The Contribution Box

by professor 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  professor

  I have always wondered: to what extent do the elders go to get contributions?

  How closely do you think the elders work with individuals?

  I left the Org. when I was 18. But even at 18, my elder father still regularly asked me if I had been putting money in the box. I knew that some dubs, including my father, would make donations with a personal check. Obviously this way, even if one hand didn't know what the other was doing, those who emptied the contribution box sure did.

  I'm just curious if the pressure goes beyond those once-in-a-while talks that were strictly fund-rasing. Has anyone ever been pressured to give, or felt that their status in the congregation depended on their verifiable donations?

  Prof.
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  candidlynuts

  i remember a service meeting talk in the early 90s..

  the example of the widow who had so little but yet put in what she had was given..

  it was pointed out that this example was given to show that

  1. elders CAN watch the box

  2. elders can make note of who gives

  3. elders can determine what kind of income one has

  4.elders can make note of how much an individual puts in.

  essence of the talk was " WE"RE WATCHING YOU.. GIVE MORE!"

  and an elder in my family told me that there was an elder assigned each week to watch the box .standard reason given " to make sure no one steals anything" but he said they were also counseled to watch who's giving.
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  Pwned

  i dont really know cause even though my father was an elder since before i was born , he was actually a good one in that he never gossiped about the cong to us, i was in the dark about the innerworkings until i found this site really but i dont think that the amt should have mattered as long as you contributed what you could. of course buying the CO a new suit or paying for his cars tune-up probably couldnt hurt matters.
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  Pwned

  actually probably since my father actually played by the rules might be why he never was named PO or given district convention parts, even though i know he was more than qualified
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  Oroborus21

  In all of my 34 years (ok so I am counting that I was born in) I was never ever pressured to make a contribution nor did I ever see anyone do such a thing.

  I suppose that some people that know you or relatives might tell you somethng but (despite their congregational position) they are doing so only from a personal level not an official one.

  The only "pressure" to contribute are the occasional "talk" about giving to Jehovah our valuable thngs-type talk, the periodic mention at the Service Meeting when they do the accounts balance that such amount has been expended but we have only taken in so much to date (implication contribute something) and the very rare "special fund raiser". this is when the Brothers need a certain amount of sum for somethng and then figure out just how much that would break down to "per family" (they usually ad "of course some may give a little more and some may not be able to give").

  One that takes literature might draw some stares from the literature counter guys if they don't drop in some cash when they take the magazines or publications but when I was working the lit counter I never even really paid attention to the donation box or whether someone contributed somethng or not.

  Overall, I think the Jehovah's Witnesses are exemplary when it comes to handling the issue of needed donations to keep the lights on. Other churches tithe or take up collections and it isn't just the old JW mentality in me, but there is something untoward in both practices that I don't like. I think it somehow cheapens the faith to collect money like that.

  Having donation boxes and letting people choose or not choose to contribute is the way to do it.

  -Eduardo
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  Duncan

  This is a little off-point, professor, but your post reminded me of it.

  When we were just young kids, my mum would very often give the money for the contribution box to me or my younger brother to put in. I guess she thought this was more modest or "discreet" or something.

  Anyway, this particular meeting night, she gave us both a handfull of coins - sixpences and shillings (this was the sixties) - and told us to put the money in the contribution box at the back of the hall. I guess I was eight, and Ken was six.

  I can't really remember which of us thought of this (I'd like to think it was me, but Ken was so much better at this kind of mischief) but we decided instead of just quietly putting the money in, we'd hold each coin up high above our head, and announce it loudly - "TWO SHILLINGS!" - and make a big show of putting it in the box.

  We had drawn quite a little audience by the time my mortified mother rushed over to put a stop to things.

  Still makes me smile.

  Duncan.
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  professor

  Funny story, Duncan.
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  Maverick

  I was the Account Servant in two different Halls for a total of six years. I was never asked nor did I offer to inform any Elder about who was or who was not making regular contributions. I always used a check for the tax write off in my personal contributions. Some people would write one check and in the memo section denote how they wanted the money spit up. The CO was they only one who ever cared or asked me about the money and his only interest was that all of the WTS policies were being followed and that the WTS got their cut.
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  blondie

  My mother never gave us money to put in the box...we were "too poor." No widow's mite from our family.

  The accounts servant normally collects the money after every meeting with another brother standing by to make sure he doesn't pocket any but this brother didn't see the checks or know the exact amount, The accounts servant counts it out and makes a slip for each box (ususally 3, worldwide, congregation, KH building), and a copy goes to the brother that was him who gives it to the PO. The only way he knows who gives is 1) by the checks 2) when $250 or more is given (cash or check) in the US a special form has to be filled out for the IRS 3) he sees what people put in...which is pretty darn hard to count from a distance 4) the person tells him.

  If you never go near the contribution box and you are being watched, the safe conclusion might be that you never donate. But you could have given your share to someone else to put in for you...

  I heard of a congregation that was several months behind in the mortgage payments to the WTS. After the accounts report was read to the congregation, a short talk meant to be unrelated was given regarding giving in God's organization.

  One CO found out that a certain congregatoin was not reading the accounts report once a month as scheduled by the WTS in the KM. The elders got read the riot act on that. The accounts servant was told to increase his volume when he accounced that there was a deficit.

  Some congregations post their accounts report on the information board. Others would never do it even if Armageddon would come sooner.

  Usually what I have seen is that the elders see what the deficit is and cover it themselves if the congregation doesn't come through.

  (BTW the WTS frowns on using the worldwide money to make the KH mortgage.)

  Blondie
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  Maverick

  Blondie is absolutely right. Many a time the Elders would pony up any deficit. Back when we had to do a literature reconciliation often the Literature Servant would make up and short fall out of his own pocket. We had one Nit-wit Elder that would just take bibles and books whenever he felt like it and give then as tips for waitresses. Every mouth the Literature Servant was playing in $40 to $50 dollars to cover the cost of those Delux Bibles. The Elder was a pioneer and big in the circuit so the other Elders would not listen to the Lit Servant. He finally stepped down. They made a different brother Lit Servant and he told that Elder off after the first month. Different men, different approaches.