I hope Juan Viejo2 will not mind if I repost his comment from the hot thread on firing the DOs being an early indication of a much bigger project the GB has in mind:
He was responding to my request for more info on how the reported disbanding of the RBCs fits into this overall plan the GB has in mind to reshape the org.
Surprisingly, I've been fortunate to meet many former JWs who were very active volunteers for the RBC new builds. I've also corresponded with a few elders who have had serious run-ins with RBC department managers in their area. One here in Oregon told me that the RBC came in and did an inspection on a Kingdom Hall that was spotless inside and out (quite typical for most larger Oregon KHs - the brothers show a lot of pride in their properties). He told me that the RBC did an inspection of his hall and (this is his description, not mine) "acted like Nazi storm troopers." They did a complete inspection of every plug and drain and window crank. They tested the audio system. This hall had a wide screen TV off to the side of the stage that was a private donation by one of the brothers and approved by the CO - used to train ASL classes. "Get rid of it! It's a distraction." The final straw was when they asked when the carpet in the main hall had been cleaned last. The carpet was typically professionally cleaned twice a year (right after the winter - just before Memorial, and in mid-fall after the summer dust and pine needles stopped falling.) They wanted to see the receipts for the carpet cleaning and any repairs. There was one receipt for a special cleaning and spot removal in one area where an elderly sister with palsy had spilled a full cup of red wine during a Memorial. The spot was so well removed that they could not even find or remember the row where the spill took place, just the general area.
After the inspection, the RBC ordered the replacement of all of the carpet in the main hall. Replacing the carpet would require that the seats be detached from the floor and stored while large sections of carpet would be laid. The local elders all protested that the carpet was in good shape and servicable for probably another 5 years. The RBC not only gave them no choice in the matter, but also wrote a bad report on one of the elders who tried extra hard to reason with them that the funds could be put to much better use in areas like Japan and Haiti where they really needed the help and improvements. He told me that the carpet was replaced and the billing was completely unreasonable based on local costs for materials and labor. Rumors were that the carpet and installation was provided by a company owned by a brother in the region who supplied materials for RBC build projects and who was quite prominent and was often an assembly speaker.
Anyone wonder why that elder is now a former JW? He told me that was only one straw during his last ten years as a JW. "There were many and they were almost constant. But that was the most blatant misuse of power and in my opinion clearly benefitted one of the brothers unfairly. But the RBC simply overrules the complaints or logic of the local elders. I think they come into every Kingdom Hall with orders to find something to spend money on in a way to beneifit (and or payback) a large contributer to the Society. While this might not be 'criminal' in a strictly legal sense, it sure reminds me of 'graft' in the political sense. I'd heard that in the old days (1950s-60s) the Society would do this with car dealers owned by wealthy brothers to buy cars used by COs and DOs. But that whole episode with the RBC and the replacement of perfectly fine carpet was the last straw for me."
(I believe this former elder reads and occasionally posts here on JWN - but I don't know his user ID and would not divulge it if I did.)
Sorry for another long story - but I think it says volumes about how the Watchtower through the RBC is treating local elders with both disrespect and often in a particularly abusive manner. Do you think a few brothers are a little full of themselves like to throw their WT given authority around. Just another example of the complete lack of love - just empty words and a love of power - by many in the mid-ranks of the Watchtower Society.
JV
I've reposted this in a new thread to draw attention to it. If one goes right into the topics thread next to "Home" instead of the 'actve topics' one in the blue band above this, it would be easy to miss this valuable experience JV relates. As many as possible should see it.
When I was just beginning to see the org's corruption, probably like others, it was only on the local level. I could see the local elders' non-biblical values and conduct. I think many Witnesses can somewhat see this, even if not privy to elders' meetings, where, of course, it is often on grand display. The real eye-opener comes when one realizes that it's not just local or one step up with the CO, but it starts at the top and rolls downhill. For many that really begins a person's journey to the TTATT.
JV asks "Do you think a few brothers are a little full of themselves [and] like to throw their WT given authority around"? I think it is far more than a few bros. on various RBCs, in "the mid-ranks of the WTS."
So many abuse stories about these RBCs have been related here and personally experienced by members that there must be a common thread beyond just certain elders who belong to these committees wanting to profit personally (or give their elder buddies some business) from strong-arming these various BOEs to pay up. Like so much else of the corruption in the org, this abuse must be actively directed from above. Given the RBC's history, the only reasonable conclusion is that the GB intentionally engineered the RBC arrangement as a money making machine, and in their minds, the hell with the casualities. There's no other explanation for the common denominator in these many stories. It can't just be a few bros. being too full of themselves.
Members here who have already realized this, please forgive my slowness to catch on here! But thought I should share my aha moment since others might benefit, perhaps even JV2. One final thought on this topic for those who might know or have some further insight: Is this disbanding of the RBCs because the GB has realized that it's gone too far, been too abusive, cost them too much in previous loyal members waking up and leaving or stepping down, and word has gotten back to them that they'd better back off this scheme?
Every day at this forum is educational...