JeffT

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Posts by JeffT

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  6

  Hodgkins Lymphoma Returns

  by azor in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  my sister was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma earlier this year.

  we thought treatment worked as she finished her chemo treatment a month ago.

  i just got a call from her that she has lumps on her legs and she has been extraordinarily tired.

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  JeffT

  I'm sorry to hear this, at least part of the problem is so unnecessary.

  What is the Watchtower's current position on stem cells? There are some options involving high dose chemo and stem cell transplants. But I don't know if that's also forbidden.

  If you want more information, I have some resources I can send you.
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  31

  Warwick Project Update Email

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  fwd from anon:.

  dear brothers,.

  we are happy to provide you with a brief progress update on the warwick project and explain how you can assist with a major adjustment recently approved in our construction schedule.

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  JeffT

  Large construction projects are built in phases, this is especially true with multi-building projects. My guess is that they just decided to not build something, and then declare themselves done. Whatever it is they're skipping will be built later.
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  12

  Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st August 2013 for Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  downloadable as a pdf here.. i did a search and couldn't find this posted on the forum.

  if it has been and this is a repeat post....i apologize.. there is lots of information in that pdf that may be of interest to our members who like numbers and money and misc info pertaining to wts organizational structure, etc..

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  JeffT

  Finally, a set of real financial statements! It's late and I'm busy. Some time in the next couple of days I'll take a look at these and see if I can distill it into a reasonable summary.
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  42

  2015 10-20-BOE!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  2015, 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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  JeffT

  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.
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  2

  List of Watch Tower (Watchtower) Corporate Entities

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  downloadable 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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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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?

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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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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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?

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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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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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?

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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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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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?

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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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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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?

  1. 
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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.