It's been ten years since congregations surrendered their finances to HQ (page 2)

Beth Sarim

I believe the congregation was told to leave $5000.00 in their local accounts.

You know. Just for small maintenance things like lights,,fixing doors,,toilet,, sink & other minor repairs.

ukpimo

I wonder what more will be surrendered to Watchtower during this great "reset" period?

Beth Sarim

You're going to hear the Borg demand "things that don't seem strategic from a human standpoint".

Im betting they'll become more insular. Wanting more and more financial things from the people.

Mind control is a horrible thing. With that you can manipulate people into ""giving" whats ever demanded of them.

The elephant in the room for the money grab is that WTC followed the Catholic vatican playbook. It gave them access to ALL the contributions and positioned them to SELL KHs when they decided. Here are the steps they took:

WTC took title of all KHs
WTC cleaned out the bank accounts of all Congs
WTC exited all "in progress projects" and sold land purchased by Congs for future builds
WTC directed all donations come to them, removing access to those funds by the Congs
WTC engaged in a massive selloff of "in use" properties resulting in displacement of Congs and individuals

Now, WTC decides which KHs need maintenance that is above and beyond daily maintenance. When WTC decides to sell a KH, they evaluate what needs to be done to put it on the market, then they send worldly contractors in to do the work. The sale occurs soon after. They do this if they decide that the market in that locality is "hot". Congregations are then consolidated - Rinse and repeat.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Is your KH getting a facelift, new carpet, new chairs, new roof? Then get ready to go somewhere else because it will likely be sold as soon as a buyer is found.

FedUpJW

No idea what electric, heat, water, money sent off to mom, etc. is.

Not to mention the lack of transparency for the monthly sizable check to Bro. (----- -----) who is also the COBE.

skin

Our congregation has a very detailed accounts document (accounts sheet S-26) pinned to the notice board on the back wall each month. Expenditures always seem high for a hall with only two meetings a week? This includes how much $$ is given to WT, power, internet, local rates (this one always seems unusually high), any KH maintenance is also included. Contributions average about $20 per publisher per month with about the same $$ going out. And then there is always those resolutions to give a one-off extra $$ to WT where you feel guilty if you don't raise you hand to agree with it.

ThomasMore

Skin - either you have a generous benefactor or they have 2 sets of books…..

Beth Sarim

Thomas;

Yes. A face lift. On the backs of,,,,,thats right free labor.

A face lift. New carpeting,,shingles,, Eavetroughs,, paint. Then the Borg ups & sells it.

LongHairGal

THOMAS MORE:

I have been Out like twenty three years, so I guess I must’ve read it on here about the JW religion taking possession of kh titles and congregation bank accounts, etc.

If the goal was them selling off halls, was this because of lawsuits or declining membership or a little of both?

Reading your No. 5: ‘displacement of congregations and individuals’, consolidating congregations.. This is like the game Musical Chairs, only when the music stops the people are left without a hall.. How many times can they rinse & repeat??

You are probably right that if somebody sees their hall is getting a major facelift there’s a good chance it will be sold. The result of all this happening too many times is the incredible shrinking religion. Is it the religion’s goal to go completely online with hardly any brick & mortar presence aside from an assembly hall??

If this is the case, there’s going to be some high & dry and disillusioned members that will be very upset.

Journeyman

THE BOTTOM LINE
Is your KH getting a facelift, new carpet, new chairs, new roof? Then get ready to go somewhere else because it will likely be sold as soon as a buyer is found.

That's not been my experience. I've seen money spent on refurbs at halls in my area, but there is no choice for the local congregations on how it is spent (which suppliers, materials, colours, etc). I believe the Regional Building Committee or whatever it is called now makes all those decisions and is the one through whom the Org spends the money, so local bros don't see any of it. However, no suggestion of selling off the facilities since the refurb. But then, as I live in a major city where the nearest few halls are busy and in constant, frequent use, there is less likelihood they will just be sold off.

I've noticed more in line with what skin reported: the congregation has detailed accounts, down to the penny, but there is always a regular amount sent to the Org. As I recall, the Org has set a maximum limit on each congregation for what they can retain for local expenses - the rest has to be sent to the Branch. Kind of like being allowed a "pocket money" allowance, even though it's the local bros and sisters who provide the money in the first place!

Then there is a "recommended" regular contribution per publisher for things like convention, CO visit and other such 'expenses', which, as skin said, are decided by vote of all baptised members, but where there is basically a kind of "three-line whip" to shame/force everyone into voting the "right" way.

It's been ten years since congregations surrendered their finances to HQ

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