by Aussie Oz 16 Replies latest jw friends
I think you should have a go at including it in your Opus Ossie, as for the public the info will be enlighgtening, most have not, and hopefully never will, set foot in one.
Terry summed it up well as usual, they are as cold and stark as a bare coffin, even worse than Quacker (Society of Friends) Halls, which, though plain, still seem to have a warmth and welcoming atmos.
The hall is built by poor witness money...then taken over by a rich org in new york. at the back is a so called library which is a room for spanking children who cant sit for 2 hours.
Part of the WBTS property portfolio......
I would write that a Kingdom Hall is a place where followers of the Watchtower periodically assemble to receive instructions on how to convince a disinterested public that the Kingdom of God was established in 1914.
Agony. Exquisite boredom. Lack of warmth and common friendliness. Functional illiterates conducting ministries when articulate and competent women were available. No Sunday School or youth program. Tacky constructionk, design, and decor. Cheapo.Rather than organ or even piano music, Kingdom Songs were played on a cheap turntable. People on welfare. People on complete disability able to do pioneer work wtih NO problem.
My Episcopalian confirmation sponsor lectured us that God wanted all of us, which includes music, art, use of our intellect, our temperament, every gift which stems from God. Also, God can take outrages b/c he is God/Christ. He is not a petty tyrant. Ask hard questions.
Once an outsiders asked an innocent question during a WT study. One can see how it looks open to an outsider. The KH had fits about the desecration. God can take it. He has taken the Holocaust, wars, plagues, floods, blizzards, avalances, earthquakes, etc. God can take hard questions.
As far as the fact that the GB owns the KH's:
Subject to the provisions of section 18 of the Religious Corporation Law, upon the winding up and dissolution of this Corporation, after paying or adequately providing for debts and obligations of the Corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. No assets will be deemed to be received by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., until such acceptance is evidenced in writing. If Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., is not then in existence and exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States tax code), then said assets shall be distributed to any organization designated by the ecclesiastical Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses that is organized and operated for religious purposes and is a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding section of any future United States tax code).
There are similar Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are for all corporations the WTBTS establishes worldwide. I have seen similar language in EU as well.
This is from the Bylaws:
Persons eligible for Corporation membership are only those who are fully dedicated to Almighty God, Jehovah, baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, are completely in harmony with the doctrines and organizational arrangements set forth by the ecclesiastical Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and report ministerial activity to the [NAME] CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, [CITY], NEW YORK (herein “Congregation”). Anyone meeting these requirements who is at least 18 years of age shall be designated a member of the Corporation; persons not meeting these requirements shall not be, nor be deemed to be, members of this Corporation. Any member who moves from or becomes inactive in the above-named congregation or is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses shall be automatically removed from membership in the Corporation without the need of his resignation.
I would write that it is really a CHURCH - but JWs (with their peculiar JW speak) deny this simple English and insist on calling it "Kingdom Hall" so as to be different from all the other churches.
