JWB

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Posts by JWB

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  1

  Rom

  by JWB in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals
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  JWB
• 
  7

  Did You Know?

  by AnonJW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  that if you are a congregation member you can ask to see the updated (jan 2012) child safeguarding policy, all 46 pages of it.the elders have been instructed to make it available to those that make the request!.

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  JWB

  I thought the following letter, originally posted on a blogsite which is now closed, might be of interest.
  
  A LETTER FROM THE CHARITY COMMISSION
  ____________________________________
  
  Charity Commission Direct
  PO Box 1227, Liverpool L69 3UG
  
  t: 020 76-- ----
  f: 020 76-- ----
  
  Date: 10 October 2011
  
  Dear Mr -----------
  
  Re: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (1077961) ('the charity')
  
  Thank you for your letter and enclosures that we received on 27 September. I understand that you have concerns about 'child safety in relation to the religious organisation known as Jehovah's Witnesses', and in particular that the charity does not have a child protection policy or carry out CRB checks on its trustees / elders.
  
  The Commission's role
  
  I think it would be helpful if I start by outlining our role and regulatory remit. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. Our job as regulator is to work with charities to ensure that they are accountable, well run and meet their legal obligations under charity law. As a regulator, we have a duty to consider concerns brought to our attention.
  
  However, our statutory powers of intervention are limited and trustees have a broad discretion to manage their charity as they see fit, within charity law and the charity's own governing document. Additionally, we would not take up complaints where it would be disproportionate to do so, or where another regulator is better placed to examine the concerns.
  
  The charity's child protection policy
  
  As you highlight in 2008-09 we investigated one of the branches of the charity as reported in our Charities Back on Track publication of that year.
  
  Following that case we worked with the charity to ensure that they developed a general policy for the protection of children, which was completed and then distributed to the various Jehovah's Witness charities throughout England and Wales.
  
  If you wish to obtain a copy of this document you should contact the charity directly.
  
  ===
  
  The charity's CRB checks
  
  Report
  
  I think I should clarify that in Charities Back on Track 2008-09 we did not specifically require the charity's trustees to carry out CRB checks. The Times newspaper [2] combined specific comments about the case into the charity with general comments about best practise for trustees to imply that this was the case. The relevant part of the report that covered our ongoing requirements for the charity stated:
  
  'The Commission required the charity to produce a child protection policy as the charity had no written policy in place. We are currently working with the charity's umbrella body to produce a full child protection policy which, when agreed, will be binding on all of the branches of the charity it represents.'
  
  As mentioned above, the charity has complied with this requirement and established and distributed a full child protection policy.
  
  CRB checks
  
  The Commission is not able to become involved in matters that are outside the scope of our regulatory responsibilities. This includes the specific issues of child protection best practice. We are not the body which ensures child protection or runs the CRB scheme -- this falls to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Further details about these organisations can be found by using the following links:
  
  CRB: http://www.crb.gov.uk/
  
  ISA: http://www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk/
  
  The charity is under a legal obligation to get people CRB checked when they are likely to undertake 'regulated activities'.
  
  However, although it is best practise for all trustees to be CRB checked, there is no requirement for all trustees / elders to be checked - see our guidance:
  
  http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc30.aspx#6).
  
  If the CRB or ISA had concerns that the charity was not undertaking appropriate checks or complying with their legal duties they are able to refer the matter to us and we would consider if we had a regulatory role. As stated above, our role as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales is to work with charities to ensure that they are accountable, well run and meet their legal obligations. If we were to receive a referral from CRB or ISA suggesting that this was not the case with regards to child protection, we would of course treat this very seriously.
  
  In general terms the trustees have the power to govern their charity as they see fit, and the issue of child protection is outside of the Commission's remit. If the charity trustees act in accordance with
  
  Page 2 of 3
  
  ===
  
  the law and their governing document, we cannot get involved. We have not received any evidence that this is not the case in this instance.
  
  Further information
  
  I appreciate that due to your son's involvement with this religion you have strong feelings about how the charity should go about fulfilling its duty to protect children. I hope that I have explained how progress has been made in this area, but also that the Commission is not the body that ensures compliance with the law regarding child safeguarding.
  
  Further information about the Commission's complaints process, including detail on what complaints we can and cannot deal with, can be found in our complaints guidance available here:
  
  http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Publications/cc47.aspx.
  
  Yours sincerely
  
  S------- R--------
  
  Large Charities Division
  Charity Commission
  0207 6-- ----
  
  Page 3 of 3
  __________
  
  The Times article:
  
  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6881322.ece
  
  "Charities Back on Track 2008-09":
  
  http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/library/track09.pdf
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  1

  UK WT Documentation

  by JWB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  * file: wtsp_accounts_1998.pdf.

  * description.

  * file: wtsp_branch-closure_1999.pdf.

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  JWB

  These links were for a limited period, which has now expired, so please don't try to use them.

  Thanks.
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  32

  SOME MAJOR JANUARY 28, 2012 NOTES FROM JOHNNY THE BETHELITE.

  by koolaid-man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am posting this information taken from christain witnesses .com...... if what he is saying comes to fruition it would be interesting.. .

  some major january 28, 2012 notes from .

  johnny the betheliteafter coming on late, johnny still did not have a magazine that had not been put on jw.org.

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  JWB

  It may seem a small thing to some, but the UK man charged is named Paul Wood, not Paul Woods. I would like to know what evidence there is that the 'Paul Woods' of the Reading Tilehurst Congregation is the same person who is said to have been living in Derbyshire.

  The East Anglian Daily Times reported on this case as it was dealt with at Ipswich Crown Court, Suffolk:

  http://www.eadt.co.uk:80/news/sudbury_jehovah_s_witness_jailed_for_catalogue_of_sexual_offences_1_1189342
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  1

  UK WT Documentation

  by JWB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  * file: wtsp_accounts_1998.pdf.

  * description.

  * file: wtsp_branch-closure_1999.pdf.

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  JWB

  UK WT DOCUMENTATION
  
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/file/qWYzTan_/ukwt1.html
  
  All individual listed documentation files (as shown below) for UK WT Society corporations/charities in one download file.
  
  ===
  
  * Name: WTSP ACCOUNTS 1998
  * File: wtsp_accounts_1998.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/office/TQs33WB9/wtsp_accounts_1998.html
  
  * Description
  
  Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania was registered in England and Wales as company number FC004273. This short accounts report was signed by Swingle (then Secretary and Treasurer), Henschel (then President) and John Andrews (UK Attorney). Total liabilities and net assets for that year were given as $705,130,822.
  
  ---
  
  * Name: WTSP BRANCH CLOSURE 1999
  * File: wtsp_branch-closure_1999.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/office/Mv_j1BWS/wtsp_branch-closure_1999.html
  
  * Description
  
  Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania was registered in England and Wales as company number FC004273. This document is a "Notice of closure of a branch of an oversea company".
  
  ---
  
  * Name: WTSB MEMART 2000
  * File: wtsb_memart_2000.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/yFUQNpHT/wtsb_memart_2000.html
  
  * Description
  
  Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Britain memorandum and articles of association 2000 containing an official definition of "Jehovah's Witnesses" (Section 9.1 of the articles of association)
  
  ---
  
  * Name: WTSB REPORT 2010
  * File: wtsb_report_2010.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/U-Obe92e/wtsb_report_2010.html
  
  * Description
  
  Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Britain report of the trustees and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2010
  
  ---
  
  * Name: IBSA MEMART 2006
  * File: ibsa_memart_2006.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/dZTegUxv/ibsa_memart_2006.html
  
  * Description
  
  International Bible Students Association Memorandum and Articles of Association 2006
  
  ---
  
  * Name: IBSA REPORT 2010
  * File: ibsa_report_2010.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/DdAZ7yJc/ibsa_report_2010.html
  
  * Description
  
  International Bible Students Association annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2010
  
  ---
  
  * Name: TKHT REPORT 2010
  * File: tkht_report_2010.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/AJzlvyj5/tkht_report_2010.html
  
  * Description
  
  The Kingdom Hall Trust (UK) annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2010
  
  ---
  
  * Name: EAJW NOTICE 2000
  * File: eajw_notice_2000.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/office/c299rB9J/eajw_notice_2000.html
  
  * Description
  
  Notice given on 29 December 2000 of the first annual general meeting of The European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses.
  
  ---
  
  * Name: EAJW CONSTITUTION 2001
  * File: eajw_constitution_2001.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/office/4fUlk3aI/eajw_constitution_2001.html
  
  * Description
  
  Constitution of The European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, adopted on 23 January 2001.
  
  ---
  
  * Name: EAJW REPORT 2009
  * File: eajw_report_2009.pdf
  * Link: http://www.4shared.com/document/lLK6ap1J/eajw_report_2009.html
  
  * Description
  
  The European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2009.
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  5

  Awakening of the young through education

  by JWB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  awakening of the young through education.

  a recent special report (january 2012) by peter henderson and kristina cooke, of the news agency reuters, focused attention on a problem facing the mormons with regard to falling membership.

  mormon elder marlin jensen said that he and other leaders of the religion knew that members are "leaving in droves".

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  JWB

  AWAKENING OF THE YOUNG THROUGH EDUCATION
  
  A recent special report (January 2012) by Peter Henderson and Kristina Cooke, of the news agency Reuters, focused attention on a problem facing the Mormons with regard to falling membership. Mormon Elder Marlin Jensen said that he and other leaders of the religion knew that members are "leaving in droves". He even admitted that his own daughter had been one of those who were asking forthright questions such as why she had not been told that Joseph Smith was a polygamist. It was also admitted that "the manuals used to teach the young church doctrine" are "severely outdated".
  
  It seems that the Watch Tower Society's religion is not the only one having to face the fact that younger ones are questioning their parents' religion on account of having greater access to alternative information sources.
  
  The full article can be found here:
  
  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120130
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  9

  Trustees Who Foresee the "Old System" Lasting Beyond 2032?

  by JWB in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the north london assembly hall of jehovahs witnesses report 2010:.

  [page 4].

  "reserves policy.

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  JWB

  Yes, Blonde this calculation is something that I'd thought about many years ago, what with the 1914 pivotal date coupled with "as the days of Noah were..." And then there was the autumn of 1974 and the number of years Adam was on his own in the garden of Eden; would that be 30 years (maturity?) = 2004, or maybe 40 years (a biblical judgement period?) = 2014? Although I was told recently by an elderly JW that "it's not long now"!
  
  Funny, this reminds me of a book I saw on the shelf of my central library back in the late 90's. I think it may have been "Armageddon AD 2033 Facts On Bible Time Prophecies" by John Denton.

  I just wonder how much the extended lease or freehold acquisition is going to cost? Is it worth all that money for just two years use? However, it could be that the Assembly Hall will be protected and preserved through Armageddon (unlike all those false religious buildings that will probably be destroyed by thunderbolts). Then it will be available throughout the thousand year reign. So probably it would be a good investment after all?
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  9

  Trustees Who Foresee the "Old System" Lasting Beyond 2032?

  by JWB in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the north london assembly hall of jehovahs witnesses report 2010:.

  [page 4].

  "reserves policy.

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  JWB

  Further general info from the Charity Commission.
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  9

  Trustees Who Foresee the "Old System" Lasting Beyond 2032?

  by JWB in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the north london assembly hall of jehovahs witnesses report 2010:.

  [page 4].

  "reserves policy.

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  JWB

  THE NORTH LONDON ASSEMBLY HALL OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES REPORT 2010:
  
  [PAGE 4]
  
  "Reserves Policy
  
  "The Trustees foresee the need to maintain reserves against:
  
  "1. The replacement of fixtures and fittings at the Assembly Hall to keep it in an appropriate condition for the holding of religious meetings.
  
  "2. Either renewal of the lease or obtaining the freehold when the lease of the building expires in 2032. (The extent of this requirement for reserves is uncertain at present, pending review of the legal and commercial situation with property consultants, but the sum required is likely to be substantial.)"
  
  -
  
  [PAGE 9]
  "5. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
  
  "In 2009/10 this includes a sum of £8,433 for legal and other consultancy regarding the possibility of acquiring the freehold for the Hall."
  -

  Emphasis mine.
  
  Charity number 1117465, report 2010:
  
  www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends65/0001117465_AC_20100831_E_C.PDF
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  43

  UK charity "Refuge" gives response to WT article on domestic abuse

  by cedars in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm sure by now you are all aware of the feb 15th, 2012 study edition of the watchtower, and its outrageous experience depicting domestic violence.. as you may know, i have been looking into the matter in some detail.

  i decided to contact the uk domestic abuse charity "refuge".

  they indicated their concern towards the article and offered to help in any way they could.

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  JWB

  Roski, a very informative post. Thank you.