SBF
Doubting Bro - Yes but this is exactly the problem. Congregations are made up of human beings, with shared histories and identities. They are not plastic chips in an abstract accounting game. On paper, two nearby congregations, with underused KHs, can be merged, and “efficiencies” can be realised. In practice, you’ll end up swapping two declining congregations for one declining congregation, fewer members, greater dissatisfaction, and poorer prospects for growth or contributions. “Efficiencies” that look good on paper will never be realised in practice, because congregations comprise human beings with their own hopes, desires, agendas.
I do understand that and certainly its a valid point that the WTS isn't taking into consideration how the members would respond. But, in what I've observed (there's 2 congregations that shared a same KH in this area that have been merged to 1), your prediction isn't playing out. They have the same numbers as before. Frankly, the WTS has ALWAYS treated their members like crap. Growing up JW, I never thought the org cared about me. We were always supposed to just put our head down and do what we were told. What I agree with you on and I think it's a bigger item, is this very attitude displayed by the WTS is getting old. The members have been moving toward apathy for a long time. The down-sizing has been going on for quite some time. After awhile, most members just don't care. They are going through the motions. Sure, some may get upset but most will get over it and continue in the mind numbing routine. What will ultimately push JWs into a small fringe organization isn't a financial misstep, it's apathy. If the consolidation came with things like youth programs and more member friendly services like some other religions have, they would be in a much better spot because they would be giving people what they really want from a religion which is emotional support. JWs get no emotional support from the org.
When I mentioned the financial crisis I meant the apparent crisis in the WT organisation that prompted them to beg for money in 2015 and announce dramatic cutbacks. Not the global financial crisis of 2008.
What apparent crisis? They've always begged for money. The move to the congregation tithing arrangement and the money grab? If we had hard data, then I would agree but it's just speculation based on some of their actions.
The move to Warwick saved money or cost money? You seem to have it both ways. As I understand it, in 2015 they reached a real crunch point, and the decision was made to “scale back, delay, or cancel” worldwide projects in order to be able to proceed with Warwick. There was even apparently consideration given to abandoning the Britain branch mid project. So far they have instead opted to downscale Chelmsford significantly rather than abandon it altogether. So how come they proceeded with Warwick? A mixture of things: it was already advanced when crisis hit, they miscalculated, cancelled other projects, and are in increasing financial difficulty as a result.
Sorry I didn't clearly articulate what I meant regarding Warwick. I speculate (since they aren't financially transparent) that they saved money or got a net gain from the move. However, if they were indeed desperate, they could have saved millions more if they built a more modest headquarters. Even as late as 2015, they could have scaled back the project. They chose not to.
I think my biggest problem is that I tend to try to understand the WTS from a business point of view and they are such bad businessmen that it all doesn't make sense!
