Adapting to Low Meeting Attendance

by metatron 12 Replies latest jw experiences

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  metatron

  More and more congregations seem to be adapting to low meeting attendance.

  Bookstudies can be more difficult to hold in personal homes because, if everyone shows up at once, the house may not

  be able to hold the attendance. Thus, you may see groups of 30 or more 'assigned' to the Kingdom Hall, just in case the

  average of 15 or so is exceeded. In addition, fewer Witnesses may volunteer their homes to face the wear and occasional

  vandalism that a bookstudy can require. It's easier to skip meetings in a larger crowd - and the Society knows this, which

  is why many C.O.s have insisted on small bookstudies and congregations small enough to keep tabs on everybody.

  Another adaptation to low attendance is a little odd. Some halls remove rows of chairs to apparently create a smaller

  but denser crowd sitting at the meetings! ( how silly! as if Witnesses could be any 'denser'!). At assemblies, they may

  actually rope off immovable chairs or entire sections to avoid the spectacle of a large hall sparsely populated by attendees.

  If they are actually forced to shut down a congregation due to decline, they may dislike saying the congregation 'failed'

  or got disbanded. "Consolidation" may be the preferred term. A Bethel brother told me they hate "downsizing".

  metatron
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  mineralogist

  30 or more 'assigned' to the Kingdom Hall

  as with ours - where we don't attend anymore - we heard that somtimes there is only the elder with his family instead of 30 people. Maybe due to this 'adapting' they where able to shut down the BS i left alone.
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  blondie

  I have seen them remove chairs and rope off the chairs in the back (for the people with children or late people).

  It is hard to find people who want the "privilege" of having the book study at their home. Many volunteer for the book study but not field service to be held there. Can't sleep in on Saturday when the group meets there.

  I have seen 2 congregations and 1 circuit "consolidated" due to low numbers. While they don't want a congregation too big, they don't want them too small, translated: not enough elders/ms to do the chores.

  A phenomenon that I have seen recently is the dearth of young men "reaching out" to do mikes, be attendants, work in literature, magazines, and territory, qualify as readers, etc. Some elders wanted to use sisters, but the COs say the elders will have to do it.

  The real problem in the low numbers, is low money intake. The WTS needs a consistent flow of cash to fund its daily activities; it is rich in land and property and equipment, etc., for liquid funds are absolutely necessary or they will have to start selling off investments.

  Blondie
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  RandomTask

  Some elders wanted to use sisters

  Oh wow, thats surprising.
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  Flash

  Some elders wanted to use sisters, but the COs say the elders will have to do it.

  Women can be King/Priests in Heaven but can't help run a KH!
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  Golf

  Good point Flash. How is it they can't figure that out?

  Guest 77
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  Purza

  When I last attended the meetings there were two congregations in the hall. One had about 20 people attending the Sunday meeting so it "merged" with the bigger congregation. We were so "thrilled" to have the fellowship of so many. *gag*

  Purza
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  BluesBrother

  When I was a lad, I remember helping the sister who was the literature servant, and ran it very well. Judging by the lack of manning to the desks these days, nothing more than 5 minutes before the meeting starts, I believe the bros would welcome giving the job to a girl..

  Anyway, this thread got me looking up some figs for Britain , because despite the meetings, it is the service records that count.

  In 2003 "We" enjoyed another fine increase of zero % over the past year (sarcasm intended) I then compared the figs with 10 years ago.

  Average publishers down over the decade, by 1767, numbers baptised were less than half (Where do they go if numbers do not increase?) to only about 2500, pioneers down by 2503,total hours down by about 6 million, so Bible Studies went down by 17902 Memorial attendance down by 8963 .. Strangely enough the number of congegations has increased by 110, so maybe that proves the original posters point that smaller is better in the leaderships eyes. Although most of the dubs would not agree because it is much more motivating to be in a large, active congo .

  When I was an elder I can remember being chided for not reaching the congo average of 10 - 12 hours per month , nowadays it would be much less, perhaps 6 - 8

  Oh well , if "The love of the greater number has cooled off" it proves that we must be very near the end,!, (As my dub relatives would say)
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  new light

  If the numbers keep dropping like they have been in developed nations, I'd keep my eyes open for "new light" on the disfellowshiping policy. They can't afford to keep throwing people away.
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  Elsewhere

  Strangely enough the number of congegations has increased by 110

  Real estate investments. Owned by the WTS and paid for by the rank and file. A pretty good scam when you think about it.

  I'm amazed that anyone would fall for this... but JWs will trip over themselves for the opportunity.