Just spoke with a relative who's been serving as an Elder for decades.
When I innocently asked him why a congregation which was "merging" with his congregation could not use their sale proceeds to jointly purchase an urgently needed new K.H. between them, he said, "It doesn't work that way; whenever a K.H. is sold now, the money automatically goes straight to the Branch Office."
He didn't sound happy as he said those words. Elders are now reaping what they've sown over the past 15 years by proposing to their congregations that they accept the "recommendations" received in the letters from the Org.
Such as -
1) All congregations now cancel their K.H. insurance policies with worldly companies, and pay the Org the premiums.
2) All congregations register their K.H. under the K.H. Trust, with Org-selected Trustees in control at the Branch Office.
3) All congregation who don't owe money to the Org - to promise/pledge a guaranteed monthly amount to the Org.
4) All congregation who do owe money to the Org - to "donate" perpetually an amount at least equal to the loan payment.
5) All congregations who have loaned the Org sizeable sums - to change such loans to donations.
6) All congregations whose bank balances exceed 3 months running costs - send all excess funds as donations to the Org (Proviso - up to $5000 may be retained by congregations for special purposes)
Elders - you've aided and abetted an abhorrent organization to fleece millions of people - knowingly, or unknowingly.
Either way, you should be riddled with guilt & shame, and should do the only decent thing to demonstrate your contrition - resign as an Elder immediately, because it is a position of an evil slave - not a shepherd!
