Watchtower dissolves congregations?

by TheStar 29 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  TheStar

  I have heard this from JWs many times. They say that when the whole congregation is corrupt it is clearly noticable that Jehovah's spirit is not with them. [8>]

  Eventually if the whole congregation is corrupt the GB dissolves the whole congregation.

  JWs say this as if it were from personal experience. I myself never saw this in the less than 10 years I was in.

  I ask, is this true?

  Can this be proven?

  Are there records somewhere that can prove that the WT has done this in the past?

  Were any of you Ex-JWs eye-witnesses to this yourselves when you were a JW?

  IF this topic has been discussed before, my sincerest apologies. Just direct me to the thread please, thanks.
• 

  blondie

  Sometimes they are dissolved because the number of publishers is so low that it doesn't justify keeping intact. They are divided up and sent to nearby congregations. Lack of elders and MS can do it to and many are stepping "aside" nowadays.
• 

  Rado Vleugel

  Hi The Star,

  I have no documented cases. But I know that in the Netherlands there were a few occasions that a ‘corrupt’ congregation was dissolved. The members were distributed among neighboring congregations. Not the GB took those decisions but the Circuit Overseer with the Branch Office and District Overseer.

  Rado Vleugel
  http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/
• 

  LittleToe

  There was an area in the North East of England where three congregations became two, primarily because there were so many personality problems.

  One congregation was dissolved, with the members dispersed into the other two.
• 

  singsongboi

  if, after a long period, there is no progress (growth) in a congregation or area, the society will adjust boundaries, or move people in to try to stimulate growth.

  but most of know how superstituos are those who live in dub city... so the r&f will always look for a superstitous reason...like a secret sin in the congregation.....

  mostly tho, the real reason for lack of growth is demographic... the sort of person who becomes a witness, simply arn't in that territory.

  eg. in a area where the average household income is above average, and most residents have university degrees and careers, there will not be much growth. so the WTS may send in pioneers, and some studies will develop... but mostly with old ladies who are a bit lonely and like the attention and company.
• 

  Simon

  I did have a newspaper clipping about a congregation that had been 'disfellowshipped'.

  Yes, it has happened. I believe that there were some congregation shutdowns in relation to Carl Olof's research paper that was eventually to become "The Gentile Times Reconsidered".

  Probably the WTS equivalent of 'scorched earth policy' - damage limitation at it's most extreme.
• 

  metatron

  Most loss of congregations is caused by dropping attendance.
  Big cities often lose congregations because residential areas
  turn into business areas.

  If you check the past 5 years or so in Japan, you'll see
  a loss of about 500 congregations. Likewise, France. in that
  time frame, lost about 160 congregations.

  metatron
• 

  slipnslidemaster

  I believe an entire congregation seceded from the organization in the '80's in Texas.

  Slipnslidemaster:"There are no facts, only interpretations."
  - Nietzsche

  Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America
• 

  ThiChi

  Well, I have read so much stuff, I can’t remember where, but abut a year ago I read a news article that described a legal battle between the WTBTS and a congregation (in California, I think) for legal control of a Kingdom Hall and the claim was based on the local formation of a cooperation by the Elders, the WTBTS wanted them to go, and the Elders said no!......anyone remember this issue?
• 

  metatron

  That was the Bonham, texas incident. It caused some work for the
  Legal Dept. over KH ownership. I think the Society took the
  position that elders were clergy and the organization was a
  hierarchy in court. If so, maybe the precedent will come back
  to haunt them.

  metatron