by inbyathread 14 Replies latest watchtower scandals
Blondie is right!
so where does the money go then if a building is sold
If they are rebuilding or buying any property, it is held in a savings account to pay out for new land and/or building materials, etc.. If the congregation is being dissolved, then it reverts to the parent non-profit corporation.
This is how it was in the cong. I was in when we sold the old KH and was in the process of building the new one.
HappyDad
To No Apologies and all:
Sure, technically the Society's name is not on the title but like blondie said. If the hall sells, the money goes to the parent corporation. If our hall got sold, (and it is payed for), I would not get one cent. The money would go to the society. If I sell my home, I payoff the loan and get to keep the profit.
This is just another way to get money from the congregations. I don't agree with the idea that it is not about the money. It has everything to do about the money.
The society boldly claims and announces that "No plate is passed" at meetings. Interested individuals like that. We like to keep our own money. If we want to provide some financial assistance to a cause we want to know that the money is being used properly. Yet we are seeing more letters of financial assistance that the congregation can be "priviledged" to care for.
If we asked to see the financial records for a SA or DC we would be escorted out with a smile and a thought that we don't need to question the brothers as to how the money is being spent. They are appointed by Jehovah's Holy Spirit and would never error in the handling of the money.
The society is based on technicalities. They infer much (1975) and when it doesn't happen, they can say that they never said it and blame everyone else as being spiritually weak.
Sure they technically don't own the KH or maybe not even all the Assembly Halls but they have the power that controls the purse strings.
Think for a minute about the new corporations that were announced a few years back. Why was that? To split the money around due to legal problems? Every large corporation does it. Keep loss to a minumum and prevent any legal liability.
It's all about the money.
It's all about the money
Inbyathread, I know it may appear that way but I think it is all about control. Sure, the WTS likes the money and the security it seems to provide but beyond living comfortably the GB does not (as far as I know) live like kings.
If the hall sells, the money goes to the parent corporation. If our hall got sold, (and it is payed for), I would not get one cent. The money would go to the society.
Correction: The money stays with the congregation/corporation to be used to build/buy/renovate another KH. It only goes to the WTS ONLY IF THE CONGREGATION/CORPORATION IS DISSOLVED, ENDED, and people are sent to other congregations.
The KH is not owned by any individual, but only the non-profit corporation. No JWs own shares based on their being a member or donating money. This is no different than if you donate to any other non-profit corporation. The corporate officers also are not owners and if they leave, no money is paid out to them or their families.
This is not the same as an individual owning their home. Laws regarding personal ownership are very different than corporations/businesses.
Like I said IMO I feel that the issues of child abuse, disfellowshipping, and blood transfusions cause more harm to JWs than who owns the hall. Donating is voluntary and from my experience few JWs actually do; it is usually a few individuals or families that carry the load. I can still remember than man I called on once who said his church had built a new building and had assessed his family to pay $5,000. So far the WTS is not billing its members (the CO insurance issue is billed to the congregation not individual JWs).
Blondie
I always felt that the "Kingdom Hall Fund", or whatever name the hall insurance scheme is known by, is not for the best interests of the congregation. (putting it politely)
When I was first a Secretary every congo had to arrange insurance and a local insurance broker did several Halls. Next up, there was a nationwide scheme that we were all "Recommended" to join. Then later the Society decided to underwrite its own insurance and the premium was paid by the congo direct to the Society. I cannot comment now about the cost of the premium.
The thing was though that one never liked to make a claim because you were asking money back from "kingdom funds" and it did not seem right. So the smaller items for which the cong could have claimed - you paid yourself . This benefited the Society but not the local brothers contributed funds ...
About title ownership ? I cannot state with authority since I am no longer privy to such information. But a local congregation had a new hall and I asked an elder if the trustees still had to hold the title for the congregation. He gave a vague answer but said that the hall was the property of the Society. I asked how they felt about not owning the hall they had worked so hard to build, but he just said that it was all part of Jehovah's Organisation anyway..
