Watchtower Takes in $2 Million Conditional Loan and Won't Return the Loan, Is it True? (page 2)

3rdgen

Honesty, I honestly believe you. BTW, Balaam'sass2 is the other witness sooooooooooo............there you have it. the 2 witness rule

What gets me is that, supposedly, the legal staff consists of believers. Doing gratis, free, legal work. That really blows me away that they are on the inside track with all of this stuff but they haven't enough conscience to walk away.

stuckinarut2

I did accounts in tthe cong, and I can tell you that all the loans given when our hall was built, had "promisary notes" drawn up that stated that the funds could be asked back at any time.

BUT, several years later, after the hall was built, these notes were automatically turned into outright donations by the local elders.

Also, a part was given encouraging all that had donated loans in the past to view these as gifts to Jehovah. The classic line was "clearly Jehovah has blessed us all since, and we are not in want of funds, therefore wouldn't it be appropriate to just allow these loans to be turned into direct donations to the society?"

Bangalore

Check this out,Bohm.

*** w03 11/1 p. 28 Cultivate a Giving Spirit ***

Ways in Which Some Choose to Give

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLDWIDE WORK

Many set aside, or budget, an amount that they place in the contribution boxes labeled “Contributions for the Worldwide Work—Matthew 24:14.”

Each month, congregations forward these amounts to the office of Jehovah’s Witnesses that serves their respective countries. Voluntary donations of money may also be sent directly to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, c/o Office of the Secretary and Treasurer, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483, or to the branch office that serves your country. Checks should be made payable to “Watch Tower.” Jewelry or other valuables may be donated as well. A brief letter stating that such is an outright gift should accompany these contributions.

CONDITIONAL-DONATION ARRANGEMENT

Money may be donated under a special arrangement in which, should the donor request it, the donation may be returned to him. For more information, please contact the Office of the Secretary and Treasurer at the address noted above.

Bangalore

piztjw

Money may be donated under a special arrangement in which, should the donor request it, the donation may be returned to him.

And there you have it folks. Notice the wording? The org in true "splitting hairs" fashion has worded this as MAY be returned to him, not WILL be returned. That is their loophole.

Londo111

Wow. Just when I think I've heard it all...the depths the Watchtower sinks too... wow.

Jeannette

Extortion.

blondie

Suggestion: If you have a jw family member or friend, help them get non-jw legal help to set up the paperwork...reference them to where Jeremiah got paperwork for a business arrangement with a family member.

*** w97 8/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***

. When his beloved Sarah died, Abraham wanted to obtain a burial place. He began dealing with Canaanites living near Hebron. Verses 7-9 show that he offered a clear price for the piece of land he wanted. Verse 10 proves this offer was made publicly, in the hearing of others at the city gate. Verse 13 shows that the owner offered to give the land to Abraham, but he responded that he would take the land only as a purchase. And verses 17, 18, and 20 explain that this is how it worked out, being confirmed “before the eyes of the sons of Heth among all those entering the gate of his city.”

Would it be different, though, when the two having such a business dealing were both true worshipers? Chapter 32 of Jeremiah provides an answer. From verse 6 on, we see that Jeremiah was to purchase land from his cousin. Verse 9 shows that a fair price was agreed upon. Now read verses 10-12: “Then I [Jeremiah] wrote in a deed and affixed the seal and took witnesses as I went weighing the money in the scales. After that I took the deed of purchase, the one sealed according to the commandment and the regulations, and the one left open; and I then gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah the son of Mahseiah before the eyes of Hanamel the son of my paternal uncle and before the eyes of the witnesses, those writing in the deed of purchase, before the eyes of all the Jews who were sitting in the Courtyard of the Guard.”

Yes, although Jeremiah was dealing with a fellow worshiper, even a relative, he went through some reasonable legal procedures. Two written records were made—one being left open for ready consultation, the second being sealed so as to provide back-up proof should there ever be any doubt about the accuracy of the open one. All of this was transacted, as verse 13 says, “before their eyes.” So it was a public, witnessed, legal business dealing. Clearly, then, it is with Scriptural precedent that true worshipers handle matters in such a confirmed and documented way.

bohm

Bangalore: thanks. I am having a wtf moment rightnow.. Guess they keep finding ways to surprice!

Slidin Fast

The UK accounts are available at the Charity Commision website. Each year there is a note to the effect is that they work on a repayment possibity of 50% but that the actual repayments are a much smaller percentage. Here is the one from 2012

Notes to the accounts:- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Great Britain

" 23. PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES .....

Conditional donations are donations made by individuals on the understanding that they may be recalled should the donor require such funds in the future. The donor retains an option over their donation until they die or write to convert it into an outright donation. While it is considered probable that some of these conditional donations will need to be repaid, it is unknown when this liability will crystallise or how large it will be. The trustees have therefore prudently made a provision for 50% of the balance of conditional donations as shown above. £23,300 was requested back in the financial year (2011: £24,000). The remaining £1.6 million is a contingent liability. "

The accounts for several years are available.

Watchtower Takes in $2 Million Conditional Loan and Won't Return the Loan, Is it True?