I would agree with that, much like how people who work for a corperation feel when they get downsized and pushed out. They never thought they would be looking for another job and would retire here, and wham life changes over night. I feel for anyone in this position, Witness or nonWitness.
Bethel Downsizing Spin
by Cellist 61 Replies latest jw friends
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kilroy2
There is no reason to feel sympathy for any of these people, they have the same minds and access to the same information we all did, if they choose to ignore it, then they have made their decisions and I feel nothing for them when reality crashes in on them,
Do you thing they feel one bit of sympathy for any of you when something happens in your life? Heck no they don't, they just sit and shake there head and say how could so smith have turned away from the true religion?
I take a hard view, and have no sympathy for sheep, sheep are not a particularly admirable animal, they are week, and they can fall over dead just from a good scare.
They do taste good with mint jelly thought.
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blondie
Simplification is not a new spin.
When publications were no longer presented on the contribution basis--1990
When only fast food was offered at the conventions/assemblies
When food was not offered any more at the conventions/assemblies
When parking tickets were phased out
When subscriptions were phased out
When soft cover WT books were printed
When only one issue of the Awake is printed monthly
When COs visit congregations 2 times a year instead of 3 (that was a few years ago)
When COs stopped having a meeting on Saturday night, besides Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
Simplification folks
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zagor
After hearing talks by two Governing Body members and two members of the Branch Committee, we Bethelites really came to realize the need in the field.
LMAO
Unbelievable! How easy it is for them to manipulate those simpleminded bastards. I mean, I wouldn't even call this a spin. Every normal outside person would see through it as an attempt to explain away the obvious screw up, only dubs see "clarification of the truth"
They can expalain anything and even find scripture to prove it. LOL. For the last 100 years they needed those guys and gals in bethel home and suddenly it occured to them that these people might be more needed in the "field". Who are you kidding?!? -
blondie
What would happen to these people if they openly complained, eh?
I have known several Bethelites that had negative things to say but only to a select group of friends...After the great apostasy of 1980 and 1981, few want to commit career suicide. Ex-Bethelites still have a certain cache in congregations and the rank and file may try hard to find them a place to live and a decent job. I have seen it happen. Kiss the feet syndrome. Of course, they officially support the party line.
Blondie
Blondie
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Tea4Two
Jill and Nathan..... sounds like another "Urban Legend"
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XBEHERE
I happen to be in fairly regular contact with some bethelites and the buzz around bethel with the rank and file bethelites is that its just as Blondie said, simplification. The other poster that said it was because of modernization and lack of need for workforce was also right on the money. This letter is a farce and if it was written by a real bethelite then this person needs to lay off the crack a bit.
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garybuss
United States Printery Upgraded
In 2002, at the direction of the Governing Body, printing operations began to be reorganized into five major geographic regions?Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. This arrangement has resulted in more efficient use of branch facilities, including those in the United States, which now have a reduced work load.
All printing, binding, and shipping operations in the United States were consolidated at Wallkill, New York, during 2004. The general plan and concept were presented to the town planning board on August 6, 2002. A public hearing was held on September 3, after which final approval was
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granted. At the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2002, an announcement was made that the Governing Body had approved the consolidation at Wallkill. Two new MAN Roland Lithoman rotary presses were ordered, and the additional building to house them was scheduled to be ready by February 2004.
How could this mammoth project be accomplished in just 14 months? The brothers looked to Jehovah to direct matters and to move individuals to offer themselves willingly. This confidence was not misplaced. Site work commenced in February 2003, and the addition to the printery was ready by September. The first of three existing presses at Wallkill was dismantled and relocated to the new extension in December. The two new presses arrived in April and May 2004 and began production in June and July. All five presses were fully operational by September.
Previously, the bindery occupied 11 floors in three buildings of the Adams Street complex in Brooklyn. Now the entire bindery is located on one floor at Wallkill and occupies 58 percent less space. Paperback bookbinding began in July 2004. Later that month, the first hardcover books came off the new bindery line, which is over a quarter of a mile long and consists of 33 machines connected by 70 conveyors. Book parts are handled just once, at the start of the line. Running at 120 books per minute, the hardcover line requires only 25 operators?a 66 percent reduction in personnel. The entire bindery became fully operational in October 2004.
As of November 2004, the new Wallkill Shipping Department has been processing congregation literature requests by means of a new computerized system that
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occupies 45 percent less space than its predecessor in Brooklyn. Computers calculate the size of the shipment and select the appropriate carton. A half-mile-long conveyor transports each order to a special platform where consignments are prepared for shipment. A drive-through area gives local congregations convenient access to pick up their orders. Heartfelt thanks go to the many brothers and sisters who helped with this project. They include Bethel and temporary volunteers, teams of brothers working under the direction of Regional Building Committees from five states, and brothers who generously contributed equipment and materials from their own businesses. Of course, thanks also go to the many 'cheerful givers' who provided financial support. ?2Cor.9:7, 11.
Brooklyn's Changing Face
The move of the printing, binding, and shipping operations toWallkill has changed the face of Brooklyn Beth- el. A historic and emotional moment occurred on April 29, 2004. That evening, amid cheers and tears, Max Larson, printery overseer for more than 60 years, shut down the last printing press in Brooklyn, ending 84 years of continuous printing there. The bindery closed down a few weeks later.
Aware that these changes would considerably reduce the amount of floor space required at Brooklyn, the Govern- ing Body, in June 2003, announced the possible sale of the building at 360 Furman Street. The contract was finalized on Friday, June 18, 2004. The laundry, offices, and work- shops housed in that million-square-foot building are being transferred to the vacated space at the 117 Adams Street complex.
In addition, the 107 Columbia Heights building is now undergoing a major renovation. The residential section
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is slated for completion by the latter half of 2005, and the entire project, by September 2006. The renovated building will accommodate over 300 Bethel family members and have a commissary. Kingdom Hall, library, lobby, offices, personal laundry, and a new courtyard garden.
Geared for Increase Worldwide
Brazil, Britain, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa have also received new MAN Roland Lithoman printing press- es. Britain was the first branch to install the new machine, which arrived in July 2003 and began production in October. It prints 750,000 magazines a day?1.5 million in a double shift?almost three times that of the former press.
The new presses can also print signatures for Bibles and other publications. The South Africa branch, for example, has already printed signatures for the New World Translation in Sesotho, a South African tongue. The Japan branch reports that previously it took a whole day to switch from producing small books to large ones. Now it takes only one hour. And whereas it used to take ten days to pro- duce one million tracts, it now takes just five hours. In its first three months, the press in Japan turned out 12 million tracts; 12 million magazines and brochures; 240,000 books; and 48,000 Bibles.
Other new, automated machines trim, count, stack, label, and wrap literature. Printing plates are being made more efficiently and accurately by means of a technique called the computer-to-plate method. This process eliminates the need for photographic film, thus cutting out one entire step. The Britain branch reports that all these improvements have not only boosted production but also reduced the number of workers needed.
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sir82
It sounds fairly authentic. If so, there are some very interesting "nuggets" to be found here...
Statistics given in the talks noted the number of English congregations that lacked sufficient brothers to take the lead.
So, apparently, in the US, there are fewer and fewer elders & MS. And the younger generation can't be bothered to "reach out" for "privileges". If Bethel speakers are openly admitting this in talks to the "family", the problem is very likely approaching the crisis mode.
Even those Bethelites that have been here for 20 or more years have mixed feelings about the initial request to serve elsewhere. With few exceptions they see
Huh? There are a "few" who don't "see Jehovah's hand in the matter"?!?! Wait a minute, we're the "happiest people on earth", living in lockstep unity in our spiritual paradise! You mean to say that there are "some" Bethelites who are so outspoken in their disdain for being downsized, that they make their feelings well-known to the downsizing "survivors"? Methinks the rumble of discontent must be pretty large & noticeable for it to get a mention in such a spin-happy letter.
Should those who were privileged to work inside the house now feel too important to care for the work on the outside?
I couldn't help but think of 19th century slaves in the US. Didn't the "inside" slaves look down upon the "field hands"? Surely there is no elitism in Bethel, is there?!?!
maintain a close contact with the organization and help strengthen the local brothers faith in the decisions made by the Governing Body.
Hmmm, almost sounds like they're being sent out to "spy"....Nah, couldn't be! -
blondie
Only 2 years ago, the CO said that the congregations were losing 25% of the elders every year. I can believe they don't have elders. One congregation had 4 elders and 8 ex-elders who had stepped down and did not want to be elders ever again.........
Blondie