RBC New Update and new Britain Bethel News

by Da.Furious 10 Replies latest watchtower scandals

• 

  Da.Furious

  I have posted some of this info in a different post but due to the additional information I heard I have decided to put all this under new topic.

  RBC Update (apparently this information is global):

  • RBC will be dissolved on 5 October 2014
  • Majority of departments will be shut down and handed over to Bethel (construction, planning, Training, IT and Legal definitely will be gone)
  • Age criteria for the new department is under 50 years old
  • All current overseers have been laid off from RBC with only 1 condition if they can be full time volunteers
  • Some RBC departments will still operate but under the new management. And this is only for couple of years until they can fully dissolve them
  • Volunteers will be called from across the country and not only specific regions

  New Britain Bethel News:

  • The layoffs of bethelites is starting – all over 50s are being reassessed and if necessary “kicked out!” – I meant reassigned to field service.
  • Reason for above is insurance and medical costs
  • The branch office is reducing the amount of volunteers for building the new facilities due to the fact that building flats to accommodate them will increase the costs substantially.
  • Based on above, the branch is appointing external companies to do the bulk or major building work
  • Several brothers have been approached to send their bids for the construction work
  • Reason for new contribution letter for bethel letters send, was underestimated expenses – in other word bad planning.
  • Contradicting information about the donation letter, is related to appointment to external companies would reduce the cost significantly! Question: why need extra money?
  • Some of the flats will get built and then will be sold for the public, I presume witnesses only but not sure how they can pull this off in UK.
  • Now waiting for final approval from GB to go on with the new bethel after major changes to the planning occurred

  Da Furious
• 

  chirac

  WHAT IS OR WHEREV IS RBC

  I'M FRENCH EXCUSE MY SO POOR ENGLISH
• 

  88JM

  ^ (R.B.C. was the Regional Building Committee, responsible for building kingdom halls and assembly halls)

  Why the hell would anyone in their right mind choose to go to Bethel now?

  I mean, at least before you might have the chance of living out your retirement in relative comfort in a quiet office job with your bed and board paid for, but now you might be kicked out at 50, with possibly no "real world" work experience, meaning little chance of salaried employment much above minimum wage, and no state pension and no retirement fund.

  It's basically signing yourself up to a lonely, poor, early death, surviving on the dole.

  Also:

  • Based on above, the branch is appointing external companies to do the bulk or major building work
  • Several brothers have been approached to send their bids for the construction work

  From my own experience, if they're looking for volunteers relatively locally who the don't have to find accommodation for, then there is no way they will find enough skilled brothers under 50 for construction (especially when they get to the specialised stuff like plumbing and electrics - almost all the current RBC specialists in those areas are over 50+). That probably means that the new bethel facilities will almost certainly be built by "worldly" companies! So much for "Jehovah's blessing" eh?

  • Some of the flats will get built and then will be sold for the public

  They're not even being subtle about it anymore, are they? They are a full-blown declared property investment company.
• 

  cha ching

  Perhaps one of the reasons that they will use "worldly" / outside companies to do the building, is that less JW's will know of the "build and sell and make money" aspect of their operations?
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  Slidin Fast

  This will dissapoint loads of people I know who are "pioneering" and just waiting for the call to be involved in buiding the new bethel. They don't like the d2d work any more than us but like the camarardarie etc of building. This is going to be a damper.
• 

  KateWild

  I remember some letters in circulation about the RBC, but they said nothing of hired labour. DaFurious, have you got this in writing, I think it may be a mistake. Having said this it wouldn't surprise me. Kate xx
• 

  Da.Furious

  @katewild i did not see the commercial aspect in writing but i was speaking with a brother who has been approached based on commercial base and asked to put in his quote for the work they want him to do - he mentioned all major construction work will have very few volunteers helping. Volunteers will be helping in internal work, painting, plastering, carpet, etc.

  With the removal of RBC and requiring skilled under 50s this is not going to happen with JW volunteers. As mentioned also the cost for building all the flats for the volunteers will add substantial amount to the project and would be cheaper to hire external companies - no need to worry about insurance, accommodation and not doing the right job!
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  blondie

  The WTS has been using commerical construction companies (non-jw) for years in the US Bethel projects...
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  KateWild

  Thanks Da.Furious, your information does seem legitimate. Blondie has confirmed they have been doing this for years so you really are exposing a well kept secret. I had no idea, but it sounds just like something WT would do.

  Kate xx
• 

  BluesBrother

  • The layoffs of bethelites is starting – all over 50s are being reassessed and if necessary “kicked out!” – I meant reassigned to field service.

  That is a downer. Bros who have spent 30 years there are not going to take easily to the Pioneer Ministry again.. This would not be allowed under U K age discrimination laws. Do they get exception as not technically an "employer"?

  When I was young and single I would have signed up for Bethel.. I just could not hack the Pioneering that you had to do first! If I had, I could be one of those, probably single , with nothing to show for my life except a record of service . I read these statements and believed them at the time

  Km 10/72

  . They should be without any obligations or responsibilities at present toward family members. All applicants for Bethel service must agree to stay at Bethel for at least four years. But, better still, why not make Bethel service your career, your life’s work?
  ........ What joy they have in performing this labor of love in behalf of their fellow workers and all mankind! We hope that more of you can share our joy, especially by making Bethel your life career.