I suspect this has to do with employment law and liability. It the activity report goes to the branch, the branch is responsible for what goes on (slip and falls, auto accidents, eyeing little girls with bad intent, whatever). If it doesn't, the publishers are strictly volunteers at the local level. If this is an attempt to push liability onto the congregations the real fun will start when the local elders discover they're being hung out to dry.
Posts by JeffT
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422015 10-20-BOE!
by Atlantis in2015, 10/20/boe.. .. re: making wise use of printed magazines.. .. page 2: .
this postscript should neither be read to the congregation nor be posted .
on the information board.. .
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List of Watch Tower (Watchtower) Corporate Entities
by OrphanCrow indownloadable as a pdf here.
does anyone know anything about the "association of jonadab class"?.
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JeffT
I'm guessing that a lot of the ones with a state name are just registrations allowing the WTBS to do business in that state. In theory every Kingdom Hall in the country is owned by some entity that probably has "Watchtower" in the title. I say in theory, because the WTBS has final control of the property. -
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
I gave fifteen years of my life to this religion and didn't even get a T-shirt.
"We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may he associated"
Do you believe those words? I do. I'm still examining a religion with which I was associated. So far it's been found wanting. If the WTBS is acting honestly there is no good reason for them not to release their financial information.
I'm an accountant. SOX has nothing to do with the Watchtower, why bring it up?
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
slimboy Start with the Roman Catholic Church
http://www.wsj.com/articles/vatican-releases-financial-statements-1437046714
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
While a person in authority may access and control to the Watchtower Society's finances, they're only authorized to use it on certain things.
Until we can see the financial statements, we don't know that. Accurate financial statements are just the first step in uncovering waste and fraud. Given the lack of transparency, the top dogs at WTBS could be paying themselves million dollar salaries and we wouldn't know it.
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
As FreeGirl2006 notes, nonprofits can have taxable income. The 990 form is the form used to communicate the income from a for-profit enterprise within a tax exempt or nonprofit company.
As I've said in the past, none of these random bits of paper are actual financial reports. Real transparency would mean releasing an audited financial statement every year. They've never done that, nor are they required to. However, many churches believe that financial integrity begins with transparency, and thus they release their financials.
If you really want to force change in the organization, pressure them to provide their flock with real information.
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
I'd like the information because I'm an advocate for transparency in all matters. Unless there is some compelling reason like national security people should be honest with each other. The WTBS has been taking money from people for well over a hundred years. I think the people who give it to them deserve to know where it went. Additionally, in this country they have tax free status. I believe all such organizations have a responsibility to let the public know what they're getting financially for letting them avoid the tax man. -
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
Rebel, not long after I left (I DA'd in 1989, this would have been 1990 or so) I called the IRS and was told that it was private information and they couldn't release anything. -
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A question
by JeffT inhas anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?
we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.
what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
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JeffT
Has anybody ever written Bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the Society's finances? We all keep batting around speculation about the WTBS and money, and actual information seems non-existent. What would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
I suspect they'd round file the letter if somebody liked one of us sent it, what about if it came from a body of elders? -
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Warwick to finish EARLY
by wifibandit inok, story time.. anon asks me via pm:.
just heard from a wallkill bethelite that warwick will finish early.
can you confirm?.
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JeffT
Most big commercial projects are built in phases. I'm guessing they just decided not to build the last phase just now.
As I've said, I've done a lot of development deals. Coming in on time and on budget is rare. Ahead of schedule usually means somebody cut corners.