Does No Solicitation equal Put on "Do not Call List"?

by ABibleStudent 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  ABibleStudent

  I live in a townhome complex. A few days ago I asked the property manager to ask the local Kingdom Hall to no longer place WTBTS literature (propaganda) at the complex because the area is posted as no solicitation and because the literature is sometimes blown away from doors becoming litter.

  Today I received a response that the Kingdom Hall agreed to no longer place literature at the complex and to let him know if WTBTS literature is placed at the complex. I was shocked how easy it was for the KH representative to agree to no longer place literature at the complex. Because the WTBTS promotes using "Theocratic Warfare Strategy", I wonder if JWs will stop going D2D at the complex, will stop until next year, or will ignor the request. I thanked the property manager and asked him if the KH representative said that he put/would put the complex on the KH's "Do not Call List"? It will be interesting to see what happens.

  Also, I wonder if the local KH will create a propaganda cart at a local mall soon. I doubt it, because local malls would probably want to be paid rent. Unlike in Europe or small towns, most shoppers go to malls in the USA instead of to a town center. Also, there are no public transportation venues where I live.

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
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  jamiebowers

  They may stilll go door to door but not leave lit at not at homes.
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  OneEyedJoe

  Either what Jamie said, or you just got your complex put on a phone witnessing territory.
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  JustVisting

  The policy is that the property manager's wishes (to not distribute literature) may not represent the individual resident's wishes as to religious literature offers. In other words, they will not leave mags at not-at-homes but may still offer magazines door-to-door, unless the householder specifically requests to be placed on the "do not call" list.
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  leaving_quietly

  Legally, no. Here's the deal:

  If a complex / community posts a "No Tresspassing" sign, it really means nothing. It's just there to scare people away. If an individual home within that community posts a "No Tresspassing" sign on their own home, JWs should not knock on that door.

  If a complex / community posts a "No Soliciting" sign, it means nothing for JWs since they are not soliciting (normally... I'll get to that in a minute). Same goes with an individual home. From a legal perspective, "no soliciting" does not apply to preaching religion.

  However, when JWs have campaigns where they are going around canvasing, they may very well fall into the "soliciting" category. Just going around and leaving those invitations / tracts is NOT preaching, and there could be a good case in court to make that activity fall under local canvasing / soliciting ordinances. This has not, to my knowledge, ever been challenged. And, this has not been specifically addressed by WTBTS. The last letter regarding all this came out to the BOEs prior to all the campaigns JWs have been having.

  Back to your situation: If someone in your community tells JWs to not be there, they will go away until another time. If you manager tells JWs to not be there, JWs are supposed to get their information, (name, community name, address), give it to the Service Overseer. The Service Overseer / Secretary is supposed to write a letter to the Legal Dept. The Legal Dept. will come back with a letter telling them not to work that community for a period of one year. (I guess is that they home the manager changes or forgets what they told them to begin with.)

  Another thing you can do is have your manager write a letter to the local KH or even to the branch requesting that they not have JWs visit the community.

  The problem in a community is that you personally cannot speak for everyone in your community. But, your manager DOES have the power to ask them to leave and not come back, and the JWs are supposed to follow protocol. It's important that your manager identifies him/herself as the manager, not just a homeowner.

  Another thing that might work is putting up a sign that says: "No Soliciting. No Tresspassing. That includes religious groups." This may very well dissuade JWs from entering the complex / community.
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  Apognophos

  "Witnesses are not soliciting." That's the standard response they will give you. Therefore, No Soliciting signs are not effective. If asked not to stop by, they will still come by the territory, but may only do a few doors at a time to avoid attracting too much attention.

  Asking for the community as a whole to be placed on DNC is possible, and it's also possible that they will be getting a call from Watchtower Legal if they do it... remember, the Society has fought in the Supreme Court over the rights to go into any neighborhood.
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  ABibleStudent

  Thank you for the comments.

  How do you feel that the local KH would respond if I asked the property manager to send the KH a written letter like the following?

  Dear Local Kingdom Hall,

  Please put the Townhome complex on the Kingdom Hall's "Do not Call List" indefinately so that Jehovah's Witnesses do not go door-to-door to place Watchtower literature with residents of the townhome complex. Compliants about Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on doors and/or leaving literature at doors that have blown away by the wind to become litter have been lodged with the Property Manager of the Complex by owners/residents. "No Soliciting" signs are posted at the entrances to streets into the complex and apply to religious groups like the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Besides being annoyed by unannounced door knocking and litter, some residents are concerned about Jehovah's Witnesses coming into contact with children that live in the complex. What are the Watchtower's child protection policies? Are Jehovah's Witnesses that go door-to-door been screened for child abuse and/or molestation by local law enforcement by being finger-printed? Are Jehovah's Witnesses required to immediately contact local law enforcement instead of the Watchtower when a Jehovah's Witness is suspected of abusing or molesting a child? Law suits against the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses such as the Candace Conti's, etc. lawsuits concern some residents with Jehovah's Witnesses soliciting at the complex.

  Regards

  Property Manager

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
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  LisaRose

  The do not call list means nothing, I have been called on EIGHT times after requesting to be put on it, even after requesting it in writing twice.
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  Phizzy

  Dear Lisa-rose, you need to develop the art of foaming at the mouth and speaking in a very "demonic" voice, saying "we are Apostates, we serve Satan" or something similar, they will not call back.