Paul Bonanno
JoinedPosts by Paul Bonanno
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11
Analysis of the Property Ownership Model of Jehovah’s Witnesses
by Paul Bonanno inanalysis of the property ownership model of jehovah’s witnesses.
jehovah’s witnesses have developed a structured and financially efficient model for acquiring, building, and managing properties worldwide.
their approach maximizes resources contributed by members while ensuring that ownership and financial control remain centralized within the organization.
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11
Analysis of the Property Ownership Model of Jehovah’s Witnesses
by Paul Bonanno inanalysis of the property ownership model of jehovah’s witnesses.
jehovah’s witnesses have developed a structured and financially efficient model for acquiring, building, and managing properties worldwide.
their approach maximizes resources contributed by members while ensuring that ownership and financial control remain centralized within the organization.
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Paul Bonanno
Anony Mous - any further information about point 3 (the loan) what percentage?
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Top Jehovahs witnesses Historians
by Paul Bonanno inhi .
who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of jehovahs witnesses?.
paul.
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19
Top Jehovahs witnesses Historians
by Paul Bonanno inhi .
who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of jehovahs witnesses?.
paul.
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Paul Bonanno
I’d like to thank Nathan and Vienne for their contributions to this discussion. Over the years, I have been in contact with Dr. Jerry Bergman, Profs. James Penton, Duane Magnani, and currently with Barbara Anderson, who has extensive knowledge on this topic. Jeff and Paul have also done excellent work, uncovering a lot of valuable information that now needs to be organized either chronologically or by subject.
Dr. Bergman’s book, Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Comprehensive and Selective Annotated Bibliography, is an excellent resource, though since it was published in 1999, it could benefit from an update. When I was a Witness, I came across The Evocative Religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses by Matthew Alfs. While it tends to present a perspective more favorable to the JWs, I found it to be a useful book for comparison.
Additionally, Phil (of the Blue Envelope) does great research as well. However, the most important thing in these discussions is to remain factual and to properly reference sources so that the work is scholarly and credible. Unfortunately, there are many who circulate incorrect or misleading material, which only harms serious research and discussion.
I appreciate all the work being done to bring clarity and insight to this subject and look forward to further discussion.
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11
Analysis of the Property Ownership Model of Jehovah’s Witnesses
by Paul Bonanno inanalysis of the property ownership model of jehovah’s witnesses.
jehovah’s witnesses have developed a structured and financially efficient model for acquiring, building, and managing properties worldwide.
their approach maximizes resources contributed by members while ensuring that ownership and financial control remain centralized within the organization.
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Paul Bonanno
Analysis of the Property Ownership Model of Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses have developed a structured and financially efficient model for acquiring, building, and managing properties worldwide. Their approach maximizes resources contributed by members while ensuring that ownership and financial control remain centralized within the organization. This model raises important questions about asset accumulation, financial transparency, and the role of individual member contributions.
1. Acquisition of Land and Funding
Jehovah’s Witnesses typically acquire land through two main channels:
• Direct Purchase – The organization buys land using funds contributed by members through voluntary donations.
• Donations – Some land is donated by members who wish to support the organization’s activities.
All financial contributions are classified as voluntary, yet members are strongly encouraged to donate regularly to support the organization’s expansion.
2. Construction and Labor
Once land is secured, construction is carried out primarily by Jehovah’s Witness volunteers, often referred to as Regional Building Committees (RBCs) or other organized workforces. This approach offers several advantages for the organization:
• Cost Reduction – Since the labor is unpaid, construction costs are significantly minimized.
• Efficiency and Control – The organization oversees the design and construction, ensuring uniformity in the appearance and functionality of all properties worldwide.
All construction materials, tools, and resources are funded through member donations, further reinforcing the self-sustaining financial structure of the organization.
3. Design and Purpose
Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, and branch offices are often designed with a specific long-term financial strategy in mind:
• Multi-Purpose Design – Many properties are built in a way that allows them to be easily sold or repurposed for commercial or residential use.
• Strategic Locations – Properties are often acquired in areas where real estate values may appreciate over time, increasing the potential resale value.
4. Ownership and Financial Control
Despite being funded and built entirely by members, the ownership of these properties is not transferred to local congregations or individuals. Instead:
• The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society or a related legal entity holds the official title.
• Local congregations do not have independent control over the properties they use.
• If a property is sold, the proceeds go directly to the central organization, not the local congregation or individual donors who contributed to its funding.
This structure ensures that all financial assets remain under the control of the central governing body, allowing the organization to liquidate properties as needed without legal or financial obligations to the members who funded them.
5. Selling Properties and Financial Gain
In recent years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have sold numerous high-value properties, particularly in locations where real estate prices have surged (e.g., New York, London, and various metropolitan areas). The key points of this approach include:
• Full Retention of Sale Proceeds – The organization benefits entirely from the sale, regardless of how much was initially contributed by local members.
• Reinvestment or Expansion – The funds from property sales are often redirected into building new facilities in lower-cost areas or used for other organizational expenses.
This method allows the organization to continuously acquire wealth without the direct expectation of financial return for its members, who provided the funding and labor.
Conclusion
The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ property ownership model demonstrates a highly centralized financial and asset management strategy. While the process relies heavily on member donations and volunteer labor, all assets remain under the legal control of the organization. This enables the Watch Tower Society to accumulate, manage, and sell properties at will, ensuring financial growth and long-term sustainability. However, this model also raises ethical questions about transparency and the equitable distribution of financial assets within the faith community, particularly given that the members who fund and build these properties have no financial stake or decision-making power over them.
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19
Top Jehovahs witnesses Historians
by Paul Bonanno inhi .
who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of jehovahs witnesses?.
paul.
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19
Top Jehovahs witnesses Historians
by Paul Bonanno inhi .
who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of jehovahs witnesses?.
paul.
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Paul Bonanno
Yes, I agree that the late Prof. James Penton produced one of the best scholarly work on the history of the JWs. I have also read A Separate Identity: Organizational Identity Among Readers of Zion’s Watch Tower: 1870-1887 by Schulz and de Vienne. Right now, I’m more focused on finding out who has the largest collection of books and documents from this organization and who is considered among scholars as the authority on this topic.
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19
Top Jehovahs witnesses Historians
by Paul Bonanno inhi .
who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of jehovahs witnesses?.
paul.
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Paul Bonanno
Hi
Who do you think are the best historian/historians about the history of Jehovahs Witnesses?
regards
Paul
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Paul Bonanno
5 hours agoJody Jedele is around 53 years and seems he was in real estate when he was young.
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Paul Bonanno
Not yet - this was a discussion about who are the JWs (history), how we became witnesses, the history of the JWs in Malta, how my father became a witness in Australia and went to Malta in 1974. Our childhood and teenage years. How we became active in this organization. (Special Pioneer & Elder) our Crisis of Conscience and waking up. Accused of apostasy and disassociating ourselves in 1994 as a family and others. The mandatory shunning etc….