Regular Pioneers: How low will the WT go?

by Alfred 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  pirata

  Like this:

  hours_total = n_pioneers * n_hours

  I'm betting that if the net total goes up, then lowering the hours is seen as an overall gain.

  A couple pioneers, whom I've talked about the pioneer status with, have commented that if it wasn't for the pioneer arrangement, they probably wouldn't be out in service as much (since there's less commitment). Then usually an example of how they didn't feel like going out a certain day, but they needed to get in the time, and it turned out to be the best day in field service they've had.
• 

  punkofnice

  @pirata = Then usually an example of how they didn't feel like going out a certain day, but they needed to get in the time, and it turned out to be the best day in field service they've had.

  It assuaged their WTB$ induced guilt, fear and phobia is all!
• 

  willyloman

  they've offered a discount for the month of April 2011, similar to a coupon

  And they're about to learn what many other businesses already know: Once you go down that slope, the customers will never pay retail again!
• 

  OUTLAW

  Now as Slimboy mentioned they've offered a discount for the month of April 2011, similar to a coupon.

  WBT$/JW Field Service Coupons.. Jesus would have loved it! (More time for Golf!)

  

  ........................ ...OUTLAW
• 

  LongHairGal

  ALFRED:

  The whole world is a different place today than the 1930s. The whole planet is different. And, no, the religion would only get a retiree or an oddball or two to do what was done back then.

  As far as how low the hourly requirement for pioneers will go, I have no idea. But, I will say this: nobody has any business being on the pioneer list if they can't support themselves.
• 

  saltyoldlady

  Me thinks they will lower the hour requirement as far as they need to to keep saying "We've had an INCREASE in pioneers" - it's all a stats game.
• 

  straightshooter

  I feel that the hours will be lowered for the aux pio and reg pio because of changing attitudes of the normal jw. They are just too busy surviving in this world.
• 

  Alfred

  Call me crazy, but based on the WT's recent desperation move with the April Aux Pioneer "coupon", I think the GB will eventually be forced to eliminate ALL the pioneer designations (AUX, REG, Special) and simply have one designation across the board... "Pioneer", period. The minimum hours will probably be based on some easy benchmark (for example: the previous year's average hours per publisher multiplied by 3 just to set the "pioneers" apart from the lowly "publishers" or some other "loving provision"). Special Pioneers will likely continue to exist but they'll probably just call them "Missionaries" or some other familiar term and they'll be less of them (just to give the false impression that the "worldwide work" is reaching its end). Their minimum hours will probably be some small percentage above the pioneer's new minimum. I realize that I could be dead wrong about all of this but they do appear to be trending in that direction... 2014 will likely be an interesting year for the WT...
• 

  man in black

  But, I will say this: nobody has any business being on the pioneer list if they can't support themselves.

  Interesting comment,, I know of a lady who is a pioneer but :

  1) she is divorced, (2 x's) and does not work. her 1st ex husband and son support her lifestyle. Probably out of some type of guilt.

  And several times the elders from her hall actually have given her money so that she can pay her bills.
• 

  LongHairGal

  MAN IN BLACK:

  If the deluded elders want to give money to somebody then let them. Hopefully, they wouldn't dare to ask money from responsible people in the hall who work for a living and are criticized for doing so. If I were still attending and somebody had the nerve to ever come up to me and ask for money for some pioneer who chose not to be part of the workforce, I would tell them to go to hell. This also goes for COs and anybody else.

  The religion is in a predicament because they claim to have 'no clergy' but technically all JWs are ministers. Well, that means I was a minister also. However, I am a responsible member of the workforce who supports myself. I could not pioneer because I work full time so I went out on weekends. But, I had to listen to stupid remarks.

  I don't even want to know about these people. They made their bed. Let them lie in it.