MacHislopp

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Posts by MacHislopp

• 
  33

  Comments You Will Not Hear at the 7-13-03 WT Study

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  comments you will not hear at the 7-13-03 wt study

  reviewer comments will be in black or parentheses.

  wt quotes will be in red or quotations

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  MacHislopp

  Hello Blondie,

  Just a few words to congratulate you. A nicely written comment,

  logical and with many thought provoking points. May I add

  that the theme should have been : " Jimmy ...will fix it!"

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
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  144

  LANDMARK DECISION - Vicki Boer vs Watchtower Society

  by Uzzah in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  as most are aware, vicki boer has been long awaiting a decision to be handed down in a case she started against the society in canada.. the decision was handed down today.

  as with any 55 page decision, it will take some time for the legal experts to hash it over and decipher what was said.

  but, in a nutshell..... vicki won.

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  MacHislopp

  Hello Vicki,

  These few lines to tell you that many in Europe, although far away, are near to you in these extremely difficult and stressing moments of your life.

  The Canadian’s Court decision could be a beginning of a new way, to unmask publicly and to condemn all the guilty ones involved in “ child abuse”, and as in your case including all those protecting/sheltering etc. the “ child abusers”.

  We do hope that similar cases, implicating the WTBS Inc., in the United States, Great Britain, France, and the rest of Europe will all have similar outcome.

  What really makes an impact and stands out , in the Judge decision is:

  [170] In my opinion…. Furthermore it was a life dominated by the influence of the Jehovah's Witness faith. she had been forbidden to devlop relationships with anyone outside the faith and had been trained to obey the elders without question.

  Refusal to follow the direction of the elders was not an option if she wished to stay within her religion; and abandoning her religion would also constitute an abandonment of her family, friends and community, at a time in her life when she was emotionally dependent and fragile. Disobeying the elders was literally inconceivable to the plaintiff at the time.

  [171] As I have noted above, the relationship between Ms Boer and the Jehovah's Witness elders was not as dependent as was the case with the children in the residential school in FSM v Clarke supra..

  … That is because of the pervasive nature of the Jehovah's Witness religion's presence in teh everyday lives of its adherents, the specific religious requirement of obedience, and the direction to avoid worldly ways and social interactions outside the faith.

  [172] The plaintiff's dependence and powerlessness developed as a direct result of the teachings of the defendant Wath Tower. She was brought up in that faith to accept the word of the elders unquestioningly. Independent thought was not permitted. She was taught not to trust anyone outside the faith and she followed that direction.

  ….The elders were, therefore, not only aware of her dependence and vulnerability, they were responsible for it.

  As some others in this Board, already commented, many of us have been waiting for a long time, to have someone from the outside, and above all, a judge, realize what really goes on inside a Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘ congregation with respect to :

  ****the relationship between elders and the floc k,

  and

  what the religion itself expects and demands from its members.

  I wish all the best for the future to you and your family, and please

  keep us informed of any other development, including any form

  of help that you may need .

  Admiring your courage, your endurance and your keen sense of justice,

  in the midst of much pain and sorrow, receive my sincere and

  appreciative greetings,

  James Charles MacHislopp
• 
  48

  WTBS' Financial Empire...the tip of the iceberg!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

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  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  Just as a reminder, for some and as a new item for others, here below some more

  more informations concerning the financial empire of the WTBS Inc.:

  (from the link http://kent.steinhaug.com/boe/money.htm )

  The WTB&TS of Britain had net assets of UKP22,238,672 approx. US$33,000,000)at August 31, 2001.

  Of this, approximately UKP20,400,000 (approx US$30,600,000) was in the form of investments in fixed interest securities and short term deposits. During the year, the restricted fund "Congregation Deposit Loan Fund" was closed down, and the funds reallocated to general usage. The purpose of this fund was to "pool funds from connected congregation charities and seek to pay better rates of interest to them than would be available locally." The congregations approval was required and obtained for this reallocation. In effect, the Society "suggested" that money donated for a specific use (benefit of congregations) be absorbed into general funds, with which the Society can do whatever they like. Given the high control environment of the Watch Tower, this effectively demonstrates the artificiality of the WT's facade that specific dona tions can have their uses restricted to accomodate the donor's wishes.

  The Trustees' report confirms that the London printing facilities are not to be enlarged.

  Documents as PDF Format

  The IBSA has net assets of UKP46,034,097 (approx US$69,000,000) at August 31, 2001.

  Combined with the WTB&TS of Britain, this gives the two main British charities combined net assets of approx. UKP68,200,000 (approx. US$102,000,000).

  The market value of land and buildings held by the IBSA is UKP42,681,000 (approx. US$64,000,000).

  Documents as PDF Format

  "The Kingdom Hall Trust" acts as "Custodian Trustee holding the title to freehold and leasehold properties acquired as places of worship for congregations in England and Wales. All new properties purchased are held in the name of the Trust. An ongoing programme of transferring title of existing places of worship from local trustees to the Trust is in progress and will take some years to complete."

  It should be noted that all expenses relating to the Trust are met by the congregations. Also, "the congregations are individually responsible for the financing and mortgage commitments, rents, rates, taxes ans all other outgoings." In short, the WT gets the title, the congregations get the expenses. Gouge par excellence!

  The total value of the freehold properties held in trust was approx UKP46,765,000 (approx. US$70,000,000).

  Documents as PDF Format

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  II: THE HENRIETTA M. RILEY TRUST.

  The H M Riley Trust is a U.S. trust that has the Watchtower Society as the sole beneficiary. Basically, it is a vehicle to make income for the Watchtower, using assets left by Henrietta Riley. The income generated by the trust is transferred to the Watchtower by means of a "donation". For the year ended April 30, 2002, the trust generated income of $1,740,127 and donated $1,945,645 to the Watchtower. In comparison, for the 2001 year the trust generated $2,939,731 in income, and donated $3,285,050 to the Watchtower. The difference between income and expenditure is made up by realising gains on the assets held.

  The income of the trust is from two main sources. The majority is from "oil and gas royalties." The trust also has almost $2 million of investments in various stocks and other vehicles.

  Figure 1: Front page of HM Riley Trust form 990, year ended April 30, 2002

  Figure 2: Second page of form 990, HM Riley Trust year ended April 30, 2002, showing primary purpose as "support Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society"

  Figure 3: Extract of investment listing of HM Riley Trust, April 30, 2002

  (see http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/54708/1.ashx )

  - Many thanks , again, to Expatbrit

  -

  Then from this :

  http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=H+M+Riley+Trust

  you'will see that in the year 1999 the " H.M. RILEY Trust " which has been listed n° 45, out of the "Top 50 Michingan Foundations" donated in the fiscal date i.e. 04/30/1998 the sum of 3,593,248 USA Dollars

  to the " Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ".-

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  Still concerning the "Financial Empire" of the WTBS Inc.

  for all those who have never seen "pictures " of WTBS Inc.,

  properties it is not too late to take a nice ...guided trip .

  This is the link : http://members.shaw.ca/theotrip/index.htm

  The pictures have been taken by Stan and July Milosevic.

  (Many, many thanks to them).

  You'll be able to see vast property in Montreal (Canada);

  the Canadian Bethel in Georgetown, Ontario;

  many of the WTBS 's buildings in Brooklyn;

  the Patterson Inn, the Patterson Educational Center;

  the Watchtower Farms in Wallkill, New York;

  and various Kingdom Halls in Canada and USA.

  All the land and the buildings, surely represent a value

  of billions of USA dollars, and as you mind get's numb

  by these astronomical figures, remember these WTBS' quotes:

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  Theocratic Advancement Despite Obstacles

  Today, there are more than 50 congregations in and around Maputo city. However, there is not a single Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be found. Why is that so? Because of poor economic conditions, the congregations have not been able to build even though some have owned land for a number of years.(*)

  (*)

  w92 8/15 25

  The fact that congregations do not have Kingdom Halls at their disposal does not stop their progress. In most cases, more than double the number of publishers attend the meetings

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  If a man is fortunate enough to find a job here, the average wage is from

  $20 to $30 per month ".

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  "Another congregation of 59 publishers regularly has more than 140 in attendance. They normally meet on an open terrace. But during rainy weather, the congregation squeezes into the two rooms of a small apartment. The overflow from the audience spills into the hallway, the kitchen, and the balcony. Once again, one cannot help but notice the appreciation and attentiveness as everyone, including many youths, follow the program intently. "

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

  P.S. As soon as I’ll get more informations, I’ll post them.
• 
  42

  Official Blood Document for Legal Purposes

  by AlanF in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  below are scans for the two-page document that jehovah's witnesses give to legal authorities to state their official policy on blood.. page 1:.

  page 2 can be found here, but is too large to comfortably include as an image: http://home.attbi.com/~alanf00/images/med_alt_p2.jpg.

  alanf

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  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  above all many thanks to AlanF , for digging out and presenting this

  great piece of evidence, published by the WTBS Inc.

  Many have already commented , giving well thought points and

  real sharp observation, which shows again, that this forum acts

  as a 'thinking tank' to dissect and expose the double talk and

  devious ways of the mighty WTBS Inc.

  Btw, the document looks like a 'revised version ', dated

  April 2002. I have never seen a similar one before and I do

  believe that it is used only among the HCL in the United States.

  These below, are imho, the most outstanding points,

  that have been hightlighted:

  Waiting:

  "...refusing to take blood stance was NOT a medical response.....

  .....but a scriptural response only.

  NOT ACCEPTABLE

  PERSONAL DECISION

  He is being TOLD by the WTBTS in writing that he CANNOT take some blood components. NO personal decision in the matter. "

  City Fan:

  " ...cryoprecipitate which contains a small amount of plasma is in the personal decision list but plasma itself is in the not-allowed list. That doesn't make sense to me!"

  Pathofthorns:

  "It looks like by clearly listing what is acceptable and what is not, they are avoiding the obvious question as to why some parts of blood are acceptable and others are not. The chart makes it clear that they are not "abstaining from blood" since it is plainly obvious where these fractions come from.

  and:

  By simply dictating to the members what is acceptable and what is not, they avoid having to explain the reasoning behind a policy that makes no sense. "

  Rocketman:

  'The "not acceptable" part takes it out of the realm of personal decision'

  Hawkaw:

  The stupid part is that they do accept white blood cells in peripherial blood stem cell autographing procedures as well as white blood cells that are transplanted with organ transplants.

  ... also accept whole blood bone marrow.

  ...also accept whole blood when hemodilution, heart lung and other techniques that connect the patient to a machine via a tube are employed.

  Some techniques like hemodilution store the blood before transferring it back into the patient.

  and:

  " Where in the bible does it say blood is considered to be whole blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets but blood is not all the fractions of red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets."

  Metatron:

  "We need to emphasize - as the document shows- that , for Witnesses, refusing blood is not voluntary.

  It is ordered or demanded by the Watchtower Society , using the hostage arrangement known as "disassociation".

  Sam Beli:

  "....much of what is on page two has nothing directly to do with replacing lost blood, either because of hemorrhage or because of disease that has interfered with the normal blood manufacturing processes of the body"

  and:

  "They claim that the Bible guides all of their conduct, so let them explain from the Bible the do's and don'ts. "

  .

  joy2bfree:

  I'm surprised no one else has commented on this statement of theirs "Any technique that involves blood storage".

  All products of blood, whether whole blood or the "fractions" that are allowable are STORED. You don't drip it straight from soneone into another human.

  "... this rule null and voids all their silly rules on blood."

  Bluesbrother:

  "Nowadays I am amazed at the highhanded attitude of the WTS , This is their definition of acceptable and unacceptable and the congs, like the sheep they say they are, meekly follow."

  Manon :

  "These forms are designed with the intention to manipulate the thinking of the carrier it's a form of mind control. They are a reminder, token, object referral of the conditions/specifications that are acceptable to the "society". The personal decision aspect is deceiving "NOT ACCEPTABLE" is in bold type they are telling you how and what you should already be thinking."

  Now just as a reminder let's read some of their publications on the matter,

  focusing on the WTBS Inc's claim of:

  "... Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God."

  and:

  " Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected."

  ***" "The Watchtower" 1964 November 15th pages .680-3

  Employment and Your Conscience ***

  The Society does not endorse any of the modern medical uses of blood, such as the uses of blood in connection with inoculations. Inoculation is, however, a virtually unavoidable circumstance in some segments of society, and so we leave it up to the conscience of the individual to determine whether to submit to inoculation with a serum containing blood fractions for the purpose of building up antibodies to fight against disease. If a person did this, he may derive comfort under the circumstances from the fact that he is not directly eating blood, which is expressly forbidden in God's Word. It is not used for food or to replace lost blood. Here the Christian must make his own decision based on conscience. Therefore, whether a Christian will submit to inoculation with a serum, or whether doctors or nurses who are Christians will administer such, is for personal decision. Christians in the medical profession are individually responsible for employment decisions. They must bear the consequences of decisions made, in keeping with the principle at Galatians 6:5. Some doctors who are Jehovah's witnesses have administered blood transfusions to persons of the world upon request. However, they do not do so in the case of one of Jehovah's dedicated witnesses. In harmony with Deuteronomy 14:21, the administering of blood upon request to worldly persons is left to the Christian doctor's own conscience. This is similar to the situation facing a Christian butcher or grocer who must decide whether he can conscientiously sell blood sausage to a worldly person."

  *** "The Watchtower " 2000 June 15th, page 31 Questions from Readers ***

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?

  The fundamental answer is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood. We firmly believe that God's law on blood is not open to reform to fit shifting opinions. Still, new issues arise because blood can now be processed into four primary components. In deciding whether to accept such, a Christian should look beyond possible medical benefits and risks. His concern should be what the Bible says and the potential effect on his relationship with Almighty God.

  The key issues are quite simple. As an aid to seeing why that is some consider some Biblical, historical, and medical background.

  As transfusions of whole blood became common after World War II, Jehovah's Witnesses saw that this was contrary to God's law and we still believe that. Yet, medicine has changed over time. Today, most transfusions are not of whole blood but of one of its primary components: (1) red cells; (2) white cells; (3) platelets; (4) plasma (serum), the fluid part. Depending on the condition of the patient, physicians might prescribe red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Transfusing these major components allows a single unit of blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah's Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God's law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible-based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis and AIDS that can be contracted from blood.

  However, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. How are such fractions used, and what should a Christian consider when deciding on them?

  Blood is complex. Even the plasma which is 90 percent water - carries scores of hormones, inorganic salts, enzymes, and nutrients, including minerals and sugar. Plasma also carries such proteins as albumin, clotting factors, and antibodies to fight diseases. Technicians isolate and use many plasma proteins. For example, clotting factor VIII has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily. Or if someone is exposed to certain diseases, doctors might prescribe injections of gamma globulin, extracted from the blood plasma of people who already had immunity. Other plasma proteins are used medically, but the above mentioned illustrate how a primary blood component (plasma) may be processed to obtain fractions. *

  *Footnote: See Questions From Readers in "The Watchtower" of June 15, 1978 , and October 1, 1994. Pharmaceutical firms have developed recombinant products that are not taken from blood and that may prescribed in place of some blood fractions used in the past.

  Just as blood plasma can be a source of various fractions, the other primary components (red cells, white cells, platelets) can be processed to isolate smaller parts. For example, white blood cells may be a source of interferons and interleukins, used to treat some viral infections and cancers. Platelets can be processed to extract a wound healing factor. And other medicines are coming along that involved (at least initially) extracts from blood components. Such therapies are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.

  Some would refuse anything derived from blood (even fractions intended to provide temporary passive immunity). That is how they understand God's command to 'abstain from blood.' They reason that his law to Israel required that blood removed from a creature be 'poured out on the ground.' (Deuteronomy 12: 22-24) Why is that relevant? Well, to prepare gamma globulin, blood-based clotting factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected and processed. Hence, some Christians reject such products, just as they reject transfusions of whole blood or of its four primary components. Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected.

  Other Christians decide differently. They too refuse transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Yet, they might allow a physician to treat them with a fraction extracted from the primary components. Even here there may be differences. One Christian may accept a gamma globulin injection, but he may or may not agree to an injection containing something extracted from red or white cells. Overall, though, what might lead some Christians to conclude that they could accept blood fractions?

  SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR

  · If you face surgery or a treatment that might involve a blood product, ask:

  · Do all the medical personnel involved know that, as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I direct that no blood transfusions (whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or blood plasma) be given to me under any circumstances?

  · If any medicine to be prescribed may be made from blood plasma, red or white cells, or platelets, ask:

  · Has the medicine been made from one of the four primary blood components? If so, would you explain its makeup?

  · How much of this blood-derived medicine might be administered, and in what way?

  ·

  · If my conscience permits me to accept this fraction, what medical risks are there?

  · If my conscience moves me to decline this fraction, what other therapy might be used?

  · After I have considered this matter further, when may I inform you of my decision?

  ·

  Questions From Readers in "The Watchtower" of June 1, 1990, noted that plasma proteins (fractions) move from a pregnant woman's blood to the separate blood system of her fetus. Thus a mother passes immunoglobulins to her child, providing valuable immunity. Separately, as a fetus' red cells complete their normal life span, their oxygen-carrying portion is processed. Some of it becomes bilirubin, which crosses the placenta to the mother and is eliminated with her body wastes. Some Christians may conclude that since blood fractions can pass to another person in this natural setting, they could accept blood traction derived from blood plasma or cells.

  Does the fact that opinions and conscientious decisions may differ mean that the issue inconsequential? No. It is serious. Yet, there is a basic simplicity. The above material shows that Jehovah's Witnesses refuse transfusions of both whole blood and its primary blood components. The Bible directs Christians to 'abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from fornication'. (Acts 15:29) Beyond that, when it comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Christian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously decide for himself.

  Many people would be willing accept any therapy that seems to offer immediate benefit, even a therapy have know health risks, as is true of blood products. The sincere Christian endeavors to have a broader, more balanced view that involves more than just the physical aspects. Jehovah's Witnesses appreciate efforts to provide quality medical care, and they weight the risk/benefit ratio of any treatment. However, when it comes to products derived from blood, they carefully weigh what God says and their personal relationship with our Life-Giver. Psalm 36:9.

  What a blessing for a Christian to have such confidence as the psalmist who wrote: Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; favor and glory are what he gives. Jehovah himself will not hold back anything good from those waking in faultlessness. O Jehovah., happy is the man that is trusting in you! Psalm 84: 11, 12.

  Now concerning tthe following questions:

  · Has the medicine been made from one of the four primary blood components? If so, would you explain its makeup?

  · How much of this blood-derived medicine might be administered, and in what way?

  a "Friend" on the 4th June 2000, made these comments:

  If the physician says, "This treatment contains 1 red cell" would you object to it? Would elders have a judicial case?

  If the physician says, "This treatment contains 100 red cell" would you object to it? Would elders have a judicial case?

  If the physician says, "This treatment contains 1000 red cell" would you object to it? Would elders have a judicial case?

  If the physician says, "This treatment contains 10,000 red cell" would you object to it? Would elders have a judicial case?

  And the list could go on and on.

  I would like also to remind Waiting comments, 26th June 2000:

  I also have noticed, like you, that the Society writes a lot about

  "some have concluded",

  "some have allowed their consciences".....

  Well, who determines who is right?

  The "some have concluded" or the "some have not concluded?"

  The majority rules? Where does the GB fit into that scheme? Who counts the votes?

  and this:

  *** w00 10/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

  Hence, we do not donate blood, nor do we store for transfusion our blood that should be ‘poured out.’ That practice conflicts with God’s law

  *** w00 10/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

  For example, during certain surgical procedures, some blood may be diverted from the body in a process called hemodilution. The blood remaining in the patient is diluted. Later, his blood in the external circuit is directed back into him, thus bringing his blood count closer to normal. Similarly, blood that flows into a wound may be captured and filtered so that the red cells can be returned to the patient; this is called cell salvage. In a different process, blood may be directed to a machine that temporarily carries on a function normally handled by body organs (for example, the heart, lungs, or kidneys). The blood from the machine is then returned to the patient. In other procedures, blood is diverted to a separator (centrifuge) so that damaging or defective portions of it can be eliminated. Or the goal may be to isolate some of a blood component and apply that elsewhere on the body. There are also tests in which a quantity of blood is withdrawn in order to tag it or to mix it with medicine, whereupon it is put back into the patient."

  Now, old on and let's go for a little time travel:

  *** w58 8/1 478 Questions from Readers *

  One of Jehovah’s witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily. Should she be allowed to partake of the emblems of bread and wine at Memorial time?—R. J., United States.

  We, of course, regret with you that this sister who professes to be one of the anointed remnant took a blood transfusion voluntarily during her stay in the hospital. We believe that she did the wrong thing contrary to the will of God.

  However, congregations have never been instructed to disfellowship those who voluntarily take blood transfusions or approve them.

  We let the judgment of such violators of God’s law concerning the sacredness of blood remain with Jehovah, the Supreme Judge. The only thing that can be done in the cases of individuals like this is to view them as immature and therefore not capable of taking on certain responsibilities, hence refusing to make certain assignments of service to such ones.

  Since an individual is not disfellowshiped because of having voluntarily taken a blood transfusion or having approved of a dear one’s accepting a blood transfusion, you have no right to bar this sister from the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. As an anointed member of Christ’s body she is under orders and command by Christ Jesus to partake. Whether she is unfaithful as to what she professes to be by virtue of taking the emblems of the Lord’s Evening Meal is something for Jehovah God to determine himself. His judgment begins at the house of God. It is not for you or anyone serving the Memorial emblems to act as the judge, but to allow the emblems to go to anyone in the audience as these are passed along in the normal manner of letting each one have the opportunity to partake."

  Please remember the WTBS'' claim :

  "... Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God."

  and:

  " Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected."

  Let's advance in time, and we arrive in the year 1961, i.e. only 25 months later and we get this:

  *** w61 1/15 63-4 Questions from Readers ***

  In view of the seriousness of taking blood into the human system by a transfusion, would violation of the Holy Scriptures in this regard subject the dedicated, baptized receiver of blood transfusion to being disfellowshiped from the Christian congregation?

  The inspired Holy Scriptures answer yes. About the middle of the first “Christian” century the twelve apostles of Christ met with the other mature representatives of the congregation at Jerusalem to determine what should be the Scriptural requirement for the admission of non-Jews into the Christian congregation. The twelve apostles and other representative men of the Jerusalem congregation as met together on this occasion to decide this vital question were Jews or circumcised proselytes, and, as such, they had been up until Pentecost of A.D. 33 under the prohibition contained in the Mosaic law against eating or drinking the blood of animal creatures. In that Mosaic law at Leviticus 17:10-12 God said to the Jews: “As for any man of the house of Israel or some temporary resident who is residing for a while in your midst who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood and I shall indeed cut him off from among his people. For the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I myself have put it upon the altar for you to make atonement for your souls, because it is the blood that makes atonement by the soul in it. That is why I have said to the sons of Israel, ‘No soul of you should eat blood and no temporary resident who is residing for a while in your midst should eat blood.”’

  Those Jewish Christians had now come under the new covenant that had been validated by the pouring out in death of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and men. What, then, was their decision as to the requirements to lie imposed upon Gentile believers for admission into the Christian congregation? The decree setting forth their decision replies: “The apostles and the older brothers to those brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the nations: Greetings! . . . For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep yourselves free from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things killed without draining their blood and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!” (Acts 15:23-29) Thus for all Christian believers the apostolic decree under the guidance of God’s holy spirit declared that among the things necessary for them was the keeping of themselves free from blood and from things killed without draining their blood. Years later that decision was still in force upon Christians according to Acts 21:25. That decision has never been revoked, because it is God-given and still applies to Christians today who are dedicated, baptized believers, faithfully following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who was born a Jew over 1900 years ago.

  Under God’s law as mediated by the prophet Moses toward the nation of Israel those Jews or circumcised proselytes who violated God’s prohibition against eating or drinking animal blood were to be cut off from his chosen people. According to the apostolic decree as handed down by that conference in Jerusalem, the Christian congregation was under obligation to do a similar thing toward those who ate or drank animal blood. Blood transfusions were not in vogue in apostolic days. Nevertheless, although the twelve apostles and their fellow members of the Jerusalem congregation may not have had such a thing as the modern blood transfusion in mind, yet the decree handed down by them included such a thing in its scope. The medical profession today admits that blood transfusion is a direct feeding of the blood vessels of the human body with blood from another person or other persons that the practitioner of blood transfusion says is necessary for the survival of the recipient.

  God’s law definitely says that the soul of man is in his blood. Hence the receiver of the blood transfusion is feeding upon a God-given soul as contained in the blood vehicle of a fellow man or of fellow men.

  This is a violation of God’s commands to Christians, the seriousness of which should not be minimized by any passing over of it lightly as being an optional matter for the conscience of any individual to decide upon.

  The decree of the apostles at Jerusalem declares: “If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.”

  Hence a Christian who deliberately receives a blood transfusion and thus does not keep himself from blood will not prosper spiritually.

  According to the law of Moses, which set forth shadows of things to come, the receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God’s people by excommunication or disfellowshiping.

  If the taking of a blood transfusion is the first offense of a dedicated, baptized Christian due to his immaturity or lack of Christian stability and he sees the error of his action and grieves and repents over it and begs divine forgiveness and forgiveness of God’s congregation on earth, then mercy should be extended to him and he need not be disfellowshiped. He needs to be put under surveillance and to be instructed thoroughly according to the Scriptures upon this subject, and thereby be helped to acquire strength to make decisions according to the Christian standard in any future cases.

  If, however, he refuses to acknowledge his nonconformity to the required Christian standard and makes the matter an issue in the Christian congregation and endeavors to influence others therein to his support; or, if in the future he persists in accepting blood transfusions or in donating blood toward the carrying out of this medical practice upon others, he shows that he has really not repented, but is deliberately opposed to God’s requirements. As a rebellious opposer and unfaithful example to fellow members of the Christian congregation he must be cut off therefrom by disfellowshiping. Thereby the Christian congregation vindicates itself from any charge of connivance at the infraction of God’s law by a member of the congregation through blood transfusion, and it upholds the proper Christian standard before all the members of the Christian congregation, and keeps itself clean from the blood of all men, even as the apostle Paul did who promulgated to the various Gentile congregations the apostolic decree handed down at Jerusalem.—Acts 20:26."

  Let's advance a litlle more, up to the year 1964 :

  *** w64 2/15 127-8 Questions from Readers ***

  Would it be a violation of the Scriptures for a Christian to permit a veterinarian to give blood transfusions to a pet? And what of animal food? May it be used if there is reason to believe there is blood in it? Also, is it permissible to use fertilizer that has blood in it?

  The psalmist declared at Psalm 119:97: “How I do love your law! All day long it is my concern.” Such a love of God’s law and a concern for it would surely cause a dedicated servant of God to avoid any violation of God’s law whatsoever. God’s law on blood is very clear. Blood is not to be used as food and, when withdrawn from a body, it is to be poured out on the ground. (Gen. 9:3, 4; Lev. 3:17; Deut. 12:16, 23, 24; Acts 15:20, 28, 29) Christians certainly would not wish to do anything in violation of Jehovah’s law on blood. Love for God and for the righteous laws and principles of his Word calls forth that response from them in matters pertaining to blood.

  Since God’s law on blood has not been altered over the centuries, Christians today realize that they are bound by it. Please note, however, that it is not fear of some reprisal that moves them to comply with Jehovah’s law on blood. They do not obey God’s law simply because violation of it might result in the imposing of sanctions by the Christian congregation of which they are a part. They love what is right.

  Furthermore, because of their love of God’s law they will not rationalize or seek ways in which it appears possible to circumscribe it with seeming impunity.

  How, then, must we answer the question, Would it be a violation of the Scriptures for a Christian to permit a veterinarian to give blood transfusions to a pet? By all means, to do so would be a violation of the Scriptures. To use blood for transfusion purposes, even in the case of an animal, would be improper. The Bible is very clear in showing that blood should not be eaten. It should not be infused, therefore, to build up the body’s vital forces, either in the case of a human or in the case of a pet or any other animal under the jurisdiction of a Christian.

  In harmony with this, surely a Christian parent could not rationalize to the effect that a pet belongs to a minor child and thus this unbaptized child might, on its own, authorize a veterinarian to administer the blood. No. The baptized parent bears the responsibility, for that parent has authority over the child and over the pet and should control the entire matter. That is the parent’s obligation before God.—Eccl. 12:13, 14; Jas. 4:17.

  What, then, of animal food? May it be used if there is reason to believe there is blood in it? As far as a Christian is concerned, the answer is No, on the basis of principles already mentioned. Therefore, if a Christian discovers that blood components are listed on the label of a container of dog food or some other animal food, he could not conscientiously feed that product to any animal over which he has jurisdiction. He could not conclude that doing so would be excusable, for this would not be a case of an animal killing another animal and helping itself to the blood of that creature. No, this would be a direct act on the part of the Christian, making him responsible for feeding blood to a pet or other animal belonging to him.

  Of course, if there is no indication on the label of a package of animal food that the product contains blood, a Christian might conclude that it could be used. Still, his conscience might trouble him. In that case he should put his conscience to rest by making reasonable inquiry and acting in accord with the information he receives, for a Christian surely desires to have a good conscience before God.—1 Pet. 3:21.

  But now, what about fertilizer that has blood in it? One who is going to show respect for God’s law on blood would not use it. True, according to the Mosaic law, blood when taken from a body was to be poured out upon the ground and covered over with dust. (Lev. 17:13, 14) The objective was, however, that the blood should serve no useful purpose when thus disposed of. It was not placed on the ground with the thought in mind that it would serve as fertilizer. Hence, no Christian farmer today could properly spread blood on his fields to fertilize the soil, nor would he use commercial fertilizer containing blood. Such blood use would be a commercializing on something that God has reserved for himself. It would be a violation of God’s Word.

  Servants of God have been told in the Scriptures what is to be done with blood. So they know that they would be held responsible by Jehovah for any misuse of blood over which they might have control. What is more, because they love God they are prompted to observe the laws and principles of his Word. Thus they are moved to keep Jehovah’s law on blood even in ways that might appear to some to be insignificant. They do not view compliance with it as an encumbrance, for they hold in remembrance the words of 1 John 5:3, which states: “For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.”"

  Now let's jump to the year 1997:

  *** bq 3 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  *** bq 4-5 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood *** The Religious Basis

  7 Most doctors view the use of blood essentially as a matter of medical judgment, much as their daily decisions about using certain medicines or surgical procedures. Other persons may view the position of Jehovah’s Witnesses as more of a moral or legal question. They may think in terms of the right to life, authority to make decisions about one’s own body, or the civil obligations of the government to protect the lives of its citizens. These aspects all bear on the matter. Yet the stand taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses is above all a religious one; it is a position based on what the Bible says.

  8 Many persons may wonder about the validity of the above statement. They are aware that numerous churches support the use of blood, establishing blood-bank programs and encouraging the donation of blood. Accordingly, the question logically arises:

  What does the Bible say about humans taking blood into their bodies?

  *** bq 12 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  29 The command to ‘abstain from blood’ was not a mere dietary restriction but was a serious moral requirement, as is seen by the fact that it was as serious to Christians as ‘abstaining from idolatry or fornication.’

  *** bq 16-17 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  And down through the centuries this requirement has been recognized as “necessary” for Christians. Thus the determination of Jehovah’s Witnesses to abstain from blood is based on God’s Word the Bible and is backed up by many precedents in the history of Christianity.

  *** bq 18 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  Similarly, the decree that Christians must ‘abstain from blood’ clearly covers the taking of blood into the body, whether through the mouth or directly into the bloodstream.

  *** bq 18-19 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  49 Persons who recognize their dependence on the Creator and Life-Giver should be determined to obey his commands. This is the firm position that Jehovah’s Witnesses take. They are fully convinced that it is right to comply with God’s law commanding abstention from blood.

  In this they are not following a personal whim or some baseless fanatical view. It is out of obedience to the highest authority in the universe, the Creator of life, that they refuse to take blood into their systems either by eating or by transfusion.

  *** bq 20 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  Hence, despite the immediate cost, those Christians obeyed the apostolic decree to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from fornication and from blood. Faithfulness to God meant that much to them.

  *** bq 20

  54 Today it means that much to Jehovah’s Witnesses also. They rightly feel a moral obligation to make decisions about worship for themselves and for their children. For that reason, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not looking for anyone else, whether a doctor, a hospital administrator or a judge, to make these moral decisions for them. They do not want someone else to try to shoulder their responsibility to God, for in reality no other person can do that. It is a personal responsibility of the Christian toward his God and Life-Giver.

  *** bq 24 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood *** The Doctor’s Role

  65 We have seen that, because of their strong religious beliefs, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid both food that contains blood and medically administered blood.

  *** bq 29-30 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood *** 29

  Relieving Doctors of Liability

  76 Doctors are in a difficult position in treating any serious case, for failure to use all available procedures may involve them in a malpractice suit. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, are willing to bear the responsibility for their refusal to accept blood transfusion. They will sign legal waivers that relieve the medical staff and hospital of any concern about suits, in the event that harm be attributed to their operating without blood.

  77 The American Medical Association has recommended a form entitled “Refusal to Permit Blood Transfusion” for patients who will not accept blood because of religious beliefs. It reads: “I (We) request that no blood or blood derivatives be administered to ._____._____._____._____._____._____._____._____._____._____ during this hospitalization, notwithstanding that such treatment may be deemed necessary in the opinion of the attending physician or his assistants to preserve life or promote recovery. I (We) release the attending physician, his assistants, the hospital and its personnel from any responsibility whatever for any untoward results due to my (our) refusal to permit the use of blood or its derivatives.” 30 This document is to be dated and signed by the patient and by witnesses present. A close relative such as a mate or parent (in the case of a child) could sign the form too.

  78 The willingness of Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept personal responsibility regarding their stand on blood is further shown by the fact that most of them carry a signed card requesting “No

  Blood Transfusion!” This document acknowledges that the signee realizes and accepts the implications of refusing blood.

  *** bq 41 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  111 Consequently, whether having religious objections to blood transfusions or not, many a person might decline blood simply because it is essentially an organ transplant that at best is only partially compatible with his own blood."

  *** bq 48-9 Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood ***

  138 Does this brief consideration of only some of the medical risks of blood mean that Jehovah’s Witnesses object to transfusions primarily for medical reasons? No, that is not the case. The fundamental reason why they do not accept blood transfusions is because of what the Bible says. Theirs is basically a religious objection, not a medical one. "

  For the sake of clarity, let's remember that in 1972, we were reminded of a Scriptural examination, made after the first blood bank was established in the USA:

  *** w72 8/15 502 God Readjusts the Thinking of His People ***(°)

  For example, the issue over blood began to arise particularly after 1937, when the first blood bank was established in Chicago, Illinois. Christian witnesses of Jehovah who became ill were faced with the question, Should I accept this form of therapy? Is it in harmony with God’s Word? A prayerful examination of the Scriptures was made, revealing God’s will in the matter."

  Of course if we really examine the WTBS’ writing we realize that only many, many years after “… A prayerful examination of the Scriptures was made, revealing God’s will in the matter." A new attitude was shown:

  *** jv 183 13 Recognized by Our Conduct ***(book published in 1993 )

  Why Blood Transfusions Are Refused

  The respect for life shown by Jehovah’s Witnesses has also affected their attitude toward blood transfusions. When transfusions of blood became an issue confronting them, The Watchtower of July 1, 1945, explained at length the Christian view regarding the sanctity of blood. "

  and :

  (p.184) "… Consistent with that understanding of matters, beginning in 1961 any who ignored the divine requirement, accepted blood transfusions, and manifested an unrepentant attitude were disfellowshipped from the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses."

  Yet , only few years later in 1997 , this clearly stated "understanding " wasn't given to doctors present at a meeting at the Complutense University in Madrid - Spain - :

  *** w97 2/15 20 Bioethics and Bloodless Surgery ***

  Another question on the minds of several doctors related to group pressure. What would happen, they wondered, if a Witness wavered and accepted a blood transfusion? Would he be ostracized by the Witness community?

  The response would depend on the actual situation, for disobeying God’s law certainly is a serious matter, something for the congregation’s elders to examine. The Witnesses would want to help any person who has undergone the traumatic experience of life-threatening surgery and who has accepted a transfusion. Doubtless such a Witness would feel very bad and be concerned about his relationship with God. Such a person may need help and understanding. Since the backbone of Christianity is love, the elders would want, as in all judicial cases, to temper firmness with mercy.—Matthew 9:12, 13; John 7:24

  .

  “Won’t you be reassessing your ethical stand before long?” asked a professor in bioethics, who was visiting from the United States. “Other religions have done that in recent years.”

  The stand of the Witnesses respecting the sanctity of blood is a doctrinal belief rather than an ethical viewpoint subject to periodic review, he was told. The clear Biblical command leaves no room for compromise. (Acts 15:28, 29) Violating such a divine law would be as unacceptable to a Witness as condoning idolatry or fornication."

  Alas, even this kind of "understanding" effective since 1961, was modified

  recently in the year 2000, more precisely on June 16 th 2000 with a letter from

  the WTBS Inc. to all Hospital Liaison Committees .

  Its 4 th § states:

  "If a baptized member of the faith wilfully and without regret accepts a blood

  transfusion, he indicates by his own actions that he no longer wishes to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. The individual is no longer viewed as a member of the Christian congregation because he no longer accepte and follows the Biblical

  prohibition to a bstain from blood.

  However , if such an individual later changes

  his mind, he may be accepted back as one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

  P.S. Incidentally another great puzzle is this statement :

  *** g99 8/22 p. 31 Are Blood Transfusions Really Necessary? ***

  LAST November the above question was raised in a newspaper article written by Dr. Ciril Godec, chairman of urology at Long Island College Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York. He wrote: “Today blood would probably not be approved as a medication, since it would not fulfill safety criteria of the Food and Drug Administration. Blood is an organ of the body, and blood transfusion is nothing less than an organ transplant.”

  So if “… blood transfusion is nothing less than an organ transplant…” why it is not a matter for which a “… Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God." and not before men ???
• 
  23

  Blood and Ron Rhoades

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  ron rhoades on blood

  for about 15 months i held an on-again off-again discussion with an apologist for the watchtower bible and tract society named ron rhoades.

  in this discussion rhoades goes to great lengths in his attempt to authenticate the wts doctrinal position on blood.

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• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Marvin,

  thanks for the interesting information.

  I'll download the lot...digest it and come back with some comments.

  Personally I do belive that Scully, Jourles, AlanF and Hawkaw gave

  already plenty ...to think about.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  16

  New home for Watchtower Bookshelf collection ** 1940-1950's books **

  by Jourles in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have put up the recent watchtower books on dirtclod.com for everyone's general use.

  instead of putting up the entire collection in one large file, i simply broke down the books individually so you can browse them more easily.

  have fun!.

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• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Jourles,

  these few lines to thank you for the wonderful job and..the

  gift to all the users of the forum. I do know about scanning

  machines and the rest...it is a long, methodic work but

  the result is really outstanding, longlasting and beneficial to many.

  Thanks again,

  J.C.MacHislopp

  P.S. I might have heard about the CD...!

  Greetings.
• 
  48

  WTBS' Financial Empire...the tip of the iceberg!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  These few lines to acknowledge your posts on the subject.

  Waiting: great comments...you saw the points immediately!

  Loris: "... LEGALLY DISTINCT BRANCHES THAT

  TIGHTLY CONTROL THEIR RESOURCES . "

  I was sure that someone would comment on this also!

  Coffee_black and also happy man: "....Where does it go? They operate no charities,

  no hospitals or colleges. Where does all this money go? "

  This comment, was really my first question, once I did get some of

  the financial ...informations, which as you can imagine, are hidden

  to 99% of the JW's world wide.

  Coffee_black: thanks also for the analitical comparison between

  Jesus Christ and the WTBS Inc.'s financial empire. And finally

  I do love , your conclusion:

  "When you shift the focus from finding the "only true religion" to

  finding a relationship with God, you can finally focus on

  what really matters. It isn't complicated, doesn't require countless

  hours of study and reported hours, and magazine placements.

  It isn't stressful, and doesn't make you feel woefully inadequate."

  AMEN!!!

  Wannaexit, Rocketman, run dont walk, Gerard, Mr. Kim and JT:

  thanks for your appreciation.

  DannyBear: "....the final billions $ number includes all of the

  Kingdom Hall mortgages..."

  I'm sure that the Kingdom Halls values are not included

  (U.S.A.)

  Garybuss: Many thanks for the scan about the " Publishing corporation .."!

  Metatron : thanks for your accurate remark.

  Jgnat: Thanks for your good remarks.

  gcc2k : Excellents point about the " assembly hall ".

  Btw, I'm glad that you were among those 'ignorant' that

  " ...the Jehovah's Witnesses.... opened a $20 million,

  130,000-square-foot facility at the Mililani

  Technology Park, better known as :

  The " Watchtower Educational Center Pacific at Mililani

  Technology Park. (Hawaii)

  Scully: thanks for your appreciation and for your comment:

  "I guess they didn't get the "Conduct Yourselves Honestly In All

  Things" aka the be-honest-on-your-income-tax-return local

  needs/public talk in April like all the other JW congregations do.

  Mizpah: a very good statement indeed, "The Watchtower is

  not unlike other religious oganizations that have great assets

  and wealth at its disposal. " It maybe painful to some ...but it is the plain

  truth.

  To SwordofJah and Pork chop: Before you become part of the modern

  class of apologists in behalf of the might WTBS Inc., take a good look at this:

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  Theocratic Advancement Despite Obstacles

  Today, there are more than 50 congregations in and around Maputo city. However, there is not a single Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be found. Why is that so? Because of poor economic conditions, the congregations have not been able to build even though some have owned land for a number of years.(*)

  (*)

  w92 8/15 25

  The fact that congregations do not have Kingdom Halls at their disposal does not stop their progress. In most cases, more than double the number of publishers attend the meetings

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  If a man is fortunate enough to find a job here, the average wage is from $20 to $30 per month

  *** w92 8/15 24 Preaching in Maputo-Mozambique's Intriguing Capital! ***

  "Another congregation of 59 publishers regularly has more than 140 in attendance. They normally meet on an open terrace. But during rainy weather, the congregation squeezes into the two rooms of a small apartment. The overflow from the audience spills into the hallway, the kitchen, and the balcony. Once again, one cannot help but notice the appreciation and attentiveness as everyone, including many youths, follow the program intently. "

  "Mililani Technology Park. "

  The group established an educational and meeting facility -- situated on 3.4 acres next to Oceanic Cable -- called the Watchtower Educational Center Pacific.

  The center will house programs based on practical direction from the bible geared toward businesses and community organizations.
  Because of its massive size, the group has been approached by individuals wanting to rent the site for personal events but Wong said the building will remain purely for bible educational meetings. The center features a main auditorium large enough to fit 1,500 visitors,

  "Bad economy = good time for churches to build"

  Frellie Campos PBN Staff Reporter

  Worship and retreat facilities have been erected in growing numbers in a weakened economy where renovation and new construction projects have become scarce and labor less expensive.

  And the entry of big-box retailers in recent years has pressured land owners to reduce their rents -- an advantage for church groups looking for properties to buy and facilities to build, according to commercial real estate agent William Jardine.

  Jardine, who is based on the Big Island, said he has seen numerous church groups coming to town looking for properties to buy with the intention of establishing a worship facility or for business purposes.

  "The whole aspect of being a church is extremely attractive. Churches have some flexibility in doing things they wouldn't be able to do otherwise," Jardine said.

  But according to Nathan Wong, assistant to the branch manager at The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, there is a great need for these types of facilities.

  The group also provides resource handouts and seminars for a variety of issues such as sexual harassment and job-related issues -- services that are purely voluntary.

  In fact, Wong said some businesses and community leaders have already ordered reprints of articles the group produced.

  "Our materials are not that religiously oriented," Wong said.

  With fiber-optic capabilities, the center has the ability to hook up to other headquarters around the country and to colleges via the Internet.

  The society received assistance from volunteers all over the world to help design and construct the building that was two years in the making. "We're looking around to open possibly more sites in the future," Wong said.

  And the society -- which has 300 members in the area -- is continuing its quest to build a larger presence in the Islands with its 24,200-square-foot two-story meeting hall being built at the former Ranch House site in Aina Haina.

  The Jehovah's Witnesses -- who rely heavily on donations to operate -- purchased the 60,890-square-foot site for $3.6 million to build a facility for both prayer and education. Construction is scheduled for completion in October.

  While education is on the minds of the Jehovah's Witnesses, La`akea Hawaiian Resort Co. Ltd. -- a subsidiary made up of businesspeople from a large corporation in Japan -- is proposing to turn a residential property in Kaneohe into a moneymaking venture. The group plans to develop a private meeting facility for community use, including weddings, retreats and related activities at 47-477 Waihee Place in Kaneohe.

  La`akea Hawaiian Resort purchased the 39-acre property from a homeowner after seeing the potential for wedding activities at the scenic site overlooking Kaneohe Bay.

  A 4,000-square-foot house that sits on the lot will be used as a meeting facility fit to hold 60 people. Minor improvements will be made to the two-story house to upgrade it for commercial use, said Crystal Rose, the agent that represents La`akea Hawaiian Resort.

  The facility will be rented out to community members and businesses looking for a retreat site, meeting facility, or spot to hold wedding receptions. No overnight accommodations will be provided at the facility, which will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The planned site is expected to be ready in early 1998.
  In addition to renovation work to the house, a 1,600-square-foot wedding chapel is planned for the site. The chapel will have seating for 12 people.
  According to Rose, the group decided to put in a chapel because of the overwhelming number of Japanese weddings that occur in Hawaii. La`akea Hawaiian Resort is hoping to do four to six wedding a day. "We want to keep it a rural atmosphere as best we can. We don't want to disrupt the neighbors," Rose said. "The group's intentions were to keep the operations small.

  To help ease community members who are concerned the project will turn the quiet neighborhood into a commercial business circus, La`akea Hawaiian Resort has agreed to repave the half-a-mile Waihee Road, which residents have been asking the city to do for a while.
  "We're trying to work with the community to find out how the property can best be used and what services we can provide. This is a sensitive issue ... but people should be able to use their property however they want," Rose said. "

  This is the web's link: Pacific Business News

  http://pacific.bcentral.com

  and for the pics:

  http://www.mililanitechpark.com/Businesses/businesses.htm#wbts

  http://www.kcshosting.com/k/pic.html

  Please read also a comment from SYM, (16/03/03)

  "It should be fairly obvious that the Tower really doesn't give a hoot about what goes on in Maputo.

  They have enough money to build Kingdom Halls in Maputo, but maybe the Brothers in Maputo were smart enough to see through the Tower's scam of the Brothers paying the Society for the Hall, and then having the Society own it when they finish paying back the loan."

  and from Francois :

  "If the WTBTS were interested in the brothers in Bumfuck, Egypt having a kingdom hall, they've got enough money to build one for any group who wants one.

  These lying bastards have one hand out looking for donations, while with the other they're counting all the filthy lucre they rake in every year.

  And all the while they can STILL tell themselves they represent the Infinite, Eternal God of the Universe of Universes. It would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic."

  I'll comment after, for the latest additions.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  48

  WTBS' Financial Empire...the tip of the iceberg!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  I'm glad that the informations are appreciated.

  The more is known ...the better it is.

  I'll be back after a short...business' trip.
• 
  4

  The "evil slave"...according to the WTBS Inc.

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here below a clear example of how the wtbs

  inc. calls all those who disagree with her

  official teaching/doctrine/ideas/positio.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  Here below a clear example of how the WTBS

  Inc. calls all those who disagree with “her”

  official teaching/doctrine/ideas/positio.

  Please note what kind of publications are

  quoted in support :

  “…publications as ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine

  Purpose’ and ‘ Faith on the March. ‘

  Take a closer look.

  *** w61 7/1 pp. 409-410

  The Traitorous “Evil Slave” and His Prototypes ***

  THE “EVIL SLAVE”

  Even as King David was a type of Jesus Christ, so the traitor Ahithophel proved to be a picture of Judas Iscariot. In turn, he and Judas Iscariot foreshadowed the “evil slave,” concerning whom Jesus prophesied: “But if that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.”—Matt. 24:48-51.

  We should expect to see this “evil slave” today. Why so? Because these words of Jesus regarding the evil slave are part of Jesus’ great prophecy that finds its fulfillment since 1914. Since that year we have seen the unprecedented wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes and the world-wide preaching of this good news of the Kingdom as foretold at Matthew 24:7-14.

  However, as already noted, we are not to expect this evil slave to be a single individual but rather a group of individuals. Thus Jehovah, at Isaiah 43:10, speaks of his nation of witnesses back there and in our day not only in the plural form as “witnesses,” but also in the singular form as “my servant.” This is in keeping with the fact that the “faithful and discreet slave,” which Jesus mentioned at the same time, is also a group of persons. As has been noted time and again in the pages of this journal, that “faithful and discreet slave” consists of the remaining ones or the remnant of the body of Christ still on earth and is associated with Jehovah’s witnesses of the New World society.—Matt. 24:45-47.

  From the words of Jesus it is apparent that the evil slave is a traitor. How does he show it? By beating his fellow slaves and by associating with those who are disreputable in God’s sight, “the confirmed drunkards,” spiritually so. Does he beat his fellows with a literal rod? No, for the laws of the land would not permit that. Rather, he seeks to cause pain to his fellow slaves by hard and bitter speech, by slander, false propaganda, by assertions for which no proof is given nor indeed can be given. This he does both by the spoken and the printed word. He is like Diotrephes, concerning whom the apostle John wrote: He “likes to have the first place among them, [and] does not receive anything from us with respect . . . chattering about us with wicked words.”—3 John 9, 10.

  Those comprising the “evil slave” class feel they have a grievance. They may have been rebuked, as Judas was, or have been relieved of privileges of service, or may have been unable to fall in line with the progress being made in understanding the truth or in methods of carrying on God’s work. But if they were honestly to examine their hearts they would be forced to admit that for a long time their hearts have not been right and that now selfishness, in the form of pride or desire for selfish gain, is blindly goading them on.

  That spiritual blindness and love of self-gain go hand in hand Jesus indicates: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is sincere, your whole body will be bright; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be dark. If in reality the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is! No one can be a slave to two masters . . . You cannot be slaves to God and to Riches.”—Matt. 6:22-24.

  Should the tactics of this “evil slave” class disturb us? Not at all. Was it not foretold that he would appear in our day? And, remember, Jesus also said: “Stumblingblocks must of necessity come, but woe to the man through whom the stumblingblock comes!”—Matt. 18:7.

  So when we come across statements made by some who were at one time associated with us and now oppose, we should ask ourselves: What is the mental disposition? Is it in line with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8? Or does it breathe the spirit of malice, doubt and strife? Is it a joyful, constructive, peaceful message, or just the opposite? Is commercialism connected with it? Is there a consorting with the enemies of God’s people, as in the case of Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot?

  The record made by the “faithful and discreet slave” is published for all to read in such publications as Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose and Faith on the March.

  Notice the joyful, loving and kind tone, the logic, the proofs, both scriptures and admitted facts. Note the fruits of the work being directed by the “faithful and discreet slave”: the magnifying of Jehovah’s name, the numerical expansion in Christian ministers, the clean New World society. If all this evidence is convincing, and indeed it should be, then heed Romans 16:17, 18 by having nothing to do with those that attack and seek to disrupt this noble work, for by their fruits they betray that they belong to the “evil slave” class.”

  Notice : “… If all this evidence is convincing…”!!

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  48

  WTBS' Financial Empire...the tip of the iceberg!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  watchtower bible & t

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  concerning this topic I wish to give the opportunity, to all newcomers on this board

  to give a GLANCE, at the financial empire of the WTBS Inc.

  But before, let's have some of the reminders so often used by the WTBS Inc.

  *** jv 340 21 How Is It All Financed? ***

  "SeatsFree.NoCollections"

  As early as the second issue of the WatchTower, in August 1879, Brother Russell stated: "Zions Watch Tower has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine, fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication." Consistent with that, there is no begging for money in the literature of Jehovahs Witnesses "

  *** km 12/87 3 Anticipating the Needs of the Harvest ***

  3 In the September 1983 Our Kingdom Ministry, the point was made that Kingdom Hall construction had not kept pace with the formation of new congregations. Why? The article stated: “Basically the problem is economic. Whereas it is true that some expansion into outlying areas has been difficult or impossible because the brothers have not been able to build or otherwise provide appropriate Kingdom Halls in those areas, the problem the organization faces today primarily is found in the urban areas where property values have skyrocketed to such an extent that individual congregations, including large ones, have been unable to purchase even a site for the construction of a Kingdom Hall. In addition, exorbitant real estate prices have placed existing buildings suitable for conversion into Kingdom Halls out of the reach of the brothers.” The brothers have responded wholeheartedly to this need and many Kingdom Halls have now been constructed in such urban areas.

  *** km 12/88 4 Manifesting Faith by Fine Works ***

  CONGREGATIONS CAN ASSIST

  8 There is much that each congregation can do to support the Kingdom Hall construction program. For instance, congregations contemplating undertaking new construction projects can select a simple design that will neither be costly nor require intensive labor. (Compare Philippians 1:10.) The Society has available a variety of Kingdom Hall plans that are compatible with the method of construction used for quickly built halls. (Please note the December 1986 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, paragraphs 10-12.) While we look forward to Jehovah’s blessing upon our congregations, we must also be practical in our building design so as to meet the need, without placing an unnecessary burden on either the friends or the resources of the Society Kingdom Hall Fund.

  9 Some congregations have included in their Kingdom Hall design a modest apartment that can be used by a traveling overseer while serving in the area. In the future, congregations building Kingdom Halls that will be centrally located in the circuit may want to consider whether it would be practical to include a room where the circuit overseer and his wife can be accommodated.

  10 When undertaking a Kingdom Hall building project, the need for local financial support can be discussed frankly with the congregation(s) involved. The more finances the brothers provide locally with both contributions and loans, the less they will need to borrow. This allows more of the resources of the Kingdom Hall Fund to be available for other congregations to use in building their Kingdom Halls.

  11 Some congregations, after requesting assistance from the Society Kingdom Hall Fund and being advised that they would have to wait because moneys were not available at the time, have then found sufficient loans and contributions available locally to complete their project. It is good to check thoroughly the availability of such funds before requesting help. (Luke 14:28-30)

  *** km 12/88 5 Manifesting Faith by Fine Works ***

  Even though a congregation follows this procedure, a Society Kingdom Hall Fund contribution box conveniently located in the Kingdom Hall will enable individuals desiring to do so to make voluntary contributions to the fund. Any moneys placed in this contribution box should be forwarded to the Society in addition to those covered by the congregation’s resolution. Individuals may also make direct contributions to the fund, sending their remittances to the Society with an accompanying letter specifying the purpose of the contribution.

  Ready,....let's go !!!

  From this link:

  http://www.freeminds.org/history/wtinnewyork.htm

  you'll find detailed informations about each property

  "Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society ", Brooklyn New York.-

  Here are the adresses:

  1***WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 119 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  2*** WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 89 HICKS STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  3*** WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 169 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  4** WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  5*** WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A FRONT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  6** WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A FRONT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND 177 FRONT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 50 ORANGE STREET UNIONDALE NY 11553 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 29 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 76 WILLOW STREET BROOKLYN NY 11243 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 80 WILLOW STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 90 SANDS STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND 200 WATER STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A YORK STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 8 CLARK STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 161 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 105 WILLOW STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &T 360 FURMAN STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE-TRA 137 PEARL STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A JAY STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 61 ADAMS STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 107 ADAMS STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE-TRA 64 PROSPECT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 107 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FLUSHING NY 11378 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 34 ORANGE STREET SAINT LOUIS MO 63179 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TS 67 LIVINGSTON STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T N/A FRONT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 79 WILLOW STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 183 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 51 YORK STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE-TRA 81 PROSPECT STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 97 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CLEVELAND OH 44115 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE & T 67 REMSEN STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TR 86 MONTAGUE STREET BROOKLYN NY 11201 NY N/A

  WATCHTOWER 1-299 WATCHTOWER DR WALKHILL, NY NY 12589

  WATCHTOWER 2800 RT 22 WALKHILL, NY NY 12589

  WATCHTOWER 2851 RT 22 WALKHILL, NY NY 12589

  WATCHTOWER N/A RT 311 WALKHILL, NY NY 12589

  WATCHTOWER 2721 RT 22 WALKHILL, NY NY 12589

  I have made a chart with each individual value but for the sake of space I'm giving , here below, the total value of LAND and BUILDINGS for all the above adresses:

  202,782,892,000.00 U.S.A. $

  or 273,898,990,000.00 CAN. $

  or 172,608,880,000.00 EURO

  or 121,588,680,000.00 B.POUND

  Note: All the above data are from : USPDR " Property and Information

  - the most comprhensive non- government source - for real estate in New York.

  http://www.uspdr.com/ Consumer/generaldisplay.asp?unikeys

  P.S. A huge, huge thanks to our friends of FREEMINDS

  for this excellent piece of research and data!!!

  (J.C.MacHislopp)

  00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

  "The Society's - Australian Branch " - financial reports are available at the following address

  http://www.angelfire.com/mac/why144000/ausfinances1.pdf

  STATE OF AFFAIRS

  Changes in the state of affairs of the Society are set out in the review of activities
  included in this Annual Report. Significant changes outlined are as follows:

  * Operating deficit of $2,957,415, changed from a deficit of $490,241 on prior year.

  * Total assets decreased from $40,670,413 to $38,141,808.

  * Abnormal write off of inter-branch loans totaled $2,010,439.

  * Abnormal write off of inventory and receivables $4,198,955.

  * Cash flows from operations increased

  by 16% to $17,041,559

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania"

  Pensylvania Reg. # 11-1857820

  Year Ended August 31, 1998

  BALANCE SHEET...............................1998 / 1997

  Assets

  Cash and short-term investments........$296,522,535 / 209,383,368

  Current receivables......................10,849,287 / 7,078,760

  Long-term receivables...................277,421,320 / 267,435,970

  Property and equipment..................120,697,680 / 120,547,679

  TOTAL ..................................705,130,822 / 604,445,777

  Liabilities

  Accounts payable & accrued liabilities...$2,414,924 / 794,524

  Conditional donations.....................7,489,654 / 8,743,636

  Long-term payables.......................61,002,396 / 37,503,266

  TOTAL LIABILITIES........................70,906,974 / 47,041,426

  NET ASSETS.............................$634,223,848 / 604,445,777

  COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

  Revenues

  Donations................................47,443,713 / 54,722,984

  Interest.................................24,925,594 / 20,504,081

  Kingdom Hall Assistance Fund..............3,218,791 / 3,900,595

  Royalties, Rent and Other.................3,519,062 / 2,928,113

  TOTAL REVENUES......79,107,160 / 82,055,773

  Expenses

  Kingdom Hall Assistance ..................2,123,945 / 2,485,514

  Relief Fund..................................21,182 / 170,507

  Convention Fund.................................430 / 0

  Administrative Services.....................142,106 / 14,304

  TOTAL EXPENSES............................2,287,663 / 2,670,325

  CHANGE IN NET ASSETS.....................76,819,497 / 79,385,448

  Net Assets At Beginning of Period.......557,404,351 / 469,616,477

  Prior period adjustment...........................0 / 8,402,426

  NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD............$634,223,848 557,404,351

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  Comments on the above from Expatbrit:

  When a company has greater income than expenses, this is termed a "profit". When a non-profit organisation has greater income than expenses, different terminology is used, along the lines of "excess of revenue over expenditure." Thus a charity can make money hand over fist, but still be a non-profit organisation.

  There are also different rules between business corporations and non-profit organisations for how these excesses and reserves built up can be employed or distributed. In practical terms for a high-control org. like the Watchtower these rules are nonsense, since whatever the leadership decides about use of funds, the followers will fall into line. I'm quite sure that if Ted Jaracz decided that all the reserves should be paid into his own bank account, the boards of directors, trustees and other officers of the various Watchtower charities would all fall into line.

  Real power is not having the money, it's having control of the people who have the money. "

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  "WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF BRITAIN "

  ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  10 Months ended 31 August 2000

  Directors and Trustees

  Jack Dowson

  Ronald Drage – Chairman

  Peter Ellis

  Bevan Vigo

  Secretary
  TP Cruse

  REVIEW OF THE YEAR AND FINANCIAL POSITION

  This is the first year for Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain. On November 1, 1999 all assets and liabilities of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania were successfully transferred to the Society.

  The Society received a donation from Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, in the sum of £12,334,861 which was invested immediately. This donation, to be used in connection with the charity’s objects, has boosted the Society’s reserves giving it a good base from which it can assist in financing the relocation of printing facilities owned by International Bible Students Association and used by the Society.

  Direct charitable expenditure through the year includes the cost of manufacturing and distributing Bibles and Bible study aids at a cost of £4,243,943. Financial support was given to full-time ministers in Britain and overseas in the sum of £394,544. The charity was able to make donations of cash and goods to overseas charities in ninety seven countries, primarily in the developing world totalling £3,624,797 to assist in the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, advancing the Christian religion.

  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

  10 months ended 31 August 2000

  INCOME

  Donations and gifts 17,492,322

  Legacies 658,868

  Income from literature 5,141,694

  Investment income received 1,088,801

  TOTAL 24,381,686

  RESOURCES EXPENDED

  Ministry costs and restricted expenditure 1,838,465

  Donations and aid to branches 4,265,945

  Expenditure on literature 4,243,943

  Support costs 1,800,437

  Administration expenses 526,410

  Loan interest payable to congregations 364,089

  TOTAL 13,399,290

  NET INCOMING RESOURCES 10,982,397

  Currency exchange rate changes 5,689

  Gains on investments 13,514

  NET MOVEMENT OF RESOURCES 11,001,600

  Fund balances transferred from WTBTS

  Pennsylvania Britain Branch 11,582,080

  FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD

  AT 31 AUGUST 2000 22,583,680

  BALANCE SHEET

  FIXED ASSETS

  Land and buildings 135,950

  Plant and machinery 1,653,333

  Motor vehicles and trailers 1,047,497

  Office equipment 148,322

  TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 2,985,102

  CURRENT ASSETS

  Stocks 2,807,503

  Debtors and accrued income 2,461,856

  Investments in fixed interest securities 17,496,391

  Investments in short term deposits 886,763
  Investments – congregation loan deposits 7,859,136

  Investments – Kingdom Hall mortgage fund 3,478,326

  Deposits in foreign currencies 11,215

  Cash at bank and in hand 19,056

  TOTAL 35,020,246

  Creditors falling due within one year 15,421,668

  NET CURRENT ASSETS 19,598,578

  TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 22,583,680

  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  15. Personnel

  The Branch has no employees but engages only volunteers and provides them with allowances for personal and other expenses. All travelling ministers and their wives are provided for on the same basis and the total cash allowances and expenses payments to any one person would not exceed £654 in the period. These ministers stay in the homes of congregation members for much of the time. During the period there was an average of 144 persons so engaged. Likewise, all missionaries on special assignment are each paid on the same basis and the total cash allowances and expense payments to any person would not exceed £2,470. During the period there was an average of 82 persons so engaged.

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  Note:

  For Great Britain , you can have also search :

  http://www.charitiesdirect.com/ind

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  "The Patterson Project" USA

  From: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/9137/1.ashx

  Although the Society already owns enough property to provide housing for its high officials, it undertook a mammoth luxury construction project in Patterson, New Jersey.

  The Patterson Project sits on 684 acres, and cost $50,000,000 dollars in materials alone.

  All labor was "donated", of course. Factoring in the labor, this project, when completed will be worth over $100,000,000 dollars.

  This property is touted by the WTBS to be a "teaching" and "office" facility, where the Gilead School will be conducted. It also is said to be used to provide temporary housing for the Branch servants and other instructors.

  Office facility? The WTBS just completed another $35,000,000 office tower a few years ago.

  684 acres? Why 684 acres? That is a huge parcel of land and is not needed to facilitate any "teaching".

  Gilead classes are quite small. There are only 90 or so Branch Servants, and it seems unlikely that all of them would stay on the property at once for any extended length of time. There are only 12 members of the Governing Body and maybe a dozen or two members of the Service and Writing departments at Bethel. The Society already adequately provides for the needs of these persons at Bethel.

  So, why invest the equivalent of $100,000,000+ for the benefit of so very few people? Why invest this kind of money when all the "needs" this property is supposed to provide are ALREADY provided through existing WTBS property?

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  "Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York"

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/45749/1.ashx

  [Taken from Newsday.com , in an article reporting the top-40 New York City corporations.]

  [ http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-cvtop52369349sep17.story?coll=ny%2Dbusiness%2Dprint ]

  Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York

  25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, 11201

  718-560-5000
  
  www.jw-media.org Revenue: $951 million

  Industry: Publishing

  President: Milton Henschel

  Employees: 3,415

  It takes a lot of printing to supply more than 6 million Jehovah's Witnesses with the materials

  for their ministry. One publication, Watchtower, now has an average print run of 23 million

  copies twice per month, an increase of 7.5 percent over last year.

  "Our report for the year is different from a Wall Street company," said vice president George

  Couch. Indeed, the company's employees are volunteers who live and work in the Brooklyn complex.

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF CANADA

  From this link: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/42278/1.ashx

  Annual Information Return

  for

  WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF CANADA

  Section A. IDENTIFICATION

  Section B. DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES

  Section C. GENERAL INFORMATION

  Section D. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  Section E. FURTHER INFORMATION ON AMOUNTS RECEIVED

  Section F. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

  Section G. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

  Section H. GIFTS TO QUALIFIED DONEES

  Section I. EXPENDITURES FOR PROGRAMS OUTSIDE CANADA

  Section A. IDENTIFICATION

  A1

  BN/Registration number

  001

  119288918RR0001

  Return for fiscal period ended

  002

  August 31, 2000

  Charity's designation

  003

  C. Charitable organization

  A2

  Did the charity use names other than its legal name for fund-raising or other purposes?

  004

  Yes

  A3

  Was the charity an internal division of another registered charity (i.e., it had no governing documents establishing its independent existence)?

  006

  No

  A4

  Was the charity linked to a provincial, national, or international organization?

  008

  Yes

  A5

  Is this the first return the charity has filed since it was registered?

  009

  No

  A6

  Has your charity dissolved, wound-up, or otherwise terminated operations and this is its final return?

  010

  No

  A7

  Is the charity a religious organization that meets all the criteria set out in the guide for exemption from completing some sections of the return?

  011

  No

  Section B. DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES

  B1

  Number of individuals who served as directors/trustees during the fiscal period

  015

  008

  B2

  Number of these directors/trustees who were not at arm's length with each other and with each of the other directors/trustees

  016

  B3

  Below is a list of the charity's directors/trustees, with their position with the charity, and their usual occupation or line of business. For directors/trustees who served for only part of a fiscal period, the months he/she served are shown in the last column. In the case of a parish or other religious congregation, the name of the priest, minister, or religious leader in charge is also shown.

  Full Name

  Position

  Occupation or line

  of business

  Months of service

  MILTON G HENSCHEL

  PRES

  MINISTER

  012

  KENNETH LITTLE

  V PRES

  MINISTER

  012

  ANDRE F RAMSEYER

  SEC/TREAS

  MINISTER

  012

  JOHN DIDUR

  DIR

  MINISTER

  001

  ERNEST FUNK

  DIR

  MINISTER

  012

  Section C. GENERAL INFORMATION

  C1

  Was the charity in active operation during the fiscal period

  020

  Yes

  PROGRAMS THE SOCIETY CURRENTLY OVERSEES THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF MORE 111000 PERSONS THAT ARE FULLY DEDICATED AND BAPTIZED MEMBERS OF OVER 1300 CONGREGATIONS OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES LOCATED IN ALL PROVINCES. DURING 2000, OVER 185000 PERSONS ASSOCIATED AND ATTENDED AT LEAST SOME PART OF THE MEETINGS ARRANGED AS PART OF THIS EXTENSIVE BIBLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE SOCIETY WORKS WITH THE RELIGIOUS ORDER OF SPECIAL FULL-TIME AND 100000 PART TIME PROCLAIMERS OF THE GOOD NEWS THROUGHOUT CANADA WELL AS SCORES OF ....

  C2

  Were any of these programs in Canada?

  021

  Yes

  If yes, check the appropriate box to show where the programs were delivered.

  022

  E. National (throughout Canada)

  C3

  Were any of these programs, directly or indirectly, outside Canada?

  023

  Yes

  If yes, indicate below in which parts of the world these programs were delivered. Please check as many boxes as applicable.

  United States and Mexico

  Central America/Caribbean/Antilles

  South America

  Western Europe

  Central and Eastern Europe

  Middle East

  South Asia

  China

  Other Asian countries

  Eastern and Southern Africa

  Northern, Central, and Western Africa

  Australia and Pacific

  or don't know

  024

  025

  026

  027

  028

  029

  030

  031

  032

  033

  034

  035

  036

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  C4

  If the charity was designated a public or private foundation (see question A1), was this foundation:

  a fund-raising intermediary (e.g., United Way)?

  a provider of support for a specific qualified donee?

  an employees' charity trust?

  a charitable trust of a service club or fraternal society?

  037

  038

  039

  040

  C5

  The following indicates in which fields the charity carried on programs to accomplish its charitable purposes and the approximate percentage of time and resources it devoted to the selected fields.

  Field

  Approx % of emphasis

  041

  E2 missionary organizations, evangelism

  045

  050%

  042

  E3 religious publishing and broadcasting

  046

  050%

  043

  047

  044

  048

  Section D. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  Statement of assets and liablilites

  Note: If the charity has indicated it's financial statements are available to the public (see line 50 below) and you would like a copy, please contact us.

  Would you like us to make these separately-attached financial statements available to the public?

  050

  No

  Assets

  Cash on hand and in bank accounts

  051

  $ 23,755,217

  Amounts receivable from founders, directors/trustees, employees, members, or individuals and organizations not at arm's length to them

  052

  Amounts receivable from others

  053

  $ 24,380,746

  Other investments

  054

  $ 101,994

  Fixed assets and inventory used in charitable programs

  055

  $ 46,066,943

  Other fixed assets and inventory

  056

  Other assets

  057

  Total assets (add lines 051 to 057)

  058

  $ 94,304,900

  Liabilities

  Contributions, gifts, and grants payable for charitable programs

  061

  Amounts payable to founders, directors/trustees, employees, members, or individuals and organizations not at arm's length to them

  062

  Amounts payable to others

  063

  $ 22,705,692

  Other liabilities

  064

  Total liabilities (add lines 061 to 064)

  065

  $ 22,705,692

  Statement of receipts and disbursements

  The following financial information was prepared using the following method

  099

  ACCRUAL

  Gifts and grants received this fiscal period

  Total tax-receipted gifts

  100

  $ 10,411,953

  Portion of the amount on line 100 that was received from other registered charities

  101

  Total other gifts

  102

  $ 13,489,618

  Portion of the amount on line 102 that was received from other registered charities

  103

  $ 7,530,877

  Government grants

  Federal

  104

  Provincial/territorial

  105

  Municipal

  106

  Other

  107

  Total (add lines 104 to 107)

  108

  Amounts received from other sources this fiscal period

  Memberships not reported above as gifts

  109

  $ 0

  Rental income (land and buildings)

  110

  $ 0

  Receipts from governments

  111

  Other fees and earned income

  112

  Payments from fund-raising activities not reported above as gifts

  113

  Interest and dividends

  114

  $ 1,470,171

  Net realized capital gains (losses)

  115

  Other income (first source)

  116

  $ 982,927

  Other income (second source)

  117

  Total amounts received from all sources (add lines 100, 102, and 108 to 117)

  118

  $ 26,384,669

  Disbursements this fiscal period

  Operation of charitable programs

  expenditures on charitable work the charity itself carried out

  gifts to qualified donees

  120

  121

  $ 38,260,277

  $ 23,000

  Management and general administration

  122

  $ 1,578,311

  Fund-raising

  123

  Political advocacy, activities

  124

  Other disbursements (first source)

  125

  $ 633,711

  Other disbursements (second source)

  126

  Other disbursements (third source)

  127

  Total disbursements (add lines 120 to 127)

  128

  $ 40,495,299

  Section E. FURTHER INFORMATION ON AMOUNTS RECEIVED

  E1

  Was the charity's total of amounts received (line 118) more than $30,000?

  150

  Yes

  E2

  Did the charity charge fees for, or otherwise receive regular revenue from, any of the following?

  gift shops

  bookstores, publications, and tapes

  donated clothing, furniture, and other used goods

  education, courses, seminars, and conferences

  artistic performances, theatre, concerts, and exhibitions

  shelter, housing, and rooms

  parking

  other rentals (e.g., banquet hall, equipment)

  housekeeping services

  transportation

  food, cafeteria services, meals, and catering

  medical and health care

  counselling

  nursery and day care

  memberships entitling user to facilities or services (e.g., swimming pool, exercise room)

  copyrights, royalties, and licensing agreements

  product endorsements

  member or donor mailing lists

  other sources of revenue

  151

  152

  153

  154

  155

  156

  157

  158

  159

  160

  161

  162

  163

  164

  165

  166

  167

  168

  169

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  E3

  What was the resulting gross and net revenue to the charity from the sources listed in question E2?

  Gross revenue

  170

  Net revenue

  171

  E4

  Did the charity use any of the following fund-raising methods?

  auctions

  mail compaigns (including E-mail)

  telephone solicitation

  door-to-door canvassing

  sales (e.g., cookies, chocolate bars)

  collection boxes

  advertisements, posters, flyers, and radio and TV commercials

  telethons

  anonymous donations, loose collections

  bingos, casino nights

  swim-a-thons, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, etc.

  draws and lotteries

  fund-raising dinners, galas, concerts

  tournaments and sports events

  other

  201

  202

  203

  204

  205

  206

  207

  208

  209

  210

  211

  212

  213

  214

  215

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  E5

  What was the total amount of funds raised through these activities (i.e., gross revenue)?

  230

  E6

  Did the charity hire outside professional fund-raisers?

  231

  If yes, were the professional fund-raisers retained:

  on a commission basis?

  on a fee basis?

  232

  233

  What was the total of amounts paid to or retained by the professional fund-raisers?

  234

  E8

  Did the charity operate a planned-giving program?

  235

  Yes

  If yes, did the charity help people donate to it by means of:

  bequests?

  annuities?

  life insurance policies?

  residual interests or charitable remainder trusts?

  236

  237

  238

  239

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Section F. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

  Compensation in this section includes all forms of remuneration (e.g., salaries, fees, and honoraria) and benefits (e.g., the personal use of a car or office space).

  F1

  On average, how many compensated positions did the charity have during the fiscal period?

  300

  F2

  Did the charity employ highly-compensated managers on a permanent, part-time, or contract basis who were responsible for administering the daily operations of the charity?

  301

  No

  302

  $1-29,999

  306

  $90,000-109,999

  303

  $30,000-49,999

  307

  $110,000-129,999

  304

  $50,000-69,999

  308

  $130,000-149,999

  305

  $70,000-89,999

  309

  $150,000+

  F3

  Did the charity compensate its directors/trustees?

  310

  No

  F4

  Apart from compensation, did the charity directly or indirectly transfer any part of its income or assets to:

  its founders?

  its directors/trustees?

  its employees?

  its members?

  individuals not at arm's length to anyone included in the four preceding groups?

  an organization controlled by or not at arm's length to any individuals included in the five preceding groups?

  311

  312

  313

  314

  315

  316

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Section G. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

  A charity can legally pursue political activities that are non-partisan, related to its charitable purposes, and limited in extent. Political activites are those designed to influence law, policy, and public opinion.

  G1

  During the fiscal period, did the charity attempt to influence public opinion or to affect legislation or policy using any of the following means?

  media advertisements

  conferences, workshops, speeches, or lectures

  publications, or published or broadcast statements

  rallies, demonstrations, or public meetings

  mailings to elected officials or the public

  meetings with elected officials or their staff

  presentations or briefs to elected or appointed officials

  letter-writing campaigns

  other

  400

  401

  402

  403

  404

  405

  406

  407

  408

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  G2

  The information in this section is not currently data captured.

  G3

  Did the charity give money or other forms of support either as a gift to a qualified donee to help the recipient organization carry on political activites, or as payment to another organization or individual to help the charity conduct its own political activities?

  420

  No

  Section H. GIFTS TO QUALIFIED DONEES

  Note: The amounts shown on lines 501 and 502 reflect the total amounts the charity gifted to qualified donees. At this time, a maximum of 5 qualified donees can be displayed online. Please contact us if you require additional information.

  H1

  Did the charity make gifts to qualified donees?

  500

  Yes

  Name of donee

  Check if donee is an associated charity

  Location

  BN/Registration number of donee if a charity

  Amount of gift (excluding specified gifts) ($)

  Amount of specified gifts ($)

  tumbler ridge congreation

  X

  bc

  119288918RR0738

  20,000

  0

  congregation lafonatine montreal

  X

  qc

  132591439RR0001

  3,000

  0

  Totals: 501 $ 23,000

  502

  Total amounts given to qualified donees (add lines 501 and 502)

  503

  $ 23,000

  Section I. EXPENDITURES FOR PROGRAMS OUTSIDE CANADA

  Amounts refer to Canadian funds.

  I1

  Did the charity make any direct expenditures to conduct programs outside Canada?

  600

  Yes

  I2

  Were the charity's direct expenditures on programs outside Canada more than $10,000?

  601

  Yes

  I3

  Please describe the charity's involvement in programs outside Canada.

  OUR WORK IS DONE IN COOPERATION WITH AN INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD CONSISTING OF LEGALLY DISTINCT BRANCHES THAT TIGHTLY CONTROL THEIR RESOURCES. THE PURPOSE AND PROGRAMS OF THESE BRANCHES ARE IDENTICAL TO OUR OWN. RESOURCES SENT TO OTHER BRANCHES ARE SUBJECT TO A LETTER OF AGREEMENT THAT STIPULATES A REPORTING PROCESS PROVIDING US WITH....

  I4

  Were any of these programs carried on:

  -- by employees of the charity?

  610

  No

  What were the total remuneration and benefits the charity paid these employees?

  611

  What were the total of other expenditures related to carrying out these programs (including the value of equipment and supplies)?

  612

  -- under agency or contract with other organizations or individuals?

  613

  Yes

  What were the total expenditures?

  614

  $ 27,932,228

  -- under other arrangements (e.g., joint venture)?

  615

  No

  What were the total expenditures?

  616

  I5

  Does the charity:

  issue instructions, directing the use of its funds?

  retain legal responsibility for the use of its funds?

  receive a detailed breakdown of expenditures at least annually?

  make periodic on-site visits to verify reports it receives?

  give prior approval for the specific allocation of funds?

  make instalment payments based on progress reports?

  maintain records in Canada substantiating how its resources were used in other countries?

  617

  618

  619

  620

  621

  622

  623

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  I6

  Did the charity make gifts to qualified donees outside Canada?

  630

  No

  What was the total amount of such gifts?

  631

  I7

  Total direct expenditures outside Canada (add lines 611, 612, 614, 616, and 631)

  640

  $ 27,932,228

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  P.S. Always about Canada, a comparison with the figures from the 1996 return (scans on the Watchtower Information Service

  site: http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/taxreturn.htmlhttp://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/taxreturn.html ) shows the following:

  Income 1996 $26,481,000

  Income 2000 $26,384,000

  Expenses 1996 $25,306,000

  Expenses 2000 $40,495,000

  Cash 1996 $30,822,000

  Cash 2000 $23,755,000

  Assets 1996 $103,311,000

  Assets 2000 $94,304,000

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  "INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (IBSA)" in the United Kingdom

  from http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/45749/1.ashx

  (situation : year ended 31 August 2001 )

  "WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY of BRITAIN"

  From http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/45749/1.ashx

  (situation : year ended 31 August 2001 )

  from http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/5887/1.ashx

  (for the year 2000)

  WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF BRITAIN

  ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  10 Months ended 31 August 2000

  Directors and Trustees

  Jack Dowson

  Ronald Drage – Chairman

  Peter Ellis

  Bevan Vigo

  Secretary
  TP Cruse

  REVIEW OF THE YEAR AND FINANCIAL POSITION

  This is the first year for Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain. On November 1, 1999 all assets and liabilities of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania were successfully transferred to the Society. The Society received a donation from Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, in the sum of £12,334,861 which was invested immediately. This donation, to be used in connection with the charity’s objects, has boosted the Society’s reserves giving it a good base from which it can assist in financing the relocation of printing facilities owned by International Bible Students Association and used by the Society.

  Direct charitable expenditure through the year includes the cost of manufacturing and distributing Bibles and Bible study aids at a cost of £4,243,943. Financial support was given to full-time ministers in Britain and overseas in the sum of £394,544. The charity was able to make donations of cash and goods to overseas charities in ninety seven countries, primarily in the developing world totalling £3,624,797 to assist in the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, advancing the Christian religion.

  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

  10 months ended 31 August 2000

  INCOME
  Donations and gifts 17,492,322

  Legacies 658,868

  Income from literature 5,141,694

  Investment income received 1,088,801

  TOTAL 24,381,686

  RESOURCES EXPENDED

  Ministry costs and restricted expenditure 1,838,465

  Donations and aid to branches 4,265,945

  Expenditure on literature 4,243,943

  Administration expenses 526,410
  Loan interest payable to congregations 364,089

  TOTAL 13,399,290

  NET INCOMING RESOURCES 10,982,397

  Currency exchange rate changes 5,689

  Gains on investments 13,514

  NET MOVEMENT OF RESOURCES 11,001,600

  Fund balances transferred from WTBTS

  Pennsylvania Britain Branch 11,582,080

  FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD

  AT 31 AUGUST 2000 22,583,680

  BALANCE SHEET

  FIXED ASSETS

  Land and buildings 135,950

  Plant and machinery 1,653,333

  Motor vehicles and trailers 1,047,497

  Office equipment 148,322

  TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 2,985,102

  CURRENT ASSETS

  Stocks 2,807,503

  Debtors and accrued income 2,461,856

  Investments in fixed interest securities 17,496,391

  Investments in short term deposits 886,763

  Investments – Kingdom Hall mortgage fund 3,478,326

  Deposits in foreign currencies 11,215

  Cash at bank and in hand 19,056

  TOTAL 35,020,246

  Creditors falling due within one year 15,421,668

  NET CURRENT ASSETS 19,598,578

  TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 22,583,680

  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  15. Personnel

  The Branch has no employees but engages only volunteers and provides them with allowances for personal and other expenses. All travelling ministers and their wives are provided for on the same basis and the total cash allowances and expenses payments to any one person would not exceed £654 in the period. These ministers stay in the homes of congregation members for much of the time. During the period there was an average of 144 persons so engaged. Likewise, all missionaries on special assignment are each paid on the same basis and the total cash allowances and expense payments to any person would not exceed £2,470. During the period there was an average of 82 persons so engaged.

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  °

  P.S. A great thank to EXPATBRIT for his excellent work

  in providing this forum with many 'valuable' documents.

  J.C.MacHislopp

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  The " Watchtower Educational Center Pacific at Mililani Technology Park. (Hawaii)

  Here below the links:

  http://www.planet-hawaii.com/mtp/neigh.htm

  http://www.planet-hawaii.com/mtp/tenants.htm

  for detailed maps:

  http://planet-hawaii.com/mtp/where.htm
  http://planet-hawaii.com/mtp/sitemap.htm
  http://www.mililanitechpark.com/CurrentTenants/currenttenants.htm

  a newspaper article….***great***

  http://pacific.bcentral.com/pacific/stories/1997/06/09/focus4.html

  Mililani Technology Park is located in Central Oahu, near the master-planned community of Mililani. Served by the H-2 Freeway, the Park is just 15 minutes from Honolulu International Airport, 25 minutes from Downtown Honolulu, 35 minutes from Waikiki hotels and five minutes from the award-winning Mililani housing developments.

  Mililani Town is Castle & Cooke Hawaii's master-planned residential development adjacent to the Mililani Technology Park. A thriving community of over 35,000 residents, Mililani is a complete community with a variety of schools, churches, shopping centers, parks, recreation centers and a public library serving the area.

  Mililani's high quality lifestyle is reflected in its 1986 "All-America City Award." No other community in Hawaii has received this prestigious recognition.

  and

  The State Farm Claims Center had its grand opening on September 4, 1996, which was well attended by State Farm executives and public officials.

  In addition to the State Farm Claims Center, the State Farm Agency Field Office, a support office for the many sales offices on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, renovated and moved into 2,000 square feet of brand new office space at the Leilehua Building.

  and….

  Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York, Inc.

  2055 Kamehameha IV Road

  Honolulu, Hawaii 96819

  Phone: (808) 842-1100

  A multi-national, nonprofit Bible educational group, the Watchtower will use its new 53,000-square-foot building at MTP for its Watchtower Educational Center - Pacific. The educational center will be comprised of four conference rooms and one auditorium equipped with multimedia audio/visual equipment with multi-language capabilities to accommodate conferences, seminars and training classes.

  And this:

  In Depth: Commercial Real Estate

  From the June 6, 1997 print edition

  "But according to Nathan Wong, assistant to the branch manager at The Watchtower Bible and

  Tract Society, there is a great need for these types of facilities.

  Better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses, the socitety recently opened a $20 million, 130,000-square-foot facility at the Mililani Technology Park.

  The group established an educational and meeting facility -- situated on 3.4 acres next to

  Oceanic Cable -- called the Watchtower Educational Center Pacific.

  The center will house programs based on practical direction from the bible geared toward businesses and community organizations.

  Because of its massive size, the group has been approached by individuals wanting to rent the site for personal events but Wong said the building will remain purely for bible educational meetings.

  The center features a main auditorium large enough to fit 1,500 visitors, smaller meeting rooms, and a multimedia facility housed with the latest in electronic devices.

  The group also provides resource handouts and seminars for a variety of issues such as sexual harassment and job-related issues -- services that are purely voluntary.

  In fact, Wong said some businesses and community leaders have already ordered reprints of articles the group produced. "Our materials are not that religiously oriented," Wong said.

  With fiber-optic capabilities, the center has the ability to hook up to other headquarters around the country and to colleges via the Internet.

  The society received assistance from volunteers all over the world to help design and construct the building that was two years in the making.

  "We're looking around to open possibly more sites in the future," Wong said.

  And the society -- which has 300 members in the area -- is continuing its quest to build a larger presence in the Islands with its 24,200-square-foot two-story meeting hall being built at the former Ranch House site in Aina Haina.

  The Jehovah's Witnesses -- who rely heavily on donations to operate -- purchased the 60,890-square-foot site for $3.6 million to build a facility for both prayer and education. Construction is scheduled for completion in October. "

  While education is on the minds of the Jehovah's Witnesses, La`akea Hawaiian Resort Co. Ltd. -- a subsidiary made up of businesspeople from a large corporation in Japan -- is proposing to turn a residential property in Kaneohe into a moneymaking venture.

  The group plans to develop a private meeting facility for community use, including weddings, retreats and related activities at 47-477 Waihee Place in Kaneohe.

  La`akea Hawaiian Resort purchased the 39-acre property from a homeowner after seeing the potential for wedding activities at the scenic site overlooking Kaneohe Bay.

  A 4,000-square-foot house that sits on the lot will be used as a meeting facility fit to hold 60 people. Minor improvements will be made to the two-story house to upgrade it for commercial use, said Crystal Rose, the agent that represents La`akea Hawaiian Resort.

  The facility will be rented out to community members and businesses looking for a retreat site, meeting facility, or spot to hold wedding receptions. No overnight accommodations will be provided at the facility, which will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The planned site is expected to be ready in early 1998.

  In addition to renovation work to the house, a 1,600-square-foot wedding chapel is planned for the site. The chapel will have seating for 12 people.

  According to Rose, the group decided to put in a chapel because of the overwhelming number of Japanese weddings that occur in Hawaii. La`akea Hawaiian Resort is hoping to do four to six wedding a day.

  "We want to keep it a rural atmosphere as best we can. We don't want to disrupt the neighbors," Rose said. "The group's intentions were to keep the operations small.

  To help ease community members who are concerned the project will turn the quiet neighborhood into a commercial business circus, La`akea Hawaiian Resort has agreed to repave the half-a-mile Waihee Road, which residents have been asking the city to do for a while.

  "We're trying to work with the community to find out how the property can best be used and what services we can provide. This is a sensitive issue ... but people should be able to use their property however they want," Rose said.

  Bad economy = good time for churches to build - 1997-06-09 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu).htm

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  P.S. Remember: “…looking after the widows, the orphans..”

  and “…the poors will always be with you..”

  You are welcome to any comment and additional informations.

  Greetings, to all of you , James Charles MacHislopp

  "Humiles laborant, ubi potentes dissident." (Fedro I, 30)