He said that the national average meeting attendance for English congregations is around 75% of publisher cards in the file.
And if memory serves, they don't count non-baptized people in the stats (which is why you could actually get 110% + attendance at a bookstudy. 100% representing baptized publishers so if they all showed up, all the non-baptized people in attendance were just the gravy that pushed the figures up). So the fact that attendance is only 75% of the publishers is actually worse for the Borg than what it sounds like. Sounds like overall attendance is probably more like 40% - 50% of total attendees.
Watson said: I think they could make the meetings more interesting by having the last half hour an open discussion, where the bros and sisters can express how they are feeling about how things are going in the congregation and the organization. Ideas, suggestions, etc. Kind of a question and answer session? Maybe the elder taking the lead could take notes so that they can be presented to the Governing Body. No fear of reprisal.
'No fear of reprisal'? Surely you jest m'dear. I believe the above-mentioned scenario happened in the late '70s at Crooklyn. The result was a realization that the Slobbering Body members are far more interested in their power and running a boot-camp than in any 'suggestions' or 'open discussions' amongst the R&F. There's no way they'll ever let that happen again.
Truly, does this really surprise the powers that be? They've been preaching 'imminent' destruction of the world for over 130 years. As a Witness, you are expected to study, study, study their literature, then attend several hours of meetings per week, and then go and bang on the doors of people you assured 50 years ago would die at Armageddon if they didn't join yours truly immediately or sooner, and tell them the same stupid thing you've been telling them for decades.
In addition, you're strongly discouraged from making any sort of long term goals for your life (other than to pioneer), you're not allowed to associate with people outside the religion, no extra-curricular activities for teenagers, no celebrating birthdays, Easter, Christmas, New Years, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Thanksgiving----hell, you can't even wear a poppy as a sign of appreciation for those who went to war and died for freedom you enjoy. No premarital sex under any circumstances and even when you get married they tell you what you can and can't do in the bedroom. You're not supposed to go to university and you have to keep your 5 year old kids up till 10:00 o'clock Thursday nights just so mommy and daddy can hear what ungrateful sloths they are and how unappreciative they are towards all the spiritual bullshit food being doled out century after century.
Then it all begins again. And these idiots wonder why attendance is down?
