about the change from sales to donations. If I recall correctly, the California Swaggart case was actually mentioned from the platform at my KH but I don't recall whether the brother was ad-libbing or reading the letter.
I remember getting home from the meeting and talking to relatives on the phone about the new "tax dodge" the Society was pulling. I guess I was already a budding free thinking apostate even then, LoL.
As further proof that it was a tax dodge, the new arrangement was not introduced in all countries at the same time. The focus was on those countries that were likely to seek tax returns, such as the USA, France, UK and some other countries. As a result, for quite a while, literature in many affluent countries was offered 'without charge' while in many 3rd world countries they still had to pay.
Although all countries now offer the literature without charge, there are still variations. In the UK, JW's are not to ask for a donation - they must wait for the recipient to mention it. In Italy, however, the KM includes requests for money in the examples of what to say at a door. In some third world countries, because the JW is also poor and cannot afford to pay at the hall without getting the money back, they still will not give literature unless a suitable 'donation' is made, except for a tract.
If a congregation does not send in donations regularly each month, they are advised that 'controlled stock' will no longer be delivered. As others have said, it is just semantics - the literature is still not free, but it gets around tax laws. If a country wants taxes, as France did, instead of paying they close down the branch and import the literature instead. So much for giving the things due to Caesar......
Joliette:
One of the biggest things with Jehovah's Witnesses is that don't ask for money, its all on a voluntary basis
You haven't been to a District Convention™ or Circuit Assembly™ lately, have you?
Next time you attend, please bring a notebook with you. Inside the back cover, place a check mark whenever the topic of donations is mentioned. You'll see it morph into a running theme, even moreso than whatever the theme is for the assembly talks.
It was an exercise very similar to this that showed me that the WTS is far more focused on cash flow than any church that passes a collection plate.
I wonder how much $ the average sized Kingdom Hall sends back to HQ these days.?
When you look back at how the WTS distributes today and how it was done 100 years ago,
it's really not very different. Rent a Hall or place to hold a talk, advertise in the news papers prior to the event,
give a speech about how Christ returned to earth and he's looking for devoted followers to take into paradise with him
and those he deems unacceptable, his father is going to outright kill.
Afterwards have people sell books and magazines that were supported by the main talk.
The best way to receive his acceptance is to sell and push the WTS. literature around, defined by the WTS as preaching the gospel word.
In 1988, Jimmy Swaggart was taken to court in the case Swaggart Ministries v. California Board of Equalization. This regarded paying tax on profit derived from sales of religious material. (http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1989/1989_88_1374/argument/ April 6th 2007) Realising a ruling against Swaggart could result the sale of Watchtower publications being taxed the Watchtower Society filed a Brief of Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) for United States Supreme Court Docket # 88-1374. This was to support Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. With the decision looking likely to go against Swaggart, the Watchtower Society initiated the 'voluntary donation' arrangement in the United States before the ruling.
Amicus Curiae document can be read here.
http://www.archive.org/details/WatchtowerAmicusCuriaeJimmySwaggart
pdf of the document can be found there too.
JWFacts- was the change before the final ruling or was it 30 days after?
I wonder how much $ the average sized Kingdom Hall sends back to HQ these days.?
I checked my congregation and we sent an average of just over £1000 per month during the last year plus a regular donation each month to the Circuit Assembly Hall equivalent to about £1 per publisher per month. In addition to these are contributions to the Circuit Overseers flat, his expenses each visit and the Circuit Car Fund. There is also the Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement (Insurance)
We have less than 50 publishers.
In the UK you can look at each congregations finances, plus also the assembly halls, at the Charity Commission website
George
Try not paying the congregation WBT$ Literature Bill..
The WBT$ will cut off your Free WBT$ Literature,until you pay the Correct Donation..
@OUTLAW, I have never heard of a congregation Literature Bill. Did you make that up?
