2009 Service Report showed 118 Branches. 2011 reported 98. You state 1 more recently - Cyprus. That's 21 branches lopped in 3 yrs.
List of Branch Offices and Country Offices of Jehovah's Witnesses
by cedars 57 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Weana
closed in 2011: Switzerland
closed in 2011 (or 2010?): Luxemburg
German Branch takes care for those countries now (as well as for Austria, already mentioned above)
Generally, closing/merging branches is nowadays a reasonable measure, especially for countries sharing same language (as with Greece-Cyprus; Mexico etc.; Germany-Switzerland-Luxemburg-Austria; NSL-Australia), or for provinces/states belonging to the same political nation (Hawaii-Alaska-USA).
As far as I see, great majority of active witnesses have no problem with this. No disadvantage at all; just saving some money.
Italy branch shall not be closed. Maybe printing will be stopped (has already been stopped?) in Italy?
Changing number of branches is no proof for changing condition of WTS. Real evidences for worsening condition of society are, for instance, change in age distribution of elders (young ones are not willed anymore to get involved), and merging congregations in urban areas of industrial countries on a large scale (no growth expected anymore!).
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cedars
Weana
As far as I see, great majority of active witnesses have no problem with this. No disadvantage at all; just saving some money.
You've highlighted yourself why this is of so much interest. Closing down branches is first-and-foremost a cost-cutting measure. The Society would only be seeking to cut costs if they were in some kind of financial difficulty, so widescale branch closures are significant. As I keep stressing, last year saw an unprecedented 16% decrease.
It is in the Society's interest to have a branch committee in EVERY country regardless of the language/cultural similarities. Branch committees form a vital role in directing the preaching activity in each country and ensuring global doctrinal and organizational uniformity. That is why there has been a continual upwards trend in new branches being opened until only recently. The fact that the Society can no longer afford this "utopia" of a branch in every country is a telling sign that (1) Jehovah is not blessing the work in the way they would like, and (2) they do not have the financial resources they once enjoyed.
Here is what the Od book has to say about branch committees on pages 51/52.
In each branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the world, three or more spiritually qualified and mature brothers serve as a Branch Committee to oversee the preaching work in the country or countries under their juisdiction. One of the committee members serves as the Branch Committee coordinator.
Those serving on the Branch Committee handle matters pertaining to all the congregations in their territory. They arrange for the distribution of publications furnished by "the faithful and discreet slave" to strengthen all associated with the congregations. (Matt 24:45) Their primary objective is to see to it that the good news is preached throughout the territory assigned and that the congregations, circuits, and districts are set up to give proper oversight to the needs of the field. The Branch Committee also gives attention to the missionary field and to special, regular, and auxiliary pioneer activity. When there are conventions, these brothers make arrangements and assignments to ensure that "all things take place decently and by arrangement." -1 Cor. 14:40
You can see how large countries such as Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden would be in particular need of their own Branch Committees. The fact that they no longer have such a relatively straightforward commodity is born from necessity rather than convenience.
A branch office differs significantly from a country office, which is basically just a glorified forwarding address and meet-up point. The Od book continues...
A Country Committee is appointed in some lands that come under the oversight of a Branch Committee in another land. This allows for closer supervision of the work where the Country Committee serves. It cares for matters in the Bethel Home and office, handles correspondence and reports, and generally cares for the activities in the field. The Country Committee operates with the Branch Committee for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Obviously, the needs of a Country Committee are vastly more modest than the needs of a Branch Committee. A Country Committee only needs AN ADDRESS to receive correspondence from the branch and from local congregations, whereas a Branch Committee needs adequate facilities and offices for managing their responsibilities. This is why there is such an attraction for lucrative branch facilities to be closed down and sold wherever possible, because their considerable operating costs make them a drain on the Society's steadily dwindling finances.
Cedars
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TheOldHippie
There is no Denmark branch, but there is a Scandinavia branch.
This Scandinavian branch (which you call Danish but which it is not) also serves Iceland, which you have forgotten.
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TheOldHippie
Loesch stated as a reason that many who had served for a long time and were advanced in years, had died recently. He gave that as a contributing reason.
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cedars
The Old Hippie - I would rather stick to the names of the countries in which the branches are located, and then specify the countries served by that branch. "The Scandinavian Branch" may have a nicer, more international ring to it, but if it's based in Denmark then it's really the Danish branch. Similarly, Ireland is served by the Britain branch, not the "British Isles" branch.
Can you confirm for definite that Iceland no longer has a Branch Committee, but is now only a Country Office?
Cedars
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TheOldHippie
Yes, i can confirm.
The Scandinavian branch has seven overseers, three Swedish, two Danish and two Norwegians.
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cedars
Thanks TheOldHippie - I'll update the map accordingly!
Cedars
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slimboyfat
" As far as I see, great majority of active witnesses have no problem with this. No disadvantage at all; just saving some money."
I am not sure about that. Having a branch in Austria was a source of some pride, and the loss will have some psychological impact. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a new spiritual Anschluss, but Austrians don't take kindly to being under the jurisdiction of Germans generally. Plus it will have practical impacts. JWs in Austria have fought a long campaign for legal recognition. If that should suffer setbacks in the future then their case can only be diminished from the lack of a branch within the country to present their side of the argument. Plus a government may well ask how serious a religion is about their status in a country where they don't even keep an office.
My grandmother in law has a book about the history of JWs in Austria that was produced by the local banch but only had a small print run and was distributed to senior Witnesses only. It proudly states that there has been a branch in Austria for around a hundred years. It will be a sad addendum to Witnesses of that older generation that the closure of the branch could now be added as a final chapter to that written history.
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slimboyfat
" Loesch stated as a reason that many who had served for a long time and were advanced in years, had died recently. He gave that as a contributing reason."
What, everywhere, and all at once? And no new blood was ready to replace any of them? What sort of terrifying plague is it that hit branches as far flung as Alaska, Austria, and New Zealand simultaneously?