Being announced at Service Meetings this week at all US congregations:
A letter read during the announcements states that due to increased costs of health insurance and vehicles provided for traveling overseers (circuit and district overseers) the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has determined the need to ask for a specific "contribution" for the "Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement".
Until this date expenses of this sort were paid from the Worldwide Work or general fund of contributions.
Now the WTS is 'asking' for an average of $8.50 per publisher to cover the cost of 617 traveling overseers in the US. This is an annual expense, so JWs can expect this charge every year now.
I quote the word 'asking' because immediately after the letter, each congregation is instructed to pass a resolution to pay the amount of $8.50 times the number of publishers. For example a congregation of 100 publishers would pay $850. The money is then immediately wired to the WTS. In this way the WTS gets exactly what it wants--it is a bill.
The April 2005 Kingdom Ministry states there are 990,365 publishers in the US. At $8.50 per publisher, the entire tab is $8,418,810.
Divided evenly among the 617 traveling overseers, that's $13,644 annualy per overseer for health insurance and vehicle expense alone. The circuit to which the overseer is assigned pays housing and living expenses separately.
But what is of greater concern: what the money is for, or how it's collected? Jehovah?s Witnesses can no longer assert that their congregations do not "pass the hat" to collect funds. Far worse. Instead, this process of resolution has been turned into an exact charge that the WTS shamelessly levies on the congregations.
A similar resolution is passed at every circuit assembly, special assembly day, and district convention when the elders, not the publishers, arbitrarily decide what the publishers should contribute above operating expenses. This amount is anywhere from $4000 - $15,000 per event for assemblies (convention figures are not disclosed). When the accounts of the circuit are announced at the event, the contribution is included in the amount, producing a "deficit" that invariably incites further giving.
When you consider that there are about 500 circuits in the US alone with 2 circuit events per year (not counting district conventions) the revenue is impressive: an estimated $2,000,000 - $7,000,000 annually for circuit assemblies alone.
This does not include the monthly contributions that each US congregation sends the WTS, usually $500 - $1000 per month. The US has roughly 10,000 congregations. Estimating between $5,000,000 per month on the low end means $60,000,000 per year.
These figures apply to the US alone. Other cash-rich lands like Europe, Canada and Japan produce similar returns.
Thus it's quite a surprise when the WTS has to go begging for a paltry $8.4 million for its traveling overseers.
It's high time the "non-profit" WTS open its books to its members. With a 100% volunteer force, the buying power to demand discounted prices, and no charitable work to non-JWs, a valid question arises:
What are you doing with the money?
WTS Bills US JWs $8.4 million for Traveling Overseers
by ezekiel3 52 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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ezekiel3
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johnny cip
forget double dipping ,for the same expense. i would say the wt dips about 4-8 times. for each expense. . don't the congs already pay for the leased cars. co 's housing, travel, healt and medical ins. plus kiss his ass ,and hand him an envolope every week he stops at a cong in his area. free dinners. $$$$$$$$$$ and what ever else the cong of the week give him,then in3years the wt sells the circuit leased car. (owned by the wt car dealer ship} and the circuit pays again. then all the expenses for the co are added into the circuit assembly. then when the co comes back to your local hall. AGAIN. PLUS THEY ARE TAKING MORE $$$$$ OUT OF THE local hall fund each week you get the pleasure of getting flogged by C>O> don't forget the distrist ass. you have to pay again. etc. what a SCAM. i want to donate my last 2 chickens to the wts. aug 2004 CRAPTOWER. JOHN
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William Penwell
Another money grab for the WT disguised as contributions. It would be a cold day in hell before I would give a penny to those freeloaders. It would be nice if they would get a real job like the rest of us.
Will
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dannyboy
Up to the time of my fade, such a letter requesting a per head "contribution" for such CO expenses was read annually.
The amount per head with this latest is much higher, though, if memory serves.
---Dan -
metatron
EXCELLENT! I couldn't be more pleased! This is great news!
Yes! More and more emphasis on begging for money - and less and less 'service'
provided to the publishers ( no subscriptions, fewer books, no food at assemblies,
the Awake cut to once a month). A weary, depressed flock gets hit with more burdens.
When will the 'sheeple' wake up?
metatron
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frankiespeakin
It really a shame how the WT can just take peoples money away from them no questions asked as long as the Governing Body say so nobody can disagree how terrible, absolutey no recoarse.
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stillajwexelder
We had the letter read last week - always the brothers and the average dub that pays - never the upper echelons
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littlerockguy
It's disgusting that they would actually have the nerve to ask for money for health insurance and car insurance for these overseers when a large percentage of others in the organization don't have insurance of any kind or barely a roof over their head.
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ballistic
What about the insurance their lawyers will be needing?
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lawrence
Useless representatives of false prophets need no insurance - what about faith? I can only hope that all these bastarrds catch a fateful disease tonight and then the congos can spend their money on vacations, which have no assemblies. Thieves, whores, and liars; long die Crooklyn!