RonW "I felt VERY unhappy about it so forged the amount I proposed to contribute"
What do you mean that you forged the amount? That you just wrote a figure that you didn't intend to donate?
New meeting format
by ExBethelitenowPIMA 42 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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carla
Blondie said, "PIMO friends tell me that their Cong just asked all Pubs to complete a written form that commits them to a monthly contribution."- Did Atlantis send a copy of this? or does anybody have one? thanks in advance
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Ron.W.
What do you mean that you forged the amount? That you just wrote a figure that you didn't intend to donate?
Yes that's right - I felt the whole thing was totally wrong.
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Teddnzo
It’s shame because the old midweek meeting was east but this new format takes a lot more effort
it’s confusing
has anyone else tried to go through the notes?
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NotFormer
"Confusing mess" seems to be the order of the day. No-one seems absolutely clear on what is really going on. Taking "pledges" may be a step along the road towards something more concrete. Is there anything to really stop them adopting tithing or something like it as a model? They are, after all, a high control group, which hasn't been afraid in the past to tell members how to order their personal affairs, including in the financial realm. If they squeeze the membership on this, perhaps they'll lose a few hangers on initially, but we know from past experience that there is always that loyal core that will take whatever they dish out.
Perhaps they have crunched the numbers and figured they will gain more than enough from squeezing the loyal core to offset what they will lose with a slight exodus of those who have had enough.
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blondie
Carla, I did not say I had seen a form but was asking if someone had actually, seen a form. In the past, people at the meeting when a confidential count was to be made without signing or putting a name on it, that they were willing to donate outright or give a monthly donation to see if there was a possibility of getting enough money. No form, just blank piece of paper, no name or signature, confidential to everyone. Now I know other religions that have members sign a pledge of what they will donate monthly (some national headquarters, have a minimum donation, like $50 a month to be an official member) and sign it like a contract. So far nothing like that that I know of in the WTS. The congregation is told they are expected to donate $8.50 per publisher to headquarters, voluntarily probably not, but guilted into it.
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FedUpJW
Certain people will be privately approached by some elder with an envelope asking for money for some ‘needy’ person(s).
I may have mentioned it on other threads, when I was still running the hamster wheel I was one of the ones always being tapped for money. When I finally became fed up I told one elder who came to me envelope in hand wanting some money for a couple to get to the convention I told him I noticed that they had both recently bought brand new I-phones and perhaps if they would have spent their money more wisely they would not be facing financial difficulty getting to the CONventnion. That was when pay-as-you-go phones could be had for less than $10.00 and plans could be had for less than $30.00 per month. I never gave a thing after that.
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blondie
Wow, FedUpJW. They knew I never had enough money to be asked. If so, I would have asked how much he had given and see what excuse he would come up with. My husband handled accounts, and the elders said many could not donate because too poor, but not poor enough to rent 10 videos a month for $50. I guess they thought that the widow's mite (sorry) did not mean much to their god.
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LongHairGal
FEDUPJW:
You don’t say how long ago this happened about you being ‘tapped for money’. You were chosen for being perceived as a responsible person who had a job.
So, this in fact does happen because I had somebody say to me that it never happened to them. But, I remember it happened to me years ago and I also had a woman panhandler at a memorial. I said ‘No’ to her.
If this was years ago when there was ‘hope’ people could still get back on their feet, I wonder what it’s like now. All these Boomer JWs have reached retirement age.. They aren’t getting back on their feet and would expect handouts the rest of their lives… They have no skills and spent decades in the ministry when I was criticized for being in the workforce.
I wonder what percentage of Witnesses in any congregation did not prepare financially?? I would guess a considerable number. Of course it may vary from some who did a little to some who did nothing.
This is why I’m Glad I got out of the JWs ages ago... I would never tolerate any of them coming up to me looking for money.. I’m sure this is the new ‘normal’ there and I would not put up with it!
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FedUpJW
@LongHairGal
Just over 11 years ago already. It was July 01, 2012 that I was loaded down with the final straw and decided NO MORE. I had worked hard, saved as much as I could, invested when I could, and had retired early seven years prior, in order to pursue building my own ag. related business. I guess they thought that for some reason having some savings and investments to live on made me rich.