WTBS' Financial Empire...the tip of the iceberg! (page 3)

ballistic

Garybuss, I remember that logo well, I'm sure it appeared in other books also in the 70's.

SwordOfJah

Do you have a problem with this cycle SOJ? I do.

I don't have a problem. It's called using the funds wisely. Would you rather they lose money? I'm glad they use the money wisely, if they make money out of a sale for to further on the preaching work. They go ahead and do that. Now if they were selling a property below it's value, then I would have a problem with it.

Here is an excellent example from the town that I live in:

Bought property for Hall in 1972 for $20,000. Remodeled building to suit purposes in '72. Remodelled in 1988 at a cost of $40,000. The name of the title was under the Society. We sold the Hall in 1993 at $120,000. Although the Hall was under the name of the Society, we did not return that money to them, instead we used it towards a new Hall with the Society's blessing. We built the new Hall in 1994 at a cost of $250,000. We financed through the Society the difference of $130,000 for 10 years at 3% interest. The first year, some of the congregations had financial hardships and we could not cover the payment for about 6 months. The Society said no problem. Not a bad lender, eh?

Scully

Thank you for compiling all of this MacHislopp, and expatbrit for the explanations.

Regarding the Canadian figures, I noticed a couple of rather interesting ~~lies~~... er... lines.

E4
Did the charity use any of the following fund-raising methods? 201 auctions .......................................................... No 202 mail compaigns (including E-mail) .......................... No 203 telephone solicitation ......................................... No 204 door-to-door canvassing .................................. No 205 sales (e.g., cookies, chocolate bars)....................... No 206 collection boxes ............................................... No 207 advertisements, posters, flyers, and radio and TV commercials .... No 208 telethons .......................................................... No 209 anonymous donations, loose collections ............ No 210 bingos, casino nights .......................................... No 211 swim-a-thons, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, etc. ..... No 212 draws and lotteries ............................................ No
213 fund-raising dinners, galas, concerts ..................... No 214 tournaments and sports events ............................ No
215 o ther .......conventions, perhaps?.......................... No

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.

Love, Scully

Ravyn

gcc2k

I don't have a problem. It's called using the funds wisely. Would you rather they lose money? I'm glad they use the money wisely, if they make money out of a sale for to further on the preaching work. They go ahead and do that. Now if they were selling a property below it's value, then I would have a problem with it.

I have a problem with selling a property to Babylon at a huge profit, and starting all over again.

How do you know that the money is going to further the preaching work? Absolutely no disclosure is done at the top level.
Perhaps if the Society made available their financial records, just as they do at a congregation level, these questions would not exist.

Bought property for Hall in 1972 for $20,000. Remodeled building to suit purposes in '72. Remodelled in 1988 at a cost of $40,000. The name of the title was under the Society. We sold the Hall in 1993 at $120,000. Although the Hall was under the name of the Society, we did not return that money to them, instead we used it towards a new Hall with the Society's blessing. We built the new Hall in 1994 at a cost of $250,000. We financed through the Society the difference of $130,000 for 10 years at 3% interest. The first year, some of the congregations had financial hardships and we could not cover the payment for about 6 months. The Society said no problem. Not a bad lender, eh?

Thanks for confirming that the Society does in fact charge interest on money that I contributed to the worldwide work.
This practice, even if it is to cover inflation costs, is unscriptural.

I will acknowledge the two examples you mention showing that the Society is not just in it for money, at least at face value.

Mr. Kim

Very good information!

Wonder if the money is funding the NEW WORLD ORDER or the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT?

OK, I WON'T GO THERE!!!!!!

Gerard

Do you mean the Watchtower is a "bussiness"? I am shocked!!!

Pork Chop

Y'all are like little boys going through someone's lingerie drawer.

coffee_black

If wonder what Jesus would say about the vast financial empire built by the borg? Compare His record with that of the borg.

Watchtower Jesus

$ in Real Estate many millions 0

Lawyers at least 60 0

Shareholders 500? not sure 0

Stocks owned millions 0

Corporations at least 100 0

It's obvious that Jesus had a different focus. His message was simple. The borg tries to make it as complicated as possible to keep the flock busy trying to learn it all.

A wise man (woman?) once said "Follow the money"

If the organization actually tried to help people in need with all that money, it might not be such a big deal. They should still have to account for it, but it wouldn't be such an issue. The point is that they don't. Jesus gave all he had, including his life. The borg gives nothing. What about the poor people in Africa who can't afford their own Kingdom Hall? The borg has enough money to build many many halls. Do they do it? No, they build a resort in Hawaii, and a huge facility in Patterson, while the poor in many countries can't afford to have a place to meet. What would Jesus do?

His early followers didn't build big buildings, or buy stocks, or print magazines. They met in homes, and shared their faith.

They didn't form corporations to hide behind, and hide assets in.

You don't need a corporation, a building, a printing press, a lawyer or a magazine to have a relationship with God. He's not impressed with any of that.

Coffee

gcc2k

Excellent point Coffee. The JW counterpoint would be that it is necessary to have all these things, given the larger and more modern nature of the preaching work in our time.

So, to rebutt that point, is there a religious group today that is closer to Jesus' standards, and enjoying some level of success? Although, showing growth is not necessarily a sign of God's favor.

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

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