Governing Body claims title to Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls

by garybuss 57 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Euphemism

  I think the key is in Blondie's earlier statements:

  Scripturally, the WTS sees the ownership of all these buildings, land, property as belonging to Christ and they see themselves as Christ's steward.

  The Organized book doesn't say that the slave owns all the Master's belongings... they say it has authority over them. What they're telling the congregations, IOW, is that whether the title is technically held in trust, by a local corporation, or by the society, any "theocratic direction" regarding the property should be followed.

  Now, it very well may be that the Society is centralizing ownership; they've done that in the past (e.g. for Assembly Halls in the US). But there's nothing new about the particular statement in the OD book.
• 

  apocalypse

  Bill Gates isn't rich. He just has "authority" over buckets of money.

  There is a kingdom hall, (or is that queendom hall since the org is our "Mother") on Commisioners Road in London Ontario Canada. Just 2 hrs drive from the Canadian branch office in Georgetown.

  It's a double hall.

  It's vacant.

  The name Jehovah's Witnesses has been stripped off the sign. The name Kingdom Hall has been stripped from the building. There's weeds growing up from the sidewalks. All the contents are in place. The chairs and tables. Everything.

  It's a new hall. A double yet. At least 2 congos. The WTBTS dissolved it in a heartbeat.

  Go see it for yourselves. I am sure it's for sale.
• 

  frankiespeakin

  Ap,

  So who has ownership now, has the Org claim it or did another corparation get it.
• 

  Euphemism

  Apocalypse... just to be clear, I was not disagreeing with you. On another thread, I posted about an anecdote from the early 80's, when my dad was an elder in California. He was a member of a corporation that held the deed for the Assembly Hall. When Brooklyn decided they wanted to hold title, all the members of the corporation signed the title over without a murmur.

  So I think we're on the same page here... it ultimately doesn't matter whether or not the WTS has title, because they have control. (Granting the occasional exception that Blondie mentioned.)
• 

  apocalypse

  That's the thing.

  When you take a look at it this way.

  You are sitting in your car (YOUR car) at a stoplight. A guy walks up with a 44 magnum and points it at you through your non-bulletproof window and he yells GET OUT.

  Who owns the car at that point?

  The Governing Body of JW's was the legal Board of Directors. These names are for the most part interchangable as the board of directors ARE the governing body of that organization.

  Every legal organization or corporation has legal representatives termed the "govering body". That term takes into account the board, the president and other officers.

  The legal board of directors of the Watch Tower Corporation was the governing body. Same guys.

  If in the year 1999 you contacted the US Government and inquired as to the names of the members of the legal governing body (note: no capitalization of the term) of the Watch Tower Corporation they would have responded with the names of the board of directors.

  They were one and the same.

  If you contact the US Government today and inquire as to the names of the governing body of the Watch Tower Corporation you will not hear Klein and Sydlik etc. in that list. Those who claim to be the Governing Body are only a psuedo governing body. They have no legal control any longer. They gave it up under the "new arrangement".

  But that doesn't matter does it? The real governing body of the Watch Tower Corporation answers to the psuedo "Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses".

  Legal entities have governing bodies. People do not.

  It's all symantics.

  So, while the deed will still bear the name of the congo who is the small not-for-profit using the hall, the local elders will never see that piece of paper as it resides comfortably in a file at HQ

  And the local elders have legally signed over the legal decision making rights to the circuit overseers who the WTBTS can more easily control.

  I don't need a law degree to stare down the barrel of a 44 magnum and understand who's in control.
• 

  garybuss

  
  Interesting post Apocalypse,
  
  We do know the Governing Body members resigned their positions as directors of the various Watch Tower Corporations in 2000 but . . . do we know for sure they didn't become a board of directors? I seem to remember one of the Governing Body signed a document, maybe a NGO re up, as a "director".
  
  Or am I missing something?
• 

  rebel8

  There was a thread a month or so ago about a KH being sold (in Texas?) to the RC church. I can't remember who posted it.

  I bring this up because I feel it's relevant to what's being discussed here. If the WTS truly does retain ultimate ownership of the KHs, then them selling it to the RCs is having dealings with the Great Harlot, no?

  I'd love to see some documentation of the sale.
• 

  blondie

  You would find that the 3 elders in that congregation that make up the corporate officers of the non-profit corporation signed.
• 

  JT

  apocalypse

  you have hit the nail on the head, The names on the deeds, title, etc DON'T MATTER FOLKS, THE GB is still in charge

  if you look at the 5 new corp formed in 2000, take a look at these names and ask yourself WHO SELECTED THESE MEN, the GB did-

  now ask yourself WHY DID THEY SELECT THEM, it is because these men have been the right hand men of the GB for 20-40yrs

  these men have demostrated beyond a showdow of doubt that they will do the will of the GB, including protecting them legally from all the years of Gooffy dogmas, that is the whole reason for this setup, PROTECTION OF ASSETS

  SO for anyone who actually think that at the end of the day that the GB are not in full control, then you are kidding yourself

  you see the list below,, these men only serve at the GOOD PLEASURE OF THE GB, at anytime, one of these men step out of line, thier fellow commarade with turn them in - in order to get a pat on the head for being loyal, and believe me there are 1000's of CO, DO branch members and bethel heavies WAITING IN THE WINGS TO TAKE the place of any of the men listed below, if they so as much suggest the gb are wrong, or try to pocket ONE THIN DIME,THEY ARE OUT

  and when you consider that these men have 20-40 yrs in bethel/fulltime, service while they may enjoy the good life traveling around the world or getting the GREEN HANDSHAKE at conventions, THEY OWN NOTHING, and with that hanging over their heads the wt has FEAR TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE

  1. protec

  gb

  President Don A. Adams
  Vice Presidents Robert W. Wallen, William F. Malenfant
  Secretary/Treasurer Richard E. Abrahamson
  Directors Danny L. Bland, Philip D. Wilcox, John N. Wischuk

  Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. (Incorporated 1909)

  President Max H. Larson
  Vice Presidents George M. Couch, Lonnie R. Schilling
  Secretary/Treasurer Gerald F. Simonis
  Directors Gerald D. Grizzle, David G. Sinclair, Robert M. Pevy

  Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (Incorporated 2000)

  President William L. Van De Wall
  Vice Presidents Charles I. Woody, Leon Weaver, Jr.
  Secretary/Treasurer William H. Nonkes
  Directors Harold K. Jackson, Merton V. Campbell, Stanley F. Weigel

  Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses (Incorporated 2000)

  President Patrick J. LaFranca
  Vice Presidents Peter D. Molchan, Ralph E. Walls
  Secretary/Treasurer Joseph D. Mercante
  Directors Marvin G. Smalley, Kenneth J. Pulcifer, Eugene D. Rosam, Jr.

  Kingdom Support Services, Inc. (Incorporated 2000)

  President Harold L. Corkern
  Vice Presidents Alan D. Janzen, Robert L. Butler
  Secretary/Treasurer Alexander W. Reinmueller
  Directors James F. Mantz, Jr., Thomas Kalimeris, Alan G. Browning

  Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New Jersey, Inc. (Incorporated 1955)

  President Charles V. Molohan
  Vice Presidents James L. Bauer, J. Richard Brown
  Secretary/Treasurer Alan K. Flowers
  Directors Allen E. Shuster, David L. Walker, Vernon C. Wisegarver

  Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Florida, Inc. (Incorporated 1986)

  President Leonard R. Pearson
  Vice Presidents Alejandro G. Rodriguez, Maurice C. Turcot
  Secretary/Treasurer Mark L. Questell
  Directors Jim Moody, Sr., Anselm J. Packnett, Donald R. Krebs

  Valley Farms Corporation (Incorporated 1987)

  President Charles J. Rice
  Vice Presidents Kent E. Fischer, Robert L. Rains
  Secretary/Treasurer Albert L. Harrell
  Directors John R. Strandberg, Samuel D. Buck, Louis A. Travis

  ############################
• 

  garybuss

  CANADA . . . .

  I went to
  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities/menu-e.html
  
  I went to this page:
  
  Lists of Canadian registered charities
  In addition to the list of all Canadian registered charities our Web pages now give you online access to these lists:
  Newly registered charities (within the last 12 months)
  Recently revoked charities (within the last 12 months)
  
  
  Then I clicked on "Recently revoked charities (within the last 12 months) "
  and searched for the word "Jehovah's"
  
  This is what I found:
  
  Recently Revoked Charities - Results Page
  This list contains charities whose registered status was revoked between
  2004 05 14 and 2005 05 14.
  
  
  71 ARCHERWILL SASK CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARCHERWILL SK 2005-02-12
  
  268 CENTRAL CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES PRINCE GEORGE BC 2004-07-17
  
  391 CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES OF SPRINGDALE SPRINGDALE NL 2005-03-12
  
  396 COQUITLAM CENTER CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES COQUITLAM BC 2005-02-12
  
  618 FOX CREEK, ALBERTA, CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WHITECOURT AB 2005-01-29
  
  698 HALFMOON BAY CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SECHELT BC 2004-12-18
  
  787 JASPER CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, ALBERTA HINTON AB 2005-04-09
  
  824 KESWICK ONTARIO CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES KESWICK ON 2004-08-14
  
  847 KOREAN WEST CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA BURNABY BC 2005-03-12
  
  1035 MANNING CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, ALBERTA, PEACE RIVER AB 2005-02-19
  
  1051 MCBRIDE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES MCBRIDE BC 2004-12-18
  
  1138 NORTH CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES PRINCE ALBERT SK 2004-07-17
  
  1139 NORTH CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES QUESNEL BC 2004-08-28
  
  1190 ORCHARD CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WELLAND QC 2004-07-17
  
  1256 PINERIDGE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CALGARY AB 2005-02-12
  
  1337 RIDGEWAY ONT CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CRYSTAL BEACH ON 2004-07-17
  
  1416 SILVER SPRINGS CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, TORONTO, ONTARIO SCARBOROUGH ON 2005-02-19
  
  1446 SPANISH CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WINDSOR ONTARIO WINDSOR ON 2005-04-02
  
  1447 SPANISH SOUTH CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, VANCOUVER,BRITISH COLUMBIA RICHMOND BC 2005-04-02
  
  1455 SPRUCEGLEN CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NOVAR ON 2005-04-02
  
  1881 WAVERLEY HEIGHTS CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WINNIPEG MB 2004-12-18
  
  1887 WEST CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA LANGLEY BC 2004-07-17
  
  1908 WILKIE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES UNITY SK 2005-02-19
  
  
  *************
  This isn't a list of NEW Kingdom Halls. This is a list of Revoked Charities! OUT OF BUSINESS!What's this mean?