by joey jojo 14 Replies latest jw experiences
The congregation in which I have plenty of stats for goes like this ...
Started with 75 publishers in 1989.
By 1995 peaked at 89 and then it's been a slow steady decline. By 2003 it was 82
By 2014 it was 76.
By 2018 it is now 69.
22 of these are aged 60 or older ... and 16 of those are over 70.
A thriving, growing religious organization does not sell off its meeting places, Selling your meeting places is the opposite of growth.
Remember when the organization stopped the Book Study? Remember the main reason it gave? to save fuel (or as Americans say, gas). Now the average JW who still bothers to attend meetings has to travel further and further.
''Remember when the organization stopped the Book Study? Remember the main reason it gave? to save fuel (or as Americans say, gas). Now the average JW who still bothers to attend meetings has to travel further and further.''
I heard them say it was ''to save fuel'' also. This was back around sometime 2009. Not long at all before then, one of their strongest arguments was the bookstudy group was their ''building blocks'' of the congregation, and how the structure of the congregation starts ''there''. Then the complete 180 degree turn with dropping the book groups, with a lame 'save fuel' costs smokescreen.
I think we all know why they dropped the bookgroups. It was to curb 'independent talk' or ideas, and also to prevent any 'legal' ramifications.
Local's elders know a few month's before the cong get the talk!!!
Beth Sarim - "...one of their strongest arguments was the bookstudy group was their 'building blocks' of the congregation, and how the structure of the congregation starts 'there'. Then the complete 180 degree turn with dropping the book groups, with a lame 'save fuel' costs smokescreen..."
Yeah, that one had me scratching my head at the time, too.
Beth Sarim - "...I think we all know why they dropped the bookgroups. It was to curb 'independent talk' or ideas, and also to prevent any 'legal' ramifications."
Yup.
Too many child abuse incidents happening at the groups.
