Hi, I am learning about JWs, and would like to know if any of their leaders, circuit overseers, district overseers, etc. are paid. Also, who owns the kingdom hall buildings and furnishings in them? Thanks a lot!
Is any one paid in the organization?
by ecuador 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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youngbro
KH are owned by a few of the local elders, which the congregation votes on....CO's and DO's are given a modest allowance each month for food etc; the local congregation they visit pays for their dry cleaning, so I have heard...plus they are often given "material support" by the "friends".
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alanv
The Watchtower leaders although only having a small money allowance, get everything paid for them. They get free accommadaion, free utility bills, free health insurance, free car and free worldwide holidays. Plus they are given 'green handshakes' fairly regularly.
Certainly not living in any poverty.
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slimboyfat
The Watchtower lawyers presumably get paid well.
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dozy
The local elders don't strictly speaking "own" the Kingdom Halls - actual ownership structure varies from country to country but usually the elders are trustees of the building & contents - the congregation own the building which ultimately in turn is owned by the society ( or whatever their legal corporation is in that country.) There was a case in California where the Watchtower Society fought the ultimate ownership of a Kingdom Hall that had been gifted to them & won the case eventually. The structure is similar to that of most churches & voluntary groups.
Although the society make much of their claim of not having a "paid" clergy class , as mentioned all of the costs are of the elite members are covered and they enjoy what most of us would regard as a very comfortable existence without any of the hassles of working to make a living. The ex-member of the Governing Body Ray Franz spoke of the prestige of having first choice of the apartments in Brooklyn overlooking Manhattan & the freedom to travel all over the world to make " zone visits " & give talks. It was said of ex-President Knorr that he travelled first class everywhere on aeroplanes & booked two seats so that he had one for his briefcase & didn't need to talk to anyone on the plane.
It seems probable that some highly skilled elite JWs ( such as lawyers ) do draw a salary ( many of these , eg Carolyn Wah http://lawyers.legalhelpmate.com/NY-Lawyer-Carolyn-Wah-683307.aspx are specialists in specific fields , such as civil rights & defending paedophilia lawsuits & would get huge salaries in the private sector ), but as the WTBTS refuse to produce financial accounts in the USA then there is no way of knowing for certain.
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cedars
I seem to remember receiving the grand sum of £80 for attending MTS!
Cedars
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bats in the belfry
Here is what the Branch Organization, rev. February 2003, booklet says:
And from the May 25, 2011 BOE letter:
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blondie
In the US, the congregations (the one that holds the territory the KH building is on) are run as non-profit religious corporations. No one individual or organization OWNS the building or property. There are 3 trustees, elders from that congregation, who do the mandatory legal voting and paperwork. The WTS can dissolve the congregation and take over their assets. The WTS functions as the parent non-profit religious corporation under the same rules. The WTS controls the assets under the rules set by the IRS.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf
Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3) Organizations
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
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Anony Mous
The CO's and DO's have a monthly allowance as well as all-expense paid room, board and transportation. They have cable/sattelite, internet, phones, computers, health insurance, cars and houses paid for by the corporation that deals with the CO's, DO's and Special Pioneers. It's a separate corporation, not part of the WTBTS but they get paid through 'donations' which are specific monthly contributions which the corporation sets forth in a letter each year. The contributions are not collected by the WTBTS, they go to a separate bank account held by that corporation.
The bethelites have a monthly allowance as well as all-expense paid room, board and in some cases transportation. Less cushy for the younger ones but they do have their own mechanics, gym, doctors etc. They also have some vacation. As they get seniority they get bigger spaces to live, transportation paid for. They are paid by the corporation that holds their specific bethel house. This corporation is paid for by contributions from the Worldwide Work which are collected by a separate bank account.
The Governing Body is very similar to the bethelites although they each have large sets of rooms in Brooklyn, NY with dining rooms, offices, luxurious bedrooms, expensive cars and all-expense paid traveling accomodations wherever they want at very luxurious hotels. They have personal assistants, cooks and maids. They are their own corporate entity.
All-in-all there are about 5 separate costs each month to the local congregations that go to 5 separate bank accounts of a variety of corporations although there is no official ties to the entities, they all are part of the same 'spiritual organization' and any of those corporations can set forth their rates of collection and is considered by the locals to be the same entity although legally they aren't.
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blindnomore
ecuador, Are you an investigator or a government agent? Were you told by the Watchtower Legal Department about Jehovah's Witnesses elders legal tie with its Headquator?
You don't have to answer the above questions. I think you know where I am going with it, if your answeres are "yes."
As everyone have clarified, Circuit Overseer(CO), District Overseer(DO), GB(Governing Body), Special Pioneer, and Bethelites are paid ministers. They are therefore direct representitives of the Watchtower Society. The Watchtower is liable for these indivisuals' church activites.
As far as concerning the JW elders, they are not paid ministers but are representing the Watchtower locally therefore the Watchtower is liable for them as well. The elders are appointed by and granted absolute authority over their local members from Watchtower leaders directly. The Watchtower Legal Department has mislead the Government agencies(in the USA) about local elders not being representives of the Watchtower Organization since they are non paid volunteer ministers. Such claim is designed to avoid legal liabilities and mislead the secular authorities.
A JW man was told by the Appeal Committee of Jehovah's Witnesses Judicial Hearing that he was guilty of talking against the Watchtower Organization by talking against Wathctower's appointed elder. This man was found guilty of talking against the Watchtower therefore and was disfellowshipped. Bottom line, JW elders=the Watchtower Organization. Don't let any Watchtower Organization's double tongue tell you otherwise.
As we all have learned from Candace Conti's case, the Watchtower is also liable for their Rank & File's actions for the damage caused to another members due to church policies.
