GB thought process.
Right remember how the Nazis made folk dig their own graves? Well, we need to empty Bethel and maybe sell it so let's fire everyone we can. Then when the place is almost empty we can renovate it so that it would make a good business HQ for a buyer by asking any of the old bethelites and the new bethelite wannabees to volunteer to commute on their own dime while giving up their secular work.
When the job is done we can send nearly all of them away and A) save loads of money B) have a nice new property worth loads of money C) sell it when we like!