but........
we are still a long way off (IMHO) from this ridiculous debacle accelerating the drip drip drip of defectors from da troof to a waterfall of people simply saying "feck this shambles".
.. and fun too !
:d. what?
were you expecting a "but"?
but........
we are still a long way off (IMHO) from this ridiculous debacle accelerating the drip drip drip of defectors from da troof to a waterfall of people simply saying "feck this shambles".
"downsizing" has reached special pioneers.. this is the template mexico is using to get rid of many of its special pioneers.
see how cold and unloving is the language they use.
a translation attempt is as follows:.
I really don't think that the WTS is in any real danger of going broke in the short term.
I agree with the sentiments that this is all about rapid organisation change to protect against future shortfall and risks. These risks may include changes to tax status, compensation claims, reduced investment income, rising construction costs etc.
What is clear to me is that the decision making has absolutely nothing to do with spiritual goals. It is completely driven by bean counters. I really get the impression that the GB have let their hubris get the better of them and run amok with this plan and that plan over the past couple of years then some underling has pulled their bollocks out of their arse and given them some plain and simple shocking facts, coupled with some compelling strategies for rapid and persistent cost cutting.
.
... until they have fulfilled their role in the org's master plan to sit down with the bodies of elders in the circuits and ascertain which congregations should be merged or consolidated.
this "culling" of k.h.
's will now have to be accelerated - considering the panic to rake in cash.. after the c.o.
haha ToesUp, just reminded me of Rawhide...
Move 'em on
(Head em' up!)
Head em' up
(Move 'em on!)
Move 'em on
(Head em' up!)
Rawhide!
Cut 'em out
(Ride 'em in!)
Ride 'em in
(Cut em' out!)
Cut 'em out
Ride 'em in,
Rawhide!
the organisation has always connected growth in numbers, publications and property with god's blessing.. they seem have set their themselves up for some difficult questions from the faithful.. pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
- proverbs 16:18.
They seem have set their themselves up for some difficult questions from the faithful.
Sorry Cofty, but from what I have heard from the faithful so far it's simply the F&DS being even more discreet. Jehovah is ensuring that the preaching work is given even more attention. The chariot is speeding up even more and we all need to be on board. "Reassignments" have happened before. Move along, nothing to see here.
How many of them really believe it is another question, but they certainly are simply rationalising the cognative dissonance about "growth=blessing, contraction=blessing therefore growth=contraction" away....
i did not believe i would see the demise of the wt in my lifetime, and maybe i will not, they may be able to ride out their present problems.. but how do you think this will affect the average, loyal, believing jw ?.
usually most things just wash over them, if there is a slight niggle, they use their well-worn way of explaining things to themselves as in "the end is near" or "jehovah knows best" etc etc.
but the huge sea-change in corporate policy that we see unfolding, all construction work stopped, except warwick and maybe their biggest project, chelmsford u.k. huge bethel layoffs, and the lifestyle of the remaining staff reduced to virtual slavery, more bethel closures, spiritual food reduced for the public as well as the r&f, and all of this being the opposite of what they have claimed was evidence of jehovah's blessing ???.
Well I keep seeing more and more of this construction halt on pro-JW sites. Someone even said there will be another letter speaking about that after the annual meeting. We shall wait and see. I seriously doubt they will announce such set back to all JWs.
Perhaps. I think much depends on how the AGM announcements re the meeting and magazines shift the conversation. I've already expressed my thoughts that perhaps this has been calculated to divert attention away from the bad news. They couldn't announce bethel cuts 2 days before the AGM could they...?
I suspect that they will have to address the cutbacks at some point. The way not to is to re-engage with lots of projects quickly and make it clear progression is happening.
By JWTalk standards, there's a fair amount of less than positive comment. Either there are several fifth column posters or there are a number of people that don't like what they are seeing.
if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.
and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.
and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.
i just read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the bethels around the world.
here is the email: .
---------------------------------thanks sally, jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes.
I have been told that they are considering closing and selling the canada branch and the UK branch and moving printing back to wallkill and the German Branch.
Also compared sending home all the bethel volunteers to Gideon sending home his troops until he only had 300 left.
Whilst the second sentence is more than believable, I am having some difficulties believing they are considering closing both the CA and UK branches. Whilst it might be one of those "nothing is too extreme to be on the table" type out there suggestions, I would be inclined to not give too much credence to this as a serious proposition right now. Given we can't even get a straight story on what is happening at Temple Farm, the fate of the entire Bethel is right out these in speculation, rumour and out and out cuckoo land right now.
if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.
and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.
and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.
My gut feel is that somehow they have simply let the pace of change get the better of them and failed to count the cost properly.
I suspect that have estimated that costs on projects could be covered but then had one or more variables change such as:
- increased costs of projects through repeated works, unexpected employment of contractors etc.
- recognition that income from property sales will not come in quickly enough to ensure suitable cash flow
- concerns over the real income to be realised through donations in perpetuity
- ring-fencing of funds in expectation of legal obligations (e.g. pedo payouts)
- cash flow simply not meeting demands
- some kind of issue with investments.
I don't think anyone is under some illusion that the WTS is about to collapse financially but I've not seen anything like this before. I just wonder if the pace of change over the past few years has simply brought some chickens home to roost.
if you are a lurker then you are probably a thinker.
you will already be wondering about a number of aspects of jw doctrine and how they stack up against reason, logic and modern scientific evidence.
if so, then i appeal to you to meditate and reason on one implication arising from the latest news that the next publication will be a simplified version of an already simplified book.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for the feedback. I don't mean to come across as frustrated, as least not in the way I think you mean. I was just taking hold of an opportunity presented at the time of the leak of the AGM letter to make a direct appeal on the basis that once again the GB mark progress through yet further dumbing down of the "troof", safe in the knowledge that the masses will lap it up.
I am for the moment trapped in but I am so glad that I have worked things out and am now longer torn in the quandary of cognitive dissonance, trying to square the circle over and over again. I feel mentally free and was only able to start to feel that way once I stopped thinking that the circle could be squared and that I HAD to do so.
No one can wake someone else up. IHMO those that are questioning should be presented with as many of glaring inconsistencies, lies, deceptive reasonings and fallacies promulgated by the WTS leadership as possible. They need an overwhelming weight of evidence and reasoning in order to break the mental hold we have all experienced.
I accept my post is fairly direct but I don't think it is harsh. I really doubt that on it's own it will make a significant difference one way or the other but I do hope that it might present someone with another chink in the armour.
definitely something going in the london bethel.. i thought i'd ask them again (and record it again) what the situation was regarding the new britain branch construction work.. i got the same sister (debbie) and here is how the conversation went: .
me: i've been told that construction of the new branch has been stopped - is this true?.
debbie: no, it has not ceased, it's carrying on as normal - can i ask where you're calling from?.
Carrying on as normal can mean several things. It may mean zero change. The work there is not as advanced as Warwick so it's possible that building plans are changing but ground works and preparatory works are still continuing. It may be a lie (theocratic warfare).
The truth will out soon.