Does the WTS have a clergy class

by blondie 31 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  JeffT

  And as said above all the freebies that they receive courtesy of "voluntary" donations by the gullible sheeple are in fact pay. Just ask any CPA or tax advisor if it is considered income/pay for tax purposes in the U.S. when it is given to a member of a business.

  Actually, gifts are tax free. But somewhere between local elders and the higher ups, that money paid to CO's, the GB etc might be determined to be payments for services, or payments for contract labor; or just plain pay, all of which are taxable income.

  The WTBS is playing with fire on this. On top of trying to split hairs with definitions of "paid clergy" vs "volunteers" they may run into a tax issue if somebody decides to call all those "donations" taxable income.
  
• 

  Sea Breeze

  They want it both ways. They want to be clergy when protecting themselves from the courts. But, when making their sales pitch to the gullible, they claim to have not have a clergy class. The idea of not having a clergy appeals to the disgruntled, the misfits and disenfranchised IMO. They make it seem like a safe place to grind your axe. (no oppressive authority... hehehe)

  BTTT - Sometimes yes, sometimes no. They just lie when it suits them.
• 

  ozziepost

  But, when making their sales pitch to the gullible, they claim to have not have a clergy class.

  Yep, and the facts show that millions are “gullible”.

  No wonder politicians get believed too !
• 

  BluesBrother

  Talking about taxation made me think.... When I worked there was the concept of a “benefit in kind” . That was something that your employer gave you as a perk of the job but was not money,e.g. a company car or a heavily discounted mortgage. The value of this was estimated and you were taxed on it.

  If you added up all the perks that live in Bethelites receive, accommodation, food , laundry etc , what would their true income be? They would have a tax bill......
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  Remember when you were first coming into 'the truth'? It was all, we are all brothers and our leader is Jesus.

  Turns out this is all bullshit.

  The WTS has a strict hierarchy, a bit like the Catholic Church ...

  Governing Body

  Bethel Elders

  District Overseers

  Circuit Overseers

  Local Elders

  Ministerial Servants

  Male Publishers

  Female Publishers

  Children
• 

  ozziepost

  LUHE

  Do they still have District Overseers ?
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  @Ozzie - they may have changed it since I left.

  I left in 2006.
• 

  blondie

  ozziepost, there are no longer district assemblies, they are called regional conventions. I think it was a cost-saving measure when the WTS eliminated that group in the line of authority.
• 

  Fisherman

  paid" in front of "clergy perhaps to shore up their current statement in secular courts they have clergy, just not paid)

  JW elders are not paid and are not clergy like the clergy of christendom either and the term paid clergy does not have to imply that JW have an unpaid clergy. It could simply mean that JW don’t have a clergy and that their ministers don't get paid as the clergy of christendom does. JW have stated on Court that they don’t have a clergy class. However, the law has applied the term clergy to JW elders when the law defines the term as any ordained minister, rabbi, or priest. The term can also mean the paid clergy of christendom. That’s what the Courts and legal proceedings are for, to interpret the law.
  
  
• 

  Fisherman

  They want it both ways. They want to be clergy when protecting themselves from the courts. But, when making their sales pitch to the gullible, they claim to have not have a clergy class.

  Not at all since the word can have dubious meanings.