Does anyone have a copy of the BOE letter regarding the KH money grab?

by ToesUp 11 Replies latest jw friends

  • ToesUp
    ToesUp

    If anyone has a copy of the letter regarding the Kingdom Hall money grab (including the 2 pages the congregation did not see) can you please post a copy or copy and paste it.

    Thanks!

  • darkspilver
    darkspilver

    yes, atlantis uploaded it only 12 hours ago ;)

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/237780004/largest-boe-file-now-updated-may-2015

    That's all folks!

    DarK SpilveR

  • 88JM
    88JM
    It also depends a little bit which country you are in - I think the letter in the U.K. was a slightly different version to the U.S. one?
  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    3/29/14-E

    March 29, 2014

    TO ALL CONGREGATIONS

    Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide

    Dear Brothers:

    On September 1, 1983, the Kingdom Hall Fund was created to help finance the increasing need for Kingdom Halls. For more than 30 years, this arrangement has served to expand the con-struction of Kingdom Halls worldwide in a tremendous way by means of Regional Building Com-mittees and the program for lands with limited resources. Having sufficient, adequate places of worship is vital, as Jehovah continues to ‘speed up’ the gathering of "a mighty nation." (Isa. 60:22) In order to meet these ever-increasing needs, the Governing Body has directed that an adjustment be made in the way Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction projects are financed.

    In harmony with the principle at 2 Corinthians 8:12-14, congregations will now be asked to pool their resources worldwide to support the construction of theocratic facilities wherever they are needed. Congregations and Assembly Halls will no longer be asked to repay a loan, and use of the separate contribution box labeled "Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide" has been discontinued. Instead, all congregations will have the opportunity to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by resolving to make a monthly donation from congregation funds. If indi-vidual publishers wish to donate specifically to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construc-tion worldwide, such donations will be accepted gladly and used wisely by the branch office. From now on, all funding for approved projects will be provided by the branch office from the funds that have been donated by you dear brothers and sisters.

    ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL LETTER FROM BRANCH OFFICE: "Please note, funds received for this new programme will form part of our general funds, rather than a restricted fund, however your preference for the donations to be used for construction will be noted."

    The need for Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls is greater than ever before. At this time, over 13,000 Kingdom Hall projects and 35 Assembly Hall projects are needed worldwide. Much of this need is in parts of the world where the cost of property and building materials is high. A tre-mendous amount of funds are needed to care for this work. However, we are confident that Jehovah will provide what is needed by your generous support. Time and again we have seen this take place. For example, it has been 24 years since we began offering literature under the donation arrange-ment, yet Jehovah’s blessing on this adjustment has been obvious. We are confident that by means of Jehovah’s continued blessing and the generosity of the worldwide brotherhood, the new ar-rangement for financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction will be a success as well.—1 Chron. 29:11-14; Ps. 127:1.

    May Jehovah continue to richly bless your hard work and loyal service as you generously support Kingdom interests.

    Your brothers,

    c: Traveling overseers Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29, 2014 Page 2

    PS to body of elders:

    At the Service Meeting for the week of April 28, 2014, the congregation should be informed that use of the contribution box labeled "Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide" will be discontin-ued on May 1, 2014, and that further information will be provided at the following Service Meeting. This letter should be read to the congregation during the local needs part on the Service Meeting for the week of May 5, 2014. (Congregations having an assembly the week of May 5 should have the let-ter read the following week.) This postscript should not be read to the congregation, and this letter should not be posted on the information board. After the reading of the letter, either a resolu-tion should be presented to the congregation or the survey described below should be taken. The December 7, 2009, letter to all congregations should be removed from the congregation permanent file of policy letters and be destroyed. Updated congregation accounting instructions and forms will begin to be provided in May 2014.

    Resolved donations: All congregations are asked to establish a monthly resolved donation to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by no later than May 31, 2014.

    What amount should be used for this new resolved monthly donation?

    The elders in congregations currently making loan repayments would likely propose a resolution that is at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment, keep-ing in mind that donations will no longer be received from the "Kingdom Hall Con-struction Worldwide" contribution box. The elders in congregations without loans or those having standing resolutions to support Kingdom Hall construction worldwide should take a confidential survey of all publishers to determine the amount of the new resolution. This can be done by passing out slips of paper to be filled out anonymously by the publishers indicating how much they are able to contribute monthly toward local congregation expenses, including the resolution to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide. At the time the survey is taken, it may be helpful to also re-view with the congregation the average monthly operating expenses that need to be cov-ered.

    Elders should review this resolution annually in May to ensure the amount is what the congregation is realistically able to donate on a monthly basis. For example, there may be a significant increase or decrease in the number of publishers in the congregation, or the local economic conditions may appreciably improve or deteriorate, thus affecting the amount that the congregation can reasonably contribute. If necessary, the elders may take a new financial survey, as described above, to determine whether the resolved monthly contribution to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide should be adjusted for the coming year.

    What should be done with other existing resolutions?

    Any previous resolution to support Kingdom Hall construction should be discontinued. All other resolutions, such as those for contributing to the worldwide work, the Conven-tion Fund, the Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and the Kingdom Hall As-sistance Arrangement, should continue to be honored. Where more than one congrega-tion shares a Kingdom Hall, resolutions to contribute to a shared Kingdom Hall operating account to cover the operating costs, minor renovations, and repairs may be adjusted as needed. Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29, 2014 Page 3

    How should this new resolved amount be submitted to the branch office?

    Each congregation should establish its own resolution to contribute to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide and submit the resolved amount with its monthly remittance to the branch office. These resolved amounts should not be submit-ted through Kingdom Hall operating accounts. If revised forms for congregation ac-counting are not yet available in the language of the congregation, the resolved donation amount for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide may be recorded on the line "Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide (Resolution)" that appears on the form(s) currently being used.

    What should be done if congregation funds are not sufficient to cover resolved donations?

    If sufficient funds are not available for all resolved donations in a particular month, addi-tional funds should not be solicited. The elders should determine what amounts from the congregation funds that are available at the end of the month will be applied toward the re-solved monthly donation(s) and whether the shortfall should be made up in future months. However, it would be appropriate for the elders to remind the congregation of the resolved monthly commitments. If the congregation can no longer contribute the amount(s) they re-solved on a regular basis, the elders may consider the situation at the next annual review of the resolution for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide.

    Contribution boxes: As noted above, on May 1, 2014, each Kingdom Hall should have on-ly two types of contribution boxes, one labeled "Local Congregation Expenses" and one labeled "Worldwide Work."

    What should be done with existing "Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide" boxes or boxes set up to accept donations for a local building project?

    These boxes will no longer be used for accepting donations in support of Kingdom Hall or Assembly Hall construction. They should be removed or relabeled to accept dona-tions for the worldwide work on May 1, 2014.

    What type of expenses can be paid from funds received in the "Local Congregation Expenses" box?

    These funds should be used to pay approved congregation expenses, including Kingdom Hall operating expenses, minor renovations, and repairs (through the operating commit-tee, if applicable), as well as for all monthly resolved donations that are sent to the branch office.

    Are there any changes to the existing "Worldwide Work" box?

    No. Funds received in the "Worldwide Work" box will continue to be forwarded to the branch office each month. No congregation expenses or monthly resolutions should be paid from these funds.

    Surplus funds:

    Is it necessary to save congregation funds for future construction or major renovation projects?

    No. While it may be practical to keep sufficient funds in the congregation account to care for minor renovations or repairs, there is no need to save funds for major renova-tions or repairs since these projects will be financed by the branch office as needed. Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29, 2014 Page 4

    What should be done with excess congregation funds that are currently being held or that may accumulate in the future?

    The elders of congregations having funds on deposit with the branch office should review the balance of such funds and decide if these can be donated in full or in part to the worldwide work and/or Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide, particularly if these funds were being saved for a future construction project. Periodically, the body of elders may also review the balance of the congregation funds to determine if surplus cash could be sent to the branch office as a donation. The recommendation for such a donation should be presented to the congregation as a one-time resolution. When this resolution is approved by the congregation, the one-time donation to the worldwide work or to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide may be added to the monthly resolved amounts sent to the branch office.

  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    The addendum gave them a legal get-out that means they don't have to use even 50% of the donations to build KH's & Assembly halls - despite the 4 page letter containing numerous (18?) references pointing to what the money was going to be used for, namely, KH & Assembly Hall construction!

    Therefore, every BoE on the planet was complicit in the fleecing of their own congregation, and they knew exactly why the secret parts of the letter were not to be revealed to the R&F.

  • ToesUp
    ToesUp

    Thank you for posting that Searcher!

  • stan livedeath
    stan livedeath

    jehovahs chosen one true religion.

    i bet He is turning in his grave.

  • Pearl Dockseye
    Pearl Dockseye

    I'm an old timer, so I remember when a talk from a GB member said, "The day we have to ask for donations, is the day we know we're finished." Well, I don't think he meant it the way that we take it today.

    Anyone else remember how proud the org. was, when they touted that they were not like Christendom, in that they never asked for donations, never would, and would never have to, due to their confidence in God's support?

    I sure hope others my age (still inside the belly of the Beast) haven't forgotten these things.

    Anything to wake them up from their drunken stupor!

  • Brokeback Watchtower
    Brokeback Watchtower
    Jehovah provides, by hook, or by crook.
  • Esse quam videri

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