WTS admits (indirectly) decreasing in U.S. publisher ratio to population

by Gayle 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Gayle

  Service Year Reports:

  2010 - 1/259

  2011 - 1/261

  2012 - 1/262

  So, the WTS is not keeping up with the U.S. population (and they know it), though it rants about increasing pubs., etc.
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  5go

  Well it is increasing but it's a case of the red queen's race and they are losing badly. If they split up languages the stats are much worse than they look together as English congs are being decimated in the US, only the Spanish, Chinese, and Russian Congs growth are hiding it for now.
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  steve2

  There is suggestive evidence that the yearly increases of memorial attendance numbers is also slowing down in the US. The current year's attendance - whilst around 2,500 higher than last year's - is about 1,000 lower than 2010s attendances. To the best of my knowledge, this reduced number some years later has not happened for decades - even the decrease in 1977 was a one-off.

  Some, such as SBF, have suggested that it was the huge increase in 2011 that led to the inevitable decrease last year - but as I showed in my graph on another thread, previous years saw big increases that did not result in subsequent decreases in the following year. Indeed in 2005, there was a huge decrease in memorial attendance but the very next year (2006), there was a "rebound" increase that rose above that of 2004 and the increase kept going for several years ... until last year.

  I stress again this is suggestive evidence; however, combined with consistent decreases in baptisms in recent years (compared with earlier years), it does seem as if there is something of a trending downwards in terms of "where" future growth will come from.

  The other observation is also compelling and is mirrored in New Zealand: English-language congregations have poor meeting attendances during the week in contrast to the far healthier meeting attendances of the non-English congregations.
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  GonzoX

  Service Year Reports:

  2010 - 1/259

  2011 - 1/261

  2012 - 1/262

  I like the the numbers. WT keep up the good work.
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  factfinder

  I remember hearing in the 90's at the CA how attendence was down in English speaking congregations while up in the Spanish ones.

  This trend has obviously continued. I would not be surprised if the publisher figure , etc. for English speaking congs in the US is way down.

  There used to be 2 English speaking congs. in the kh I used to attend, now there is just one.
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  never a jw

  Spanish congregations, according to my experience here in California, are stagnant. The big surges hapenned in the 90's. Now the congregations gain one and lose one.
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  rmt1

  Are these numbers massaged or cooked? If so, in what way? Is it really so that TWS would publish factual numbers that any JW with a spreadsheet could track over time? I'm just surprised.
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  steve2

  There is no evidence that the official reports are falsified or have ever been - although they may selectively highlight the numbers that put them in a better light (which is the opposite of what ex-JWs do - highlight trends that suggest a slowing down, if not a decrease.).All's fair in love and war - if you believe something, you see primarily the stuff that supports your belief and turn a blind eye to disturbing stuff. And if you don't believe stuff, you see stuff that supports your disbelief and play down stuff that doesn't. In the end, those who proclaim themselves to be the only ones with the truth, have an inner battle turning a blind eye to the mounting stuff that indicates all is not well (e.g., unflattering statistics).
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  TheOldHippie

  Memorial attendance has always fluctuated depending on what day of the week it is celebrated. The cousins ain't as faithful as the brothers.
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  InquiryMan

  And especially in Norway.... I guess when the memorial is in the beginning of eastertime, the attendance might be higher than if it happens to take place dyring the five succecutive holidays... (Thursday-Monday) when most people have holiday. It is interesting that a very small congregation up in the mountains used to have one of the highest attendance of all con. in the country due to vast number of witnesses going on holiday during memorial season.