Feel like entering a mental & spiritual wormhole? Read these examples of the epitome of meaningless verbosity ( you'll swear you're back in the KH ):
From Xandit:
I don't know how "good" your sources of information are but I have personal experience in Kingdom Hall property matters, some quite recent. In the US in every case that I have any knowledge of it has been either a corporation or board of trustees. While my knowledge is not universal I have pretty good coverage for this country. Those are the standard arrangements for Kingdom Hall property in the US. I don't know where these other people got their information. I suppose there may be some variance from country to country.
It would not surprise me if the Organization had used holding companies to purchase Assembly Hall property. I would however, be very surprised if that was being done for Kingdom Halls, the local congregation is typically on its own there.
Not true. The property is held by the local congation(s) either by a corporation or board of trustees.
From Friend:
To All
Xandit is correct in his/her representations regarding ownership of Kingdom Halls in the United States.
Here are just a few interesting facts for your reading pleasure:
Re: Interests on loans from the Society
A letter from the Society dated 11/1/99 addressed to "ALL BODIES OF ELDERS IN THE UNITED STATES" states, "Effective October 1, 1999, the rate of interest applied to any Kingdom Hall financing in the United States was reduced to 3%. All new requests for assistance from the Society Kingdom Hall Fund will be at the new rate. For those congregations that currently make repayments, their payments will now be applied as the new rate."
Re: Kingdom Hall ownership
Interestingly the Society has redressed this issue directly with local elder bodies as recently as 4/1/00 in a letter to them. That letter presented no real change but rather it reiterates what Xandit has already represented, that congregations retain ownership of Kingdom Hall property through one of two means, either 1) a trusteeship appointed by the congregation or 2) a corporation formed by the congregation. That quite lengthy letter (including enclosures) again spelled out quite clearly that local congregations retain ownership of Kingdom Hall property.
Of course, if property is financed by the Society then leans are held accordingly, that is until any outstanding loans are repaid in full.