Due to Ongoing Concern about Dwindling Meeting Attendances, IS THE BOOK STUDY ARRANGEMENT GOING TO BE RE-INSTATED NEXT YEAR? (page 3)

jw07

I don't think the Book Study arrangement was a reliable cash cow for them either. In my experience contributions were always low, and there were issues with elder's families 'borrowing' money from the box.

Giordano

Why in the world would any JW want another meeting! If you consider the time it takes to prep for a meeting. Dress for a meeting, travel to a meeting. Attend the meeting, smooze a little afterward, travel home. Conduct one bible study a week, put in 2 or 3 hours of field service each week...... you are talking about 20 to 25 hours of wasted time per week.

Your modern young JW can put that amount of time into getting a college or trade school education, or could work a second job. Could reccreate with friends. Have a fulfilling hobby. Do some community service etc. etc.

When my wife and I left all of a sudden we had all of this great free time to put to good use.

Go back to the book study? Hell no!

DesirousOfChange

Don't see that happening.

Too many problems having the meeting in private homes and the KHs have week-nights all booked up as they put more and more Congos in the same KH.

Doc

DesirousOfChange

GIORDANO: When my wife and I left all of a sudden we had all of this great free time to put to good use.

My wife and I just had that discussion as we leisurely [got] laid in bed on Sunday morning. We miss some of the "friends" but we sure don't miss the meetings.

Doc

wallsofjericho

I was a bit worried there for a minute but I think OTWO has made some good points

EdenOne

A lot of brothers and sisters in my area miss the Book Study Meeting dearly, as it was the only relaxed and laid back meeting there was, with a more intimate, close athmosphere, lending to a stronger bonding between people. While I don't miss having one extra night in my week screwed up, I personally do miss that meeting.

Eden

rocketman

I don't see it happening either (nor have I heard anything to that effect), for many of the aformentioned reasons.

And like Blondie, I vividly recall from the days of my youth the 15 minute intermission between the Public Talk and WT Study, 5 (or more) day Conventions, three-day circuit assemblies (Friday night and then Sat and Sun), complete with full meals cooked on site, and other features that, to a JW today, would seem like a tremendous burden - which is exactly what it was.

Doubting Bro

Some folks may miss it but in most congregations (at least in the US) it was by far the most poorly attended meeting. In the hall I was in when it was discontinued, the attendance was around 75% of publishers where as the MS/TS was closer to 90% with the Sunday meetings being a little over 100% (remember the kids too young to be publishers are also in attendance).

lisaBObeesa

they can't bring back the book study in private homes because it violates residential codes in too many places.

suavojr

You know why we miss those meetings? Because that is how the first century christians congregated... We at least had the ability to be more relaxed and share our lifes with other people. It was more personal and now everything is all formal.

Ask yourself, Why does the WT grow in countries where the preaching work is illegal? Usually because the JW's in those countries have these small gatherings and bond more.

I also have fond memories of these small groups, but we cannot do anything.

Due to Ongoing Concern about Dwindling Meeting Attendances, IS THE BOOK STUDY ARRANGEMENT GOING TO BE RE-INSTATED NEXT YEAR?

Share this