In the past I visited bethel and got to 'tour' around. Here men & women worked their asses off every single day - a full 8 & 1/2 hours a day. They had to make sure they were up at the crack of dawn to attend the reading of the day text. On some evenings, other than meeting nights they had to attend preparing for the watchtower or do bible reading. They were also assigned to congregations in the surrounding areas & had to travel to these. Were expected to go on field service every weekend.
And they were payed such a little for their services - barely covering their petrol or toiletrie expenses. This is in effect exploitation of labour. Exploitation of people. I mean if these were people working in a normal comapny something would have been said - some stink would have been made.
Is it because they volunteer for this???? But even still - suerly there is a minimum wage or salary that they should get that is livable?
I was reading in Crisis of Conscience that @ bethel they were getting paid $14 - I'm sure it's gone up since then but it blows my mind that these people give so much, are expected to function normally at the end of an 8 1/2 hour day, still go to all meetings, fieldies, preparation, whatever other bethel service they had to do.
So are there any ex Bethelites that would like to share their stories???? Or any other comments about this to enlighten my wee mind. Would be great.