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← 12 things we learned from Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony at the Royal Commission
More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts →
 
The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available
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Posted on September 18, 2015
 
2014-jwsurvey-results2014 was a big year for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and not just because it marked 100 years of the “short period of time” since the commencement of the ‘last days’ in 1914, with Armageddon nowhere in sight. (Rev 12:12)
Last year saw the organization take a further leap into the unknown by unveiling its JW Broadcasting initiative, bringing the “global brotherhood” up close and personal with its leaders for the first time.
The same year saw the announcement of a new donation arrangement whereby kingdom halls would surrender their financial autonomy and yield to a form of stealth tithing, with each congregation pledging to donate a fixed monthly amount. District overseers were also shown the door as Watchtower’s hierarchy was streamlined.
While all this was happening, an ever-growing number of current, former, and unbaptized Jehovah’s Witnesses – the silent majority – were doing something that was impossible before the age of the internet. They were quietly assembling online, and using a global survey they spoke with one voice of their dissatisfaction with Watchtower teachings and practices.
5,166 took part in the 2014 Global Survey – a huge increase compared with the more modest numbers from previous surveys (1,118 in 2011, 1,488 in 2012, and 1,751 in 2013).
Download the 2014 results PDF
Such an impressive sample has gifted us a revealing insight into the thoughts and feelings of the burgeoning ex-Jehovah’s Witness online community, which includes many active Witness “lurkers” who seek information and resources minus the Watchtower spin.
Here are just a few stats for you to ponder…
◾229 out of 5,166 voters (4%) said they agree with all Watchtower teachings and practices (only 138 of these were active Witnesses)
◾16 voters claimed to be active bethelites
◾117 voters claimed to be serving elders
◾1,599 disfellowshipped/disassociated persons took part in the survey, of which 42% claimed to still be religious
◾94% of disfellowshipped/disassociated persons are happier since leaving
◾1,603 out of 4,242 baptized voters (38%) claim to have been baptized at 18 or older
◾1,687 inactive/faders voted, of which 63% claimed to experience preemptive shunning
◾56% of inactive ones claimed to experience marital or family problems as a result of their decision
◾771 voted who were never baptized, of which 64% had family members who are JWs and 67% consider Jehovah’s Witnesses to be a cult
◾39% of elders expressed regret over a decision reached at a judicial committee
◾78% of voters think that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a problem with child abuse
◾419 voters claimed to be former-Witness victims of child abuse
◾40% of active Witness voters said they would secretly or openly accept a blood transfusion
◾237 voters said they would let their child die for want of a blood transfusion, only 167 of which were active Witnesses
◾17% of active JWs who voted believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾32% of elders who voted believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾67% of voters do not believe Watchtower should enjoy charitable or tax exempt status
◾84% of voters do not donate anything to Watchtower
◾81% of voters have heard of a Jehovah’s Witness committing or attempting suicide
◾33% of voters believe Watchtower should undergo reform, while a further 42% believe it should be dissolved entirely
◾21% of Witness voters believe apostates are bitter and vindictive, as opposed to 69% who believe some may have legitimate concerns
◾169 active JW voters consider themselves to be apostates
◾52% of those who call themselves apostates say they love Jehovah’s Witnesses, while only 2% (58 individuals) say they hate all JWs
◾53% of active JWs object to all forms of shunning, while 11% say they are shunning someone who is either disfellowshipped or inactive
◾Evolution as a false teaching was the least disliked Watchtower teaching, with only 62% voting against it
◾The second least-disliked Watchtower teaching was the rejection of Christmas as a pagan teaching, with only 63% voting against it
◾The most disliked Watchtower teaching was the prohibition on higher education (96%) followed closely by shunning and bedroom laws for married couples (both at 94%)
To help better digest this year’s figures, new JWsurvey team member Kyle Racki has kindly produced an infographic for some selected stats. If you would like to download a high resolution version of this infographic, you can do so here.
JWsurvey results infographic small
Obviously the above figures cannot be considered representative of ALL Jehovah’s Witnesses, since in order to make it as far as JWsurvey potential voters must first breach Watchtower’s strict rules regarding the internet and so-called apostate sites.
Even so, it is heartening to see ever-growing numbers of current, former and unbaptized Witnesses using their opportunity to declare their honest views about the organization and its practices. Forums and online communities are always helpful in this regard, but nowhere else is it currently possible to get such large quantities of data on the consensus among the exJW movement.
If you are wondering how you can play your part and help make this year’s survey a similar success, we would urge you to have your say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses if you haven’t already done so. At the time of writing (mid-September 2015), nearly 3,200 have already voted, but with little over three months remaining there is still a long way to go before we can beat last year’s total. This gives us plenty of time to share links to the survey as widely as possible among our friends and relatives, and urge them to take part.
Another means of promoting the survey is using the increasingly popular platform of YouTube. At the moment I am working on a special montage video along with more than 50 other ex-JWs from around the world. The video will convey a special message aimed at believing Witnesses as part of our “JWsurvey Day” celebrations on October 4th. If you are able to help us share and distribute the video on social media when the big day comes, this would be hugely appreciated.
Until then, I will leave you to chew on some remarkable survey results. And I especially want to thank you all for your overwhelming support of the JWsurvey project.
 
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← 12 things we learned from Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony at the Royal Commission
More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts →
 
127 Responses to The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available


Newer Comments →
 
 RunFromTheTower says:

 September 18, 2015 at 7:39 am
 
Thank you Lloyd for sharing the results, and to Kyle for putting together the info chart.
I am very proud and happy to say that I and my family are a few of the newly disassociated (11/14) ones who participated in this survey, and that we’re part of the 94% who are happier since leaving. Everyday since leaving the cult my family and I learn something new and refreshing about our freedom and about the beauty of life; revealing to us just how captive we were to the WT, how the little things in life became so complicated with the WT goggles on, and how unhappy we were as JWs. We have come to appreciate that life is to be enjoyed, not endured. We have everything to live for, and nothing to die for. It is a wonderful realization.
We came across your website and videos, along with all the ex-JWs YT channels, after leaving the WT.
The ex-JW community grows every day, we will not be silenced.
Looking forward to 2015.
Reply
 
 John Baptist says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:13 am
 
Wow that is awesome for you and your family. Never blame or hold resentment for a religion that already sucked out part of your life. Use your future to embrace the fruits of exercising independent thinking. Good luck to you and your family. I suggest reading Steve Hassan’s book on Cults to help with the deprograming process. Been out 30 years and couldn’t be happier.
Reply
 
 RunFromTheTower says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:24 am
 
Thank you John. Wow! 30 years out of the Witchtower. You’ve been realizing what I have just now awoken to.
Since leaving the cult I am also realizing the difficulties and challenges of overcoming the effects of the years of WT indoctrination (self/and taught).
I am very appreciative of the ex-JW community.
Reply
 
 
 
 jacksrabbit says:

 September 19, 2015 at 7:41 am
 
It is a breath of fresh air to be out.
 My wife and I have been out for over 15 years, but only last month sent a formal letter to the society of disassociation. Two elders showed up on my doorstep this morning in response. It is only the 2nd time any JW’s have called at my door in the 5 years I have lived here. Are they in damage control? I hope more former JW’s can make a formal departure.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 20, 2015 at 7:57 pm
 
I attended the assembly this weekend. It was a long day to be sure. When the time came for the baptism they announced that there were no candidates. Never known that to happen in all my years as a witness. The times they are a changing.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 18, 2015 at 7:42 am
 
This was my first year of taking part (2015). I feel like I have found a family that I can actually talk to without being shunned or hailed before Governors. Thank you :)
Reply
 
 RunFromTheTower says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:25 am
 
Same sentiments.
Loved and understood unconditionally.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 20, 2015 at 7:58 pm
 
:)
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Dblaron42 says:

 September 18, 2015 at 7:51 am
 
Great work Lloyd. Thank you for everything that you do!
Reply
 
 
 Ron says:

 September 18, 2015 at 7:54 am
 
Some of the figures are amazing and many are heartening. 17% believe elders are appointed by holy spirit says so much about the massive majority but of course they dare not say. 84% Don’t donate which did surprise me but does explain the grab for cash in the last 2 years. 21% would have blood transfusions, secretly. Thank you for all the hard word Lloyd and please keep it up. The WT is fighting for its life right now and for the first time its does not have enough shoulders to look over. I am expecting some drops in world wide figures in the not so distant future despite them baptising even younger ones from poverty riddled nations.
Reply
 
 
 James Broughton says:

 September 18, 2015 at 9:39 am
 
Lloyd, thanks to you and Kyle for putting together such a brilliant info sheet. I fear they will now start to make it even harder for JWs to seek help.
Reply
 
 
 John Baptist says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:06 am
 
Bravo Bravo Bravo. Congrats on the success of well needed stats. My son is a Data Scientist and x JW indoctrinated from birth from his mom a Super Devout JW and to him these survey numbers will be quite telling. Thank you for your efforts in helping others see the Real LIGHT!
Reply
 
 
 Anthony says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:13 am
 
Well done on all your hard work Lloyd.
 I think as a a science fan you will appreciate the unreliability of small population, anonymous surveys, but I believe it is an interesting indication of trends.
 It’s difficult to ascertain how much value we could put upon the comments, since they come from such a long continuum of JW-ness.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:41 am
 
I put immense value on the survey, regardless of its scientific reliability or lack thereof, because it represents the opinions of over 5,000 people whose lives have been negatively impacted by a twisted cult. The comments section of the results PDF is an opportunity for an otherwise silenced community to voice their convictions for or against the organization, and is thus also extremely valuable.
Reply
 
 Robertperez67 says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:19 pm
 
You weren’t kidding about the survey comments. They are all over the place. I noticed how dissapointed most are with the heartless leadership in this cult. Again and again participants saying they are only in it to keep from losing loved ones. If I ever had doubts of CULT describing the Watchtower organization, they have been put to rest. Absolute mindcontrol from top to bottom. I really wish it were available in Spanish to share with many friends. If you thought elders were unqualified in English congregations, imagine what it is like in Spanish speaking halls where old men whom either never attended school or didnt make it past the sixth grade trust completely and absolutely in the GB being Gods voice itself. There is no reasoning in the least bit with men who can barely read (you can imagine what their knowledge of Gods word is) and have no knowledge outside of their labor jobs and whatever the Circuit Overseer veeeerrrryyyy slowly explains to them. You start speaking on bible chronology or the least bit of prophetic math and you might as well be describing the astrophysics and engineering logistics involved to get to Mars. For years as an Elder I tried to remind these individuals of the importance of sticking to Gods word and not allowing anything else in print to alter Gods outline of love for the congregation. I finally started to awaken when the new Shepperding book came out and absolutely all Christian love was tossed out the window in order to follow the three potatoes, two onions a bit of eye of newt recipe shepherding method. I really hope those still on the inside find it in them to speak up with little bits of facts all around their hall before leaving. I wish I had known what I know now before giving my last talk as an Elder, I would have logically power kicked their closet doors down. I think ill start looking into a Spanish podcast on these matters. Wish me luck.
Reply
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 22, 2015 at 3:08 pm
 
Think you should, sir. Respect.
Reply
 
 
 
 LOL says:

 September 22, 2015 at 10:26 pm
 
“it represents the opinions of over 5,000 people whose lives have been negatively impacted by a twisted cult.” Which is exactly why the survey is lopsided. Unreliable. Biased. Whatever you want to call it. It’s junk. Worthless. It’s extremely valuable to you because it appears you have nothing better to do than obsess with this religion.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 10:41 pm
 
Go away.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 18, 2015 at 4:40 pm
 
Yes, it was a real brainwave idea to have a site called ‘JW Survey’ and with an invitation to take part in it as well. This community here is like therapy I believe for some us. And it could also be encouragement for those still in the grip of the cult to have their say and not feel alone in their thoughts. We are not alone anymore.
Reply
 
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 18, 2015 at 11:32 am
 
84% do not donate, that’s a huge number statistically, that explains an awful lot.
Reply
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:07 pm
 
It would be interesting to see the ratio for active publishers. Apologies for not putting that in my previous post.
Reply
 
 
 aLittleKrunchy says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:10 pm
 
This is the first I participated in this survey, as my husband and I recently decided to be done with WT. Your website has been so important to helping me “wake up” and see that the questions I had supressed for so many years were valid, and have been asked by many others. More importantly, your site has helped me see that “apostates” are not soul-sucking boogeymen trying to lead me away from the truth. This is a wonderful community full of rational, thinking, reasoning people with a lot of love and balance in your varying views. Thank you for starting this work, and please don’t stop until people know the real truth!
Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 19, 2015 at 3:56 am
 
Welcome aLittleKrunchy!
Reply
 
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 19, 2015 at 10:12 am
 
Although you’ve probably been on this site longer than I have, what the heck: Welcome to your NEW international family, aLittleKrunchy! Here, you and your husband will find real truth, real compassion, real fans of classic non-Org-approved music, and maybe even a spritz of unconditional love (but I won’t creepily use that last part as a selling point, lol).
Reply
 
 Dblaron42 says:

 September 20, 2015 at 1:35 am
 
You mean that I can play Metallica and not get frowned down upon by my mother…. Eeer wife? And all of her lil Jay dub borg “friends” (that always annoyed me… Calling other witnesses the friends…)
Probably won’t get published since a lot of my posts dissappear into the ether….
Reply
 
 Dblaron42 says:

 September 20, 2015 at 1:36 am
 
Oh man itit worked! Woo hooo!
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 6:45 pm
 
Good one, Dblaron42. But the irritation from hearing JW’s called “the friends” PALES in comparison to them calling the Org “the Truth”. I did it a million times myself, but once I realized it wasn’t, NOTHING grated on my nerves worse than that (as far as non-life-threatening annoyances go). The survey is giving me a bit of hope that the number of people thinking the Org IS the Truth will one day take a sharp turn downward.
As for Metallica, nope, nothing has changed that will keep your wife from frowning upon it. But I won’t! In fact, Unforgiven has meant a lot to me. Many of the lines seem to describe what the JW experience has been for many. Here’s just the beginning (which you already know)…
New blood joins this earth
 And quickly he’s subdued
…The young boy learns their rules
…Deprived of all his thoughts, (etc.)
As for your comments “disappearing into the ether” (which is actually the exact same phrase that I thought of when it was happening to me), look out for anything a spam filter might take notice of, like, well, I can’t use any examples if I want this comment to post, haha. So, look out for commercial sounding phrases, and all of the stuff mentioned in the posting guidelines down below.
If your email address (your name OR the domain name) has a commercial sounding word in it, it may be good to get another one that is completely neutral sounding. I don’t mean there would be a problem with the most common free email services. I mean, if you’re using an email domain from your own biz, it could throw up a red flag. And if you try to comment too frequently over a 24 hour period, that can also send your stuff into the great beyond.
This is stuff I had to work on myself. Webmaster John Hoyle was very helpful.
Reply
 
 
 
 aLittleKrunchy says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:26 am
 
Thank you for not love bombing me 😉 love in moderation is what I need right now lol
Reply
 
 
 
 
 ThePenthouseExperience says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:33 pm
 
It is amazing that the sex tenets of JW’s primarily arose during the 1960’s sexual revolution–a response to the real world, much like we find with Christendom’s development of the tenet of the Trinity doctrine as a response to those sects developing with a view toward Gnosticism and Modalist, as well as Sabellian, views of the nature of divinity. Most of these rules developed during the time of Knorr with many a district assembly talk on “toying with sexual immorality”–outlining the “transgressions” of heavy petting (over or under the sweater action, dry humping with clothes on until he or she climaxed, etc), premarital sex with or without protective “raincoat” on the little ‘donut holder’. And, as the years rolled forward, whether or not gay husbands with JW sisters for “beards” were divorce-material or whether there engagement in natural orientation was grounds for divorce (fornication or adultery) was grist for the mill.
Interestingly, at no time was wife-beating explicitly forbidden, but it was hinted at through “a husband respects his wife.” Verbal or emotional abuse never had a ban. Likewise, rape, sexual molestation of children or women, or men, was not discussed explicitly. It was included by implication as fornication, but not outlined as clearly as some leadership had done with other sexual “sins”. It may be outlined in the Elder publication.
Dealing with our present set of circumstances, it will be interesting to see if the Elder book is revised in light of the recent legalization of gay/lesbian marriage, sexual assignment practices–male to female, female to male; and discovery of asexuality and bisexuality. Revisions regarding those individuals who wonder into the “spiritual paradise” as a legally married gay couple maybe with children, transsexual (body altered) or in the process of reassignment, etc. Penis enhancement (or reduction) surgery–in light of views on tattoos and body cutting?
Given the wide latitude some body of elders cut child pedophiles (not related to discussion of gays since gay men are NOT automatically child pedophiles as has been implied regarding some former gay GB members) and rapists, equal time would think that the judging community of JW’s should get a come-uppance with a “free pass” for anyone perceived as gay and preemptively shunned or marked. Boys who have that “soft voice” or mannerisms that are not Neanderthal enough to pass as virile, husband or elder material–banned from Bethel in the past and present, since those choice nuggets are now going to greedy married couples.
What this summarizes to is how the Watchtower community bullies individuals once they wander into its fold–most converts probably will not feel this as intensely, or able to blow-it-off and numb themselves to its effect, but for kids growing up (with coercion of join or die), the bullying through platform and community is an harassment that is unconscionable.
Reply
 
 
 david adam says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:39 pm
 
Thanks John for all your hard work,you have helped my wife and i to recover from the guilt we were having.
 Keep up the good work. David
Reply
 
 
 Dr Strabismus of Utrecht says:

 September 18, 2015 at 12:50 pm
 
THIS is the stuff to give them. Proper clear statistics based on facts as against “peak publishers” and all the other JW Yearbook nonsense. Love the caricatures of the Seven Old Fools of Brooklyn at the top of Kyle’s chart! :)
Reply
 
 
 agatha says:

 September 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm
 
sinceramente nunca imagine que mi pregunta se la estaban formulando simultaneamente tantos miles de personas en el planeta estoy avanzando legalmente con un caso de AB. INF. y esta pagina es mi gimnasio no fue facil arrear la mente
 agradecidos con mi pareja <3
Reply
 
 Robertperez67 says:

 September 18, 2015 at 3:42 pm
 
Hay varios otros citios que demuestran todos los pasos y profecias falsas de esta empresa multi billonaria. En preparar tu caso tienes que preparar bien un razonamiento inegable en cuanto a lo ocurrido. Si dejas el mas minimo espacio para duda, eso bastara para jusgarte como simplemente insatisfecha con la organizacion.
SORRY TO EVERYONE FOR THE BIT IN SPANISH, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY BOTHING LIKE THIS SITE IN THAT LANGUAGE. HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.
Reply
 
 ThePenthouseExperience says:

 September 21, 2015 at 1:00 pm
 
Google Translator works miracles…
Reply
 
 
 
 
 pearlsB4swine says:

 September 18, 2015 at 2:51 pm
 
I live in a geographically isolated community and because of that even though there are many ex-jws they keep a low profile, so this “thin slice” of the jw/ex-jw community is helpful to me.
 It helps me see that I am not crazy or alone.
 Thanks jwsurvey.
Reply
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 22, 2015 at 3:17 pm
 
You are absolutely and definitely not alone. Love your journey. Value your bravery.
Reply
 
 
 
 Lee Elder says:

 September 18, 2015 at 3:15 pm
 
Fantastic job. Great to see such wide participation. I will be studying the pdf file for some time to glean further insights. Keep up the good work!
Reply
 
 
 John Chapman says:

 September 18, 2015 at 10:45 pm
 
[John Chapman has been blocked from commenting after ignoring repeated warnings to stop posting off-topic conspiracy theorist nonsense.]
Reply
 
 
 RC says:

 September 18, 2015 at 11:42 pm
 
84% do not donate. Wow. Is this percentage of active JW?
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 18, 2015 at 11:49 pm
 
No, it’s a percentage of 5,166 voters on our survey, which includes disfellowshipped and inactive JWs
Reply
 
 
 
 Holy Connoli says:

 September 19, 2015 at 1:01 am
 
It is quite a survey for sure and shows what many feel inside the WT but are afraid to speak openly. Do you remember a few years back and possibly still current the Society was asking for “LOANS” at zero interest. They said if they could get loans at zero interest and if the donators ever needed the Money back they would return the principal to them upon request? At the time I was becoming fade and arguing a lot with my wife about the WT and it’s inaccuracies in prophecy and generally not believing their teachings anymore. Well, I accidentally found a “THANK YOU ” letter to my wife for “loaning” them $40000. US Dollars! I was shocked.
I confronted her and she admitted it so I immediately wrote to the Society and told them I never approved it and it is my money and I want it back and also ANY other money that may have been loaned to them!
Interestingly thy did send me the money back but with an explanation that they had to send it to her because she was the one who wrote the check even though it was in both of our names.It took about a month to get it back. I asked he r about it and she said she thought we may eventually separate an d she wanted to have a “secret” personal account in case of emergency. So much for the biblical headship they preach about. I wonder if I never saw that letter from the WT if they would have just kept it. Now they just tell you to send them money.
Reply
 
 
 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 September 19, 2015 at 1:01 am
 
Good article!! I like this finding: “The most disliked Watchtower teaching was the prohibition on higher education (96%) followed closely by shunning and bedroom laws for married couples (both at 94%)”!!
That has been for me a hat trick of victories as continue to win the war against the WTS which started openly in Feb. 2012.
Why do I say it is a hat trick of victories?
 1) Prohibition on higher education: I have now registered to take a masters course in Public Health starting next week.
2) Shunning: I have survived it by associating with other people and have witnesses their kindness beyond my expectations. “Unbelievers” and “apostates” can make good friends and the latter should protect the former against WTS poisoning (harmful teachings)!
3) Bedroom laws for married couples: The biggest victory as prying into my bedroom ended up in a successful divorce which was triggered by elders after they were defeated (Read ks10 “6:13”)!
A hat trick of victories, a source my pride and joy over Watchtower’s flip flop teachings!
Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 19, 2015 at 4:04 am
 
Yes, us ‘apostates’ are real meanies aren’t we? All the best with your new course.
Reply
 
 
 
 Igor says:

 September 19, 2015 at 4:11 am
 
Hello dear Lloyd, how we can translate your preparing video into russian?
Reply
 
 
 malkie says:

 September 19, 2015 at 5:43 am
 
Should the graphic show “56% are inactive through fear of being shunned”?, or is that supposed to say “56% are active …”?
Reply
 
 covertfade says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:41 am
 
The graphic is reporting on the number of people who simply remain inactive as opposed to actually disassociating or acting in a way that would cause disfellowshipping because they fear being shunned. In other words, the threat of shunning is preventing them from taking the formal step of breaking away, so they’ve taken the fading road instead.
Reply
 
 
 
 Robert67 says:

 September 19, 2015 at 8:56 am
 
Good day to everyone, just wanted to share an EX-JW video I found on my daily, who else has left surf of the interwebs. It’s great to hear the voice of someone speaking in a reasonable tone as to why they finally woke up from WT mind control.http://youtu.be/xsJnINgx3ks
Reply
 
 
 Ari says:

 September 19, 2015 at 1:06 pm
 
Thank you for this!!!
Reply
 
 
 Anthony Mathenia says:

 September 19, 2015 at 8:08 pm
 
Keep up the good work, brother! You are doing the Lord’s work. Peace.
Reply
 
 
 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 September 20, 2015 at 2:07 am
 
About bedroom laws for married couples. I want to share with you a scientific article published by Michela Fusachi, Professor of Cultural and Social anthropology. Read her on https://gss.revues.org/2571
Are the WTS different from the Roman Catholic Church?
Reply
 
 
 DJ says:

 September 20, 2015 at 10:54 am
 
Hey guys. Interesting past hour my family, who are JWs, just watched the September Broadcast. As confusing as it was and boring, my brother asked an interesting question once we were done about Russell being of the anointed. And I know he wasn’t and I know it’s because the GB don’t follow his original teachings and such but I couldn’t say it there and I wanted to so badly. I wish they weren’t brainwashed and just listen to whatever they here. Hopefully the religion ends soon, I can’t even stand the meetings hearing them talk about these events the GB has poured in their brains. An elder even told me yesterday that as a JW I need to keep progressing spiritually, and even had the neeve to say that a brother, who was a ministerial servant for 10 years, was not progressing spiritually. So apparently I’m supposed to be an elder in the future.
Reply
 
 ScotWm says:

 September 20, 2015 at 11:50 pm
 
Pastor Russell has not lost his anointed status in the anals of Watchtower theology. He only lost his previous status of being part of the faithful and discrete slave class:
“Were the Bible Students in the years that lead up to 1914 the appointed channel through which Christ would feed his sheep? No. They were still in the growing season, and the arrangement for a channel to provide spiritual food was taking shape. The time had not yet come for the weedlike imitation Christians to be separated from the true Christian wheat.” (Watchtower July 15, 2013 study edition p.19)
“During the decades leading up to 1914, C. T. Russell and his close associates did a work like that of John the Baptizer. That vital work involved restoring Bible truths. The Bible Students taught the true meaning of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, exposed the hellfire lie, and proclaimed the coming end of the Gentile Times.” (Watchtower July 15, 2013 study edition p.11, p 6).
“Despite founding the Watch Tower Society, Charles Taze Russell was not part of the Slave Class because he was not alive and serving at Headquarters when Christ made his selection in 1919.”
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/governing-body-says-we-are-the-faithful-and-discreet-slave
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 21, 2015 at 4:15 am
 
@ScotWm . GOOD Answer about Russell now no longer part of F&D Slave But is still part of 144,000 as the GB say the Heavenly class began at Pentecost 33 C.E. So every Christian from 33 C.E until 1935(Judge Rutherfords Idea) was of the Anointed Heavenly Class of 144000 But any that fell away after 1935 would be replaced by a few new anointed! But that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside as there are now over 14,000 anointed & if they were baptised at say 20 in 1935 they woukd be 100 years of age now ?? And NONE of the 1914 Generation are Alive as Fred Franz was Baptised in 1913 and died at 99 years of age in 1992 …WELCOME to the CRAZY CRAZY EVER INTERPRETATIONS of The 7 LOONY MIDGETS of BROOKLYN!!
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:21 pm
 
In the “anals of Watchtower theology”. Yep, that is definitely where WT theology comes from! Sorry to be sophomoric, ScotWm. That little spelling blooper just tickled my funny bone for being so perfectly appropriate.
Great comment, as always. And colorfully enhanced by my Pickled friend, lol.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:22 pm
 
@JB. Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated. .. COLLOURFUL!!! You should scroll down & see what I replied to ‘ LOL’ … Now that’s Colourful????
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 5:34 pm
 
First of all, let me apologize, PB, for leaving out the “u” in “colourful”. You know we yanks never did learn how to spell it properly, haha.
Secondly, YOU’RE KILLING ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS!! My guts can’t handle it! “7 LOONEY M…” Oh dear… Good stuff. It’s an honor to watch you do your thing- oops, I mean HONOUR!

 
 
 
 
 
 Queen Elsa says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:01 am
 
Sounds like the elder is teaching from Tony Morris regarding the MS speel. I know I feel the same way… I’m trying to figure out a way to break away. I have two young children which complicates things… They never want to go… Who would?! It’s boring at the meetings! But I will do it… I can’t take any more much longer… My children need a sane parent.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 10:02 am
 
I don’t know how many other tricky circumstances might be keeping you in, Queen Elsa, so I don’t how difficult a clean break would be for you. But in case it helps, I would just mention that even though it may be hard to leave now, imagine how much worse of a situation you will be in if your kids get to a point where they DO want to be there. No doubt, many people here wish they could go back in time to a point BEFORE their kids became indoctrinated, so they could whisk them away to a safer situation. But again, I don’t know your circumstances, so just let me just send you my best wishes that you can one day find a path to freedom.
Reply
 
 
 HeadacheCentral says:

 September 21, 2015 at 1:28 pm
 
I remember before fading–I didn’t have the time to slice & dice the facts. I just knew the looney stuff coming from platforms, pubs and the disconnect between idealistic statements and reality were causing me anxiety attacks and headaches galore. The disconnect between their “just-around-the-corner” bait-and-switch and reality was also a source of panic attacks when walking into the KH, but mainly what I learned from finding the root of feelings was the bullying environment was the main source of my panic attacks. It’s akin to a post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing intense threats, or bullying tactics. After sorting through and identifying all the demonic non-sense in Watchtower-dom, my attacks went away, and headaches were rare, if ever.
If someone sends me JW literature in a misguided attempt to “return to Jehovah,” the anxiety and headaches return, instantly. My life also tends to turn upside down for a few days/weeks until I purge the unclean things from my midst. I’ve learned to either politely refuse lit, or if it is stuffed into my hand, toss it or burn it as quickly as possible, if I’m not dissecting it to use as cult-busting materials.
Jehovah vs. Jesus – I know preaching isn’t allowed here, but many times well-intentioned JW’s will tout the power of prayer. I found prayer useless and meaningless. The most rewarding “conversations with deity” were those true moments of feeling overwhelmed and out-gunned and letting out a simple “Lord Jesus help me”. “Jehovah help me”–nothing. Or, those prayers about decisions to make–there’s a reason we have brains.. use them.
Reply
 
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:57 pm
 
@DJ . I AGREE that this pushing every brother to ‘REACH OUT’ to be an Elder, MS or PIONEER creates a VERY UNHEALTHY COMPETITIVE ATMOSPHERE !!! I HATE HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES which JESUS DID NOT HAVE!! WHERE in the New Testament are the TITLES.. SPECIAL PIONEER; REGULAR PIONEER; AUXILIARY PIONEER,BETHELITE; MISSIONARY;CIRCUIT OVERSEER; BRANCH SERVANTS; ZONE OVERSEER ; 7 LOONEY MIDGETS of BROOKLYN???! Come on ANYONE I CHALLENGE You .., WHERE are These TITLES in the BIBLE????
Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 22, 2015 at 5:41 am
 
Yeah, Pickled Brain. They always claimed there was no hierarchy in the JWs but it was full of it like you said. It did create an incredibly competitive condescending attitude in people. Who had a better talk? Who had the best prayer? Who got the most hours? Who got promoted to MS or elder? Who got blessed with a study? or whose studies came to the memorial? Endless, endless competition. It was enough to make a normal person unconfident and low in self esteem. It was a really bad idea with really damaging results to ordinary people.
Reply
 
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 22, 2015 at 3:24 pm
 
Follow your own integral, authentic self. You are the best judge of your spirituality, your integrity, your life. Respect to you.
Reply
 
 
 
 Catalina says:

 September 20, 2015 at 2:14 pm
 
I went to the meeting this morning. A nice family asks me to sit with them. They say they don’t like to see me sit alone. Their daughter is twelve years old. During the meeting she said she brought something for me. She gave me an ink pen she had decorated. It has pink flowers glued to it. The flowers are very cute. I like the people I’ve met at the kingdom hall I go to. They are trying to live their lives the right way. During the talk I saw some shake their heads when they heard something that didn’t sound right. But no one said anything. I don’t resent them. I know they’re lost. I feel, secretly, people at the kingdom hall would have the same opinion we see on the 2014 global survey. We’re not alone.
Reply
 
 
 LOL says:

 September 20, 2015 at 10:31 pm
 
A very biased and inaccurate survey, to say the least. By those who “claim to be” this and that. Absolute nonsense.
Reply
 
 Jake says:

 September 20, 2015 at 10:56 pm
 
Perhaps the Governing Body could be encouraged to take a pertinent survey?
Reply
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 20, 2015 at 11:00 pm
 
Apologies they did, when asking how much money an individual was prepared to donate.
Reply
 
 
 Queen Elsa says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:03 am
 
How so? Please elaborate…
Reply
 
 Jake says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:54 am
 
There have been quite a number of articles on this website dealing with the society’s financial arrangements. You can follow this by clicking on the older posts button. Of course each article and observations of are easily verifiable including letters from the society.
Reply
 
 Queen Elsa says:

 September 21, 2015 at 9:59 am
 
The above comment was directed at lol, my reply got mixed up somehow
Reply
 
 
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:54 am
 
@LOL, Jake had a good suggestion about the Watchtower doing a survey. Did you see that? Why don’t they do that? Can you think of a good reason?
Do you really think that eight million Witnesses really think that everything that comes to the Governing Body’s minds is really coming from God? Or do you think it’s possible that some people don’t believe that those people are “spirit directed” but are so scared Armageddon is coming any minute that they can’t veer away from the “ark of salvation (the Watchtower)” that they don’t dare even suggest they don’t believe that anything that comes from the Watchtower isn’t really the real “truth”?
You must realize that what comes out in the literature is coming from writing committees and those people are not “anointed” and the Governing Body only “approves” what the writing committees write so how could the Governing Body be the faithful and discreet slave?
Do you really think that people would be free to fill out surveys at their local kingdom halls and put their names on those surveys and not be punished for saying how they really feel about blood, shunning and having to fill out time slips and paying for Kingdom Halls that have already been paid for but belong to the Society?
How would the Society feel if those people put on those survey slips what they think about how when the Society joined the United Nations in 1992 and stayed a member until 2002 (when it was discovered and printed in a newspaper) that they joined in with Satan’s system of governmental rule and so were lying to the rank and file about them not being neutral but the rest of us have to be neutral?
How would the Society react if those people put on those survey slips how they feel about disfellowshipping people who have the nerve to tell the rest in the congregation that they are lying about Jerusalem being destroyed in 607 but history proves it was destroyed in 586/587?
How would the Society react if the brothers and sisters put down on those survey slips that they know that the Society is lying about covering up for the thousands of pedophiles that they hid from the congregations instead of reporting those abusers to the police but let those people roam free in the congregations where the abused had to see them being treated good and the abused were not believed? I could go on, but you get the picture?
Do you see why the Society doesn’t do their own survey and how the people on this site might have some prejudice in their answers????
Reply
 
 
 sirius says:

 September 21, 2015 at 6:39 am
 
@LOL
>>>A very biased and inaccurate survey, to say the least. By those who “claim to be” this and that. Absolute nonsense.
Errors(inaccuracy) and biases also seem to have a tendency to cancel each other out, rather than magnify each other or are you suggesting errors be removed(such as, fatigue bias in a question involving a long list of items to be assessed)? The issue of “claim to be” is laid out ad is on the table (in the open) for ALL to understand and surely it’s most difficult to prove “truth” from anyone’s data input, meaning people can lie! However, a good default reasoning would be, “of all the things to say – why would you say that?”. Perhaps it’s your biased view point that drapes your arm chair critique of the survey being nonsense, otherwise I look forward to your detailed survey objections with supporting data to this study. IN God we trust – others provide data!
IMHO
dogstar
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:16 pm
 
@LOL . I MUST SAY you REALLY IMPRESSED ME GREATLY with your IDOL WORSHIP of the 7 LOONEY MIDGETS of BROOKLYN!!! You aren’t one of the Privileged ANOINTED CLASS Are You?? You SOooooo Obedient coming on to this Website!!!
 What does ‘LOL’ stand for…’ Laughable Old Looney ” Clayton Woodworth who was one of the MAGNIFICENT ANOINTED Class & He was in prison in 1918 with Rutherford so one of The Elite GB !! He Was SUCH a SANE INDIVIDUAL!! He CO-WROTE the ‘FINISHED MYSTERY ‘ … SUCH a STUNNING HOLY PIECE of Spirit inspired WRITING when Jesus chose the F&D Slave in 1919!! ..WELL ‘ LOL’ .. You Have a Lovely Night & why don’t you Google Finished Mystery & Clayton Woodworth… ???
Reply
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 22, 2015 at 3:36 pm
 
LOL, you have the right to ask questions, explore and analyse. Do it here in this safe forum, and — of course — elsewhere. Wishing you a positive and constructive journey.
Reply
 
 
 
 Eden says:

 September 21, 2015 at 1:10 am
 
What percentage of active Witnesses that answered this survey also do not donate to the Org? That would be interesting to know.
Reply
 
 Jake says:

 September 21, 2015 at 4:14 am
 
There are a number of articles on this site that deal with the financial arrangements of the society including letters to Elders e.t.c, all easily verifiable.
 As I remember, on the main page there is an “older posts” button or similar. It paints quite a picture.
Reply
 
 
 
 Catalina says:

 September 21, 2015 at 6:02 am
 
I feel I’m beginning to understand how brainwashing works. My boyfriend is catholic and he loves the pope. I listen to him talk because I love him. Now I like the pope. The problem isn’t with my ears, the problem is with my brain. I think about it and laugh and laugh and laugh at myself because I like the pope. I really love my boyfriend a lot. He is a lot older than me. He is seventyone years old.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 8:11 am
 
Well Catalina he wears goofy clothes and a big funny hat– what’s not to like? (The Pope, not your boyfriend, lol.) No, I agree. I’ve liked what I’ve seen in this Pope too. He seems to be interested in being a reformer. After breaking away from the cult we were in, I think we can get a clearer perspective on the world. So, if someone in another religion does something to make life better for the people in that religion, we can now appreciate that person for doing something good for our fellow human beings, without us feeling dirty about it. That’s how I feel about it anyway.
Reply
 
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 21, 2015 at 8:40 am
 
I like the 96% disagreeing with the prohibition on higher education. Even as a faithful Witness, I never saw why that should be the case. On RARE occasion, educated people with good jobs would actually join the Org, and sometimes have an EASIER time: getting out in service when they wanted to, affording travel expenses to out-of-town conventions, being able to go to international conventions, being able to afford to go preach where “the need was great”, being able to contribute more, and enjoy many other benefits of a good job.
One brother I knew nearing college age was asked what his plans were by an elder. He mentioned he was thinking about a nursing degree. The elder said, “Now brother, we won’t need nurses in the New System.” And went on to not only advise against that particular field of study, but predictably against any course of study that would take very long to complete. Although I was still 100% JW at that time, I must admit, after the elder walked away, I quietly offered a different opinion to that brother.
But now we all know that the real reason for the Org’s fear of higher education is the simple reality that education is the natural enemy of cultish thinking. Membership isolation is the key to their power. Yuck.
Reply
 
 Markw1509 says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:29 pm
 
Totally in agreement, JBR. Excellent reasoning, as usual.
Reply
 
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:24 pm
 
LOL,
 If your gonna criticise, try to be specific, otherwise it’s
 just palaver. Learn from the professionalism of the
 Aussie, Royal commissions report.
10006 unreported pedophiles in the JW community,
 there. Pin point accuracy down to the last digit.
Reply
 
 Markw1509 says:

 September 21, 2015 at 2:31 pm
 
Hi Ted. Wasn’t it 1006 cases? Or am I wrong?
Reply
 
 pearlsB4swine says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:35 pm
 
I thought the figure (1006) was referring to perps not total victims.
Reply
 
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 22, 2015 at 5:48 am
 
Actually, Ted put too many noughts in there. But he’s right. It was 1006 pedophiles. Amount of cases is unknown at this stage. Pedophiles don’t usually stop at one, so we would presume there are thousands of victims just in Australia alone.
Reply
 
 Markw1509 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm
 
Wow, I thought it was 1006 cases, but if that number refers to pedophiles then the situation is worse than I imagined. Thanks for the correction, MJ.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 pearlsB4swine says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:33 pm
 
This cult uses isolation from outside opinions as a way to keep its followers trapped, and confused, like the proverbial mushroom…..kept in the dark and fed on….
So, finding out how others really feel or think about the various teachings and policies can be a real eye-opener.
 These type of surveys do serve a purpose.
Reply
 
 Robert67 says:

 September 21, 2015 at 8:21 pm
 
The investigations are getting better all the time, we have to wait a little more for the full out documentary. Found this gem on http://www.jwfacts.com


Reply
 
 Robert67 says:

 September 21, 2015 at 8:26 pm
 
This one helped me start conversations with a fellow ex elder


Reply
 
 Jake says:

 September 21, 2015 at 10:36 pm
 
Excellent and well researched indeed.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:36 pm
 
Markw1509,
 Thanks for your question Mark. The ARC, uncovered
 5000 files on children who were sexually abused by
 1006 perpetrators in the JW religion. That’s my
 recollection,
Reply
 
 Markw1509 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:56 pm
 
Thanks for that clarification, Ted. Much obliged.
Reply
 
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 21, 2015 at 3:53 pm
 
Markw1509,
 Mark check out “The Washington Post” report about the
 ARCs, inquiry. From the figures many pedo’s were allowed
 to remain in the congs, and repeatedly offend .
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 21, 2015 at 9:59 pm
 
@JB Reezner . Thanks for the Apology about the Letter ‘U’ … DAMN Yanks have RUINED the ENGLISH Language??? England has Been Afflicted with MacDonalds, Burger King,& all those Lovely FATTY,SALTY,SUGARY High Cholesterol,Diabetic Inducing Foods!! UGHh .., England is Now FULL of OBESE,LUMPY & DUMPY People waiting to KEEL over with a heart attack .The 7 MIDGETS especially MARK SANDERSON Look SO Overweight!! In the Old Testament they used to STONE GLUTTONS to death & Greedy people will not inherit Gods Kingdom! I AM on TOPIC Here as I Would like to ‘SURVEY ‘the 7 MIDGETS of BROOKLYN for the Dietary Habits ! I Think CEDARS SURVEY is BRILLIANT & Llloyd is doing a Fantastic Job . That Last Sentence might just keep this comment in the Post! Really Glad that you Yanks have got an ENGLISH ‘ sense of Humour !!!!
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 11:38 am
 
Blaming us for fast-food, PB? That’s minor stuff. You should be blaming us for PRODUCING the very REASON for Lloyd’s survey! Namely, Russell, Rutherford, etc… Without US, you’d be living happily ever after, having adopted some nice little less-destructive belief system. I’m sorry. I feel partly responsible for your troubles.
However, if your dear old King George III would’ve treated us just a little bit better 200-some-odd years ago, maybe we could’ve somehow stuck together and been happy enough to not need to invent some brain-sucking cult to make us THINK we were happy! (I’m sure my reasoning is rock-solid on that.) So, yeah, actually I blame YOU for the Org’s existence! Thereby necessitating Lloyd’s excellent survey.
Meanwhile, Ted is wondering why you picked HIS comment to reply to, lol… Sorry Ted.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 22, 2015 at 2:04 pm
 
@PB Reezner. You are Right!.. Russell&Rutherford so much more Destructive than a BIG MAC!!! Damn … you surprise me … A YANK Who is REALLY REALLY GOOD at History & has a BRILLIANT Sense of English Humour!! It’s a Crying Shame the 7 SURVEYED Midgets haven’t a sense of Humour!!
Reply
 
 
 William says:

 September 22, 2015 at 3:00 pm
 
It’s not, actually. The colonists “revolt” was inevitable. There was too much money at stake for the American “forefathers” to grant it to the monarchists across the pond.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 7:09 pm
 
William, my jovial exchange with PB was greatly enhanced by the terse injection of your controversial opinion. However, I stand by my claim regarding PB, and I’m shocked that you disagree with my well-researched argumentation of it. I suppose we must agree to disagree, good sir.

 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 7:27 pm
 
William, my jovial exchange with PB was greatly enhanced by your terse injection of a controversial opinion. Well played, good sir!

 
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 22, 2015 at 7:07 pm
 
According to the Catholic church we are all heretics anyway thanks to Henry IIIV. I gave up being a Protestant to be a JW so I am twice apostate… When I totally fade out I will thrice apostate but according to ISIS all religions bar them are heritics so that four strikes for me…. we’re all doomed Capt. Mainwaring
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 7:24 pm
 
Well, I said something nice about the Pope in an earlier comment. I hope that gets me in good. I’m just trying to cover all the bases. You know, Pascal’s Wager and what not. :)

 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 22, 2015 at 8:27 pm
 
@Tara . I LIKE YOUR STYLE!!’ I was a Protestant like yourself before I became a JW 35 years ago so an ‘APOSTATE’?!! Many times over depending on a Catholics Viewpoint!!
 @ William …. Hmmm Looks like I’ve got to go back to my History Classes!!!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 22, 2015 at 10:17 am
 
@Lloyd, I hope you do an article about Anthony Morris’ latest ramblings on jw broadcasting morning worship talk about obedience. I think there’s an awful lot to mock there.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 11:52 am
 
I second that, anonymous. That’ll be the only way I get to see it. I can’t watch that stuff straight, with no Lloyd chaser. It burns too badly going down…
Reply
 
 
 
 Innocent Son says:

 September 22, 2015 at 12:59 pm
 
@ LOL Perhaps if you took your ‘ Rose Tinted’ J W glasses off you might be able to make a valid comment instead of the driven you’ve posted. Take a good look at the Organisation you belong to and confirm with hand on heart that it belongs to God! Many of us on this site used to and now see through the tissue of lies we were fed. Anyway my friend you must have doubts, otherwise you wouldn’t be on here, so here’s to your awakening. Great job Lloyd keep it up.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 22, 2015 at 1:57 pm
 
DJ, & Pickled Brain,
 Good points about this striving for elder positions. More often than
 not the motive is prestige, not the desire to care for the flock, which
 potentially is a 24/7 job. Problems don’t just crop up at convenient
 times. And it’s the caring elders who get called on the most, this is
 something not always realised by the “Position” seekers.
In the selection process of elders and MS there is an emphasis on
 certain things, to the neglect of more important qualities.
 After the COs visit one time, a brother asked me, “How come
 I didn’t pull elder this time? he said I’ve upped my F,S, report.
Not his fault for thinking that way. That slip of paper with a special
 place for your name, ( you always work better when your work is
 to be checked,) is the barometer of your spirituality. It’s the first
 item on the agenda when considering a bro for M,S, or elder.
You can be a caring person, spending your free time caring for the
 sick in body, the depressed and discouraged. You can tire yourself
 out and willingly so. But your not a spiritual person, and your
 definitely not elder material, Unless the time sheet has the right
 figures on it. Poor selection criteria results in poor selection.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 22, 2015 at 2:31 pm
 
@Ted . As Usual you are SPOT ON with your ANALYSIS of the inadequacies & illogical reasonings of the 7 LUNATIC MIDGETS in BROOKLYN !
 Our Elder Body included one who would DRINK 4 Glasses of Wine then a Rum finished with a Glass of Port on Social occasions & then get in his car & take sisters home!! He is NOW taking the Emblems in the Last 2 years. Another of our Elders would say if you were depressed to throw away your Anti- Depressants & think Positive!’ Another Elder was going to Strip Clubs & his wife told the Circuit Overseer But Nothing was done because of the 2 Witness Rule!! APPOINTED by HOLY SPIRIT???? Of Course they are!!!! Why because ANTHONY MORRIS TELLS ME SO & DEAR OLD GESTURING STEPHEN!!!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 22, 2015 at 8:36 pm
 
@JB….. Covering ALL ‘BASES’ … BASEBALL FAN?? I suppose??? WE CALL it ‘ROUNDERS ‘ played by Girls in ENGLAND!! Anyway I mustn’t get Sexist!!! APOSTASY ivy me is Enough to Cope with at the moment!!
 Perhaps we could ask Cedars to do a SURVEY what all our Former Religions were before we became JWs??
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 9:49 pm
 
Yep, that’s a very commonly used expression here, PB, and comes from baseball. Possibly the most boring sport ever conceived by man. Tennis is the only real sport. (I specialize in offering massively unpopular opinions.)
The previous religion question could really be an interesting statistic to determine with the survey. Like, are people who were raised JW’s more likely to see the flaws in it than converts from other religions? Probably not, I’d guess. But an interesting question. I was a JW before I was a JW. Yesss, I know that’s a boring answer…
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 22, 2015 at 10:34 pm
 
I guess Q23 in the survey is pretty close to that. “Before being baptized as a Witness, how were you introduced to the religion?” (Born into it, or witnessed to.) It’s about a 70/30 split, respectively. But it would be interesting to see what the breakdown would be of the religions people came out of, and how many had no affiliation and/or were non-religious. Not a big deal. Just curious.
The survey is an amazingly good idea and a great source of encouragement. No, I’m not just blowing sunshine up Lloyd’s… nose.

 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 22, 2015 at 11:41 pm
 
@PB . I thought I would use First Name terms as we are on same wavelength? ?? Anyway TENNIS!! Before I came into the ‘TRUTHhhhh’ ??? Tennis dominated my Life …. Gave it ALL up to PIONEER & SLAVE for the 7 PYGMIES …. Sort of Close Definition to PYRAMIDS than MIDGETS??? Big FAN of CONNERS & BORG !! My Friend bought a WILSON METAL RACKET just like Connors used & I bought a DONNAY just like Borg used!!! SAD Really … Couldn’t play like them ! I wonder if CEDARS could SURVEY this …who used to play tennis before they became a JW?? This is a VERY SLIM link to the Topic discussed!!

 
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 23, 2015 at 12:17 am
 
@JBR “Covering all bases” is a term we use in the Midlands (UK).
 @PB Please be careful with your jabs at our American friends. Although I imagine they are tongue-in-cheek, other readers could find them offensive. My granddad always used to say we were separated by a common language but it can lead to some very comical situations. The only thing I don’t like about American JWs is them using the term “friends” instead of “brothers & sisters”. They are your spiritual brother & sister if you’re an active JW but not automatically your friend, especially if you don’t even know them. “Friend” is a very select term and I choose my friends wisely!
@LLOYD. As an IT suggestion, have you ever thought of installing the Forum software made by the same WordPress gurus that your site is based upon? That way you can have a whole section (or sections) dedicated to off-topic chit-chat and provide a place for this community to flourish and get to know each other better, rather than just post comments in response to posts? Just a thought and it’s free software too.

 
 
 Rosie says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:29 am
 
In Ireland there were (probably still are) three types of JWs; Catholic JWs, Protestant JWs and Foreign JWs (non-native, especially those brought over from England to “Serve Where The Need Was Great”!).

 
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:38 am
 
hey pb ! I was thinking likewise . A survey of our former apostate religions. I bet my family history would top the lot. i am a born in but my family history is laughable .We really do come from all nations and the pseudonym i use shuold give you the biggest clue! ruthlee.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 8:06 am
 
@JB Reezner& @TED @ ANONYMOUS @ @ EXCELSIOR! I HAVE Found a BIG FLAW in David SPLANE description of GENERATION! Please see my Explanation at Post by Cedars on this site on Lloyds comments on David SPLANE & Generation about JOSEPH & His Brothers !
 WOULD REALLY VALUE your ANALYSIS of what I have Written & SEE if I AM RIGHT in my REASONS???IF SO ; Could someone get CEDARS ATTENTION & maybe highlight it in a future VIDEO!
Reply
 
 ScotWm says:

 September 23, 2015 at 9:38 am
 
RE: Joseph’s generation.
Your concerns are valid. The Watchtower has tried to create yet another 120 year generation. I posted some observations under the Splane topic.
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 10:42 am
 
PB, I think you have a good argument there (if I understood it correctly). For me, the frustration comes from even NEEDING to explain to someone why the GB’s generation definition is completely insane. It’s like having to explain why the Earth is round. The resistance to simple logic by deluded people is maddening (and embarrassing, as I consider my own longtime guilt of the same mentality).
Thank you for your deeper research into the subject, my friend.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:05 pm
 
@J.B. Thank you for your KIND WORDS Too! Sorry to everyone if my returning comments have been delayed. I have just returned from a Mid-Week meeting . People on this website are so much Nicer & MORE FRIENDLY than those at the Hall . TONIGHT we had Talk by Field Service Overseer about Last years Service Report for the Congregation! We All Have GOT To INCREASE our BIBLE STUDIES as they are LOW!!! ….. Hmmmm … I WONDER WHY….. I HAVE HAD A VISION!! …. I SEE the WRITING on the WALL…. MEANIE,MEANIE,TEENY,AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION!!!
Reply
 
 
 
 Grace says:

 September 23, 2015 at 2:43 pm
 
PB,
I can’t find the comment you made about Joseph & the generation. Can you explain it again? Cause I still don’t get it. Just pretend that I’m 5 or something cause it does my head in.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:54 pm
 
@Grace . Hi Lovely Lady …, THIS IS NOT a CHAT UP LINE….. Just APPRECIATION for ALL your EXCELLENT COMMENTS that I have Enjoyed!! & You are MODEST!!
 My comments are the Third Topic of CEDARS down from this one when DAVID SPLANE ATTEMPTS to Explain the OVERLAPPING GENERATION. & He uses Exodus 1v6 ,BUT Joseph & his 11 Brothers were Born over a 30 year period starting when Jacob had his first SON at 77 years of Age & his LAST SoN Benjamin Less than 30 years Later ,which is Roughly the Same As CHRISTs Explanation from 33 C.E (when he uttered Matthew 24v.34)to 70 C.E (Jerusalem Destroyed)which is 37 Years !!Therefore SPLANES Argument is UTTER RUBBISH !!!
Reply
 
 Grace says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:59 pm
 
PB,
I finally found the comments! I will have to read it over & over to get the gist of it all. They are really good at the bwb, baffle with bulls*t theology, aren’t they.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:18 pm
 
@Grace . Yes they Certainly Are!! But I think David SPLANE is Reckoning Ohhh What the HELL majority of JWs will say Even though I can’t understand it !… The F&D Slave are APPOINTED by Jesus so they must know what they’re Talking about??! BUT Before I came into the TRUTH at 23 at Vulnerable Time I didn’t do my Research properly… BUT I Had an EXCELLENT EDUCATION thanks to my Parents who were not JWs … At ‘A LEVELs ‘ I studied PURE MATHEMATICS (Loved Analysing Figures ) & 20th Century HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY… THIS TIME I am EXAMINING EVERYTHING the 7 POXY PYGMIES Spout on TV.JW.Org … ‘WON’T BE FOOLED AGAIN ‘ is my Favourite WHO Song!!

 
 
 
 
 
 

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← 12 things we learned from Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony at the Royal Commission
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The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available
avatar 
Posted on September 18, 2015
 
2014-jwsurvey-results2014 was a big year for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and not just because it marked 100 years of the “short period of time” since the commencement of the ‘last days’ in 1914, with Armageddon nowhere in sight. (Rev 12:12)
Last year saw the organization take a further leap into the unknown by unveiling its JW Broadcasting initiative, bringing the “global brotherhood” up close and personal with its leaders for the first time.
The same year saw the announcement of a new donation arrangement whereby kingdom halls would surrender their financial autonomy and yield to a form of stealth tithing, with each congregation pledging to donate a fixed monthly amount. District overseers were also shown the door as Watchtower’s hierarchy was streamlined.
While all this was happening, an ever-growing number of current, former, and unbaptized Jehovah’s Witnesses – the silent majority – were doing something that was impossible before the age of the internet. They were quietly assembling online, and using a global survey they spoke with one voice of their dissatisfaction with Watchtower teachings and practices.
5,166 took part in the 2014 Global Survey – a huge increase compared with the more modest numbers from previous surveys (1,118 in 2011, 1,488 in 2012, and 1,751 in 2013).
Download the 2014 results PDF
Such an impressive sample has gifted us a revealing insight into the thoughts and feelings of the burgeoning ex-Jehovah’s Witness online community, which includes many active Witness “lurkers” who seek information and resources minus the Watchtower spin.
Here are just a few stats for you to ponder…
◾229 out of 5,166 voters (4%) said they agree with all Watchtower teachings and practices (only 138 of these were active Witnesses)
◾16 voters claimed to be active bethelites
◾117 voters claimed to be serving elders
◾1,599 disfellowshipped/disassociated persons took part in the survey, of which 42% claimed to still be religious
◾94% of disfellowshipped/disassociated persons are happier since leaving
◾1,603 out of 4,242 baptized voters (38%) claim to have been baptized at 18 or older
◾1,687 inactive/faders voted, of which 63% claimed to experience preemptive shunning
◾56% of inactive ones claimed to experience marital or family problems as a result of their decision
◾771 voted who were never baptized, of which 64% had family members who are JWs and 67% consider Jehovah’s Witnesses to be a cult
◾39% of elders expressed regret over a decision reached at a judicial committee
◾78% of voters think that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a problem with child abuse
◾419 voters claimed to be former-Witness victims of child abuse
◾40% of active Witness voters said they would secretly or openly accept a blood transfusion
◾237 voters said they would let their child die for want of a blood transfusion, only 167 of which were active Witnesses
◾17% of active JWs who voted believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾32% of elders who voted believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾67% of voters do not believe Watchtower should enjoy charitable or tax exempt status
◾84% of voters do not donate anything to Watchtower
◾81% of voters have heard of a Jehovah’s Witness committing or attempting suicide
◾33% of voters believe Watchtower should undergo reform, while a further 42% believe it should be dissolved entirely
◾21% of Witness voters believe apostates are bitter and vindictive, as opposed to 69% who believe some may have legitimate concerns
◾169 active JW voters consider themselves to be apostates
◾52% of those who call themselves apostates say they love Jehovah’s Witnesses, while only 2% (58 individuals) say they hate all JWs
◾53% of active JWs object to all forms of shunning, while 11% say they are shunning someone who is either disfellowshipped or inactive
◾Evolution as a false teaching was the least disliked Watchtower teaching, with only 62% voting against it
◾The second least-disliked Watchtower teaching was the rejection of Christmas as a pagan teaching, with only 63% voting against it
◾The most disliked Watchtower teaching was the prohibition on higher education (96%) followed closely by shunning and bedroom laws for married couples (both at 94%)
To help better digest this year’s figures, new JWsurvey team member Kyle Racki has kindly produced an infographic for some selected stats. If you would like to download a high resolution version of this infographic, you can do so here.
JWsurvey results infographic small
Obviously the above figures cannot be considered representative of ALL Jehovah’s Witnesses, since in order to make it as far as JWsurvey potential voters must first breach Watchtower’s strict rules regarding the internet and so-called apostate sites.
Even so, it is heartening to see ever-growing numbers of current, former and unbaptized Witnesses using their opportunity to declare their honest views about the organization and its practices. Forums and online communities are always helpful in this regard, but nowhere else is it currently possible to get such large quantities of data on the consensus among the exJW movement.
If you are wondering how you can play your part and help make this year’s survey a similar success, we would urge you to have your say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses if you haven’t already done so. At the time of writing (mid-September 2015), nearly 3,200 have already voted, but with little over three months remaining there is still a long way to go before we can beat last year’s total. This gives us plenty of time to share links to the survey as widely as possible among our friends and relatives, and urge them to take part.
Another means of promoting the survey is using the increasingly popular platform of YouTube. At the moment I am working on a special montage video along with more than 50 other ex-JWs from around the world. The video will convey a special message aimed at believing Witnesses as part of our “JWsurvey Day” celebrations on October 4th. If you are able to help us share and distribute the video on social media when the big day comes, this would be hugely appreciated.
Until then, I will leave you to chew on some remarkable survey results. And I especially want to thank you all for your overwhelming support of the JWsurvey project.
 
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 Outlookingin says:

 September 23, 2015 at 12:41 pm
 
Just a point about the change last year in which congregations sacrificed their financial autonomy, I read this in the Watchtower study article for this week: “A Kingdom Hall … cannot rightly be said to belong to any individual or congregation, whatever it’s legal title may indicate.”
I thought about this as I fell asleep. I then woke up with a song in my head. It is to be sung to the tune of “To Whom Do We Belong” from the old songbook. It is also to be sung in the style of the literature cart song, only this time, it is the KH personified and singing the words!
To whom do I belong
 It isn’t the local cong
 You may like to think that I am yours
 But think again as you walk through my doors
You gave so generously
 You built me so lovingly
 You pay for all my needs
 And tend the garden weeds
 And this you do for free
To whom do I belong
 I don’t think I need to say
 It isn’t you and that’s for sure
 But just keep giving more and more
The seven men on high
 Can rest till the day they die
 With money galore
 They want even more
 It’s in their hands I lie!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 2:59 pm
 
@OutLookingin .WOW You are Talented !! Poetry & a Song ! The WORDS are SO TRUE!! I Think APOSTATES are TOO TALENTED for the ORGANISATION as they Just Want ROBOTS!!
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 5:23 pm
 
Excellent, Outlookingin! “You pay for all my needs, And tend the garden weeds” … “With money galore, They want even more” …Fantastic.
The next project for you, or any of the other talented lyricists here: “Tithes Without End—At Last!”
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:28 am
 
@J.B. I Think you need to ‘W’ (Work on in our Loving Theocratic MinistrySchool) on SPELLING!!! It’s ‘TIMES WITHOUT END at LAST’ Lovely Song ..,, NO!! HANG ON … I Think our GLORIOUS GB Would PREFER your VERSION as the CHILD ABUSE CASES are PILING UP!!! OHhh I FEEL A SONG COMING ON …. ‘TITHES WITHOUT END at LAST’ … I’ll just Get my GUITAR OUT!!
 How about instead of the X FACTOR what about the …..The ‘W’ FACTOR!!!for Watchtower. We could have PRINCE as Lead Singer& HANK MARVIN on Guitar & ANTHONY MORRIS on TRUMPET & STEPHEN LETT on DRUMS!!
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:15 pm
 
PB, I think we’ve reached off-topic critical mass on this page (my fault, but I’m trying to do better), but thanks for your comment above. It gave me the laugh I needed today. :)
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 JBob says:

 September 23, 2015 at 2:25 pm
 
Something to think about regarding the way Watchtower logic flows off the pages.
1. God is Love
 2. God will destroy the wicked but not his material creation
 3. Human life is the penultimate expression of God’s Love through creation
Okay, why would a God of Love (who apparently is too kind for an eternity of Hell–fire variety, but okay with deep sleep) destroy life, yet not his material world which based on Watchtower logic is subordinate to humans?
Just punkin’ thinkin’
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:42 pm
 
I would say my favorite parts of the survey are Lloyd’s letter to the GB at the beginning, and then all of the personal answers at the end, but that would make it sound like I didn’t care about the actual survey in the middle. That’s not true at all, but I have read that letter several times now, lol. The ‘thank you’ to the GB for JW TV is great, and the request for more microphone time for Tony Tightpants kills me.
On a more serious note, the comments at the end in answer to the question of ‘what helped you awaken?’ are incredibly interesting.
I haven’t gotten to the end yet, but one of the many comments that were very striking to me was this:
‘It was a panic-stricken, miserable life. I left not knowing they were not god’s people– only knowing that I’d rather live one day in peace of mind, than an eternity of insanity.’
I’m glad that person found his/her way out the door and learned the real truth about the JW cult, as did many others in the survey. The INEVITABILITY of that happening more and more, and faster and faster is thrilling.
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← The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available
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More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
avatar 
Posted on September 23, 2015

Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?
Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?

Normally I don’t like to report on stories unless I have confirmation in my hand, be it in the form of a printed letter or leaked recording. But three separate sources have contacted me this evening warning of a special letter that was read out at morning worship at branches worldwide.
According to sources, the letter indicates that Watchtower could be bracing itself for further downsizing as bethel families have been warned that cuts are on the way and more branches are expected to close.
According to one source, it has even been suggested that bethelite numbers at remaining branches may be slashed to such a degree that volunteers might need to do their own laundry and prepare their own meals. (Edit: this could more likely refer to far-flung branches.) Assembly halls may also bear the brunt of huge cuts in spending.
Once I hear more I will provide updates. If you are a bethelite reading this article and you are able to supply further information, we would be interested to hear from you via the email address provided on our “contact us” page. Total confidentiality is assured.
If these reports are true, they could lend further credence to the idea that Watchtower is beginning to buckle under its own weight as the internet age continues to wreak havoc on its growth.
 
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 AL says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:07 pm
 
I feel for the volunteers who will literally be thrown out into the streets. Hopefully active witnesses will start recognizing this trend. Now that the publishing Buisness is not profitable all there is for th gb to do is cut costs and sell of lf their expensive real estate.
Reply
 
 
 HeadacheCentral says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:14 pm
 
God gave me a pink slip?
Reply
 
 
 dontknowwheretogo says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:16 pm
 
But…but…but…the end is SO close? The second generation in the overlapping are advanced in years (is Mark Sanderson advanced???) so surely MORE branches are needed for the final push…
Build more brances, print the WT every week, make it 64 pages and everyone must pioneer…whether it appears sound from a human standpoint or not!
Ok I’ll stop…
Unless it is all
Reply
 
 JBob says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:40 pm
 
@dontknow+ This is the period where the stones are expected to cry out.
I went back to look at the “no frills” layout of KH’s, the cutbacks, the video website, the UN NGO and the reduction in Bethel staffing. Painful for those who were true believers and that Jehovah blessing meant more and more buildings and more and more Bethels, but nope. Seems the young GB v3.0 is trying to veer the bOrg away from its historical path by modernizing, and elimination of the ridiculously costly printing operations. Evangelicals had satellite television channels for years prior to Watchtower, but with internet–relatively low-cost production facilities and no satellite leases or need for a fixed broadcast studio requiring costly maintenance. And, since it is virtually impossible to get a human to do a presentation exactly the way focus groups find it to work best, kiosks and video snippets on YouTube or JW tv match slick-factors with Scientology, Eckankar, local mega-churches and Mormon commercials. “Knocking” the musical headed for Broadway? Hmmm…
But, no parade through Washington, DC….
Reply
 
 
 
 Rowland Nelken says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:17 pm
 
Even the official JW figures show almost zero growth. And of those nominal JWs it is clear that many just tag along for fear of losing family and friends.
And just as car ownership continued to grow during the Great Depression, so, economic downtrun or no, will computer use build in Africa, one of the WT’s few remaining growth areas.
And a dropout rate of 66% means that the numbers of us ex JWs, active or otherwise will, eventually outnumber those on the roll.
And the
Reply
 
 
 Conan71 says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:37 pm
 
some what related here . I can report that three weeks ago within my family , the C.O. And his wife were cut as they were packed and ready for their new assignment . No reason given , ( he’s only 49 ) he was told your services are no longer needed end of line . Something’s are definitely going down .
Reply
 
 MimiLove says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:34 am
 
What country was this in?
Reply
 
 
 
 Samuel Clemente says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:43 pm
 
I remember when the Watchtower Society was self-sustaining. We would sell books, booklets, magazines, subscriptions and that will bring good income to them. At the conventions we would provide food and refreshments for a price and with the profit the Society will recover the expenses and more. Society will lend money to the congregations to buy/rebuild Kingdom Halls, etc., and charged the congregation interest on the principal it was borrowed and on and on. When I was in Bethel in the 1960s the so-called Kingdom farms would provide vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. The Bethel home in Brooklyn, N.Y. didn’t air conditioners.
 When Knorr was “overthrown” by the new governing body, they started to get rid of all the above and the contributions by the brothers didn’t keep up with the expenses. In the year 2000 in a visit to Brooklyn I noticed that every single room had an air conditioner unit. Well you don’t have to be a weather man to know which way the wind is blowing. In part I think that the decisions that the power-that-be made in the 1980s on forward, it is now reaping the consequences.
Reply
 
 
 ShunnedForLife says:

 September 23, 2015 at 3:58 pm
 
Just imagine, if Watchtower crumbled, families would be reunited, people would survive medically critical situations, Saturday mornings would be stress-free and enjoyable, people would actually take holidays without the guilt of missing meetings, and so on. So much would change for so many if J.W. Org. went down in flames.
Where this gets interesting is that they may have to mainstream or lose all. ‘Twill be interesting in the years ahead to see what happens.
Reply
 
 Raven says:

 September 23, 2015 at 6:26 pm
 
Unfortunately, the sheeple would just find another cult to get sucked into or rebuild a reformed Watchtower. The change has to come from within, just like it had to be for us to successfully leave. If everyone suddenly woke up to the fact that it is a cult and they were all duped and they just left, THAT would be the end of the Watchtower. The only thing an organizational failure is going to do is set up a new generation of martyrs, like trading the the Taliban for ISIS….
Reply
 
 
 
 Malachi says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:10 pm
 
Interesting if true, I’ll see if I can tap some acquaintances there and see what they say. I’ve heard one confirmation already from the mother of a bethelite, sounds probable.
Reply
 
 
 Kat says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:16 pm
 
imagine if the got rid of their shunning rule, there would hardly be any JW left.
one can only hope this is the beginning of the end for the WT.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:41 pm
 
@Kat . TOO RIGHT!! NEVER a TRUER WORD SAID!!
Reply
 
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:44 am
 
Too right Kat….I would leave right now and Im beginning to feel many would do the same…. that is why they wont change it…and it would be too late for some…the cult rule of shunning is evil….interestingly those crazy Scientologists do the same…its called disconnecting with them…and it is something they are under attack for.
Reply
 
 
 
 Grace Cowie Wilson says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:17 pm
 
Trey Bundey might be interested in this.
Reply
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:21 pm
 
Forget the youngsters, I’d love to see the old timers get tossed out of the Bethels! Those are the idiots who have kept this crazy outfit running and they deserve what they are going to get! (Do I sound bitter?)
 A lot of those slackers have expected to be taken care of in their old age and it would serve them right for trying to fool the people in the congregations for so long.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:39 pm
 
@JJ . NOT BITTER Just VERY HURT like we ALL Are who Have Exhausted Ourselves SLAVING for the 7 MAGNIFICENT?? PYGMIES of PATTERSON (Goes Better than BROOKLYN) We All UNDERSTAND JJ .
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:57 pm
 
Hey JJ, I just wanted to mention that my comment down right below yours wasn’t an answer to your comment. I started mine 20 minutes before I finally hit the Post button. I’m a slow writer, lol. Anyway, I’m sure there are some over-privileged Bethelites who have it coming. In my comment, I just meant that I have some sympathy for the hapless well-intentioned bro’s and sis’s who may have some hard times coming. But if it gets them questioning the Org, then bring on the pain.
Reply
 
 JJ says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:52 pm
 
No problem J.B., and thanks for the apology. I understand your sentiments and I agree with you.
 I’m just thinking of the crotchety old guys that are in the Bethels that WANTED this to be true just so that they would have some power and not have to go out and do any real work. Those are the guys that should suffer. Not the poor people who were deceived into thinking this was the way to spend your time and energy to make a difference in the world (like I did)
Reply
 
 
 
 freedom is good says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:35 am
 
it sounds good to see the start of the end of watchtower, a religion with bad doctrines when compared to Christendom if one should go with the Bible.
Reply
 
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:38 pm
 
I don’t wish suffering on the Bethelites, but on the other hand, if this thing gets handled ugly, maybe it will have a ripple effect in which JW friends and JW families of those Bethelites (not to mention the Bethelites themselves) are mortified to the point of seeing how heartless and flawed the Org is, and that it seems to be failing. Although, the GB spin doctors will obviously be in full force trying to make these changes look like a good thing. Anyway, may we all see it significantly crumble one day.
Reply
 
 Grace says:

 September 23, 2015 at 5:17 pm
 
I don’t like to see people suffer either like those at bethel or even co’s etc but there are a lot of hanger-inners that we don’t know of on the sidelines that benefit from the gravy train. It would be good to see them kicked to the curb more so. Especially those silly jw.org trinket businesses. I would love to see them grind to a halt with the r&f spending less on the cult.
Reply
 
 
 Jaak says:

 September 23, 2015 at 5:19 pm
 
Come on, they have million and millions of dollars.
Finance should not be the problem.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 6:31 pm
 
Billions. That’s why I say, may we see it “significantly crumble”. I suspect they have enough money to “exist” for a LONG time, even with the looming sex abuse cases. I think they are panicking in light of waning membership growth and so many members slipping out the back door. I think an instinctive interest in self-preservation is driving all of these sweeping finance-related changes. But the changes will be made, and they’ll still have a fortune. Just my opinion.
So I’m hoping that the crumbling will come due to a much larger part of the membership looking at all of the bizarre changes happening around them and realizing that they’re in a failing cult, led by wretched, delusional fools.
And on top of all of that, with the internet making so much real truth available regarding this cult, all bets are off.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Grace says:

 September 23, 2015 at 4:48 pm
 
Wow! They are really bracing themselves, I bet. The update on the ARC website mentions an average payout of $65k AUD per victim. The starting sum will be $10k to $200k.
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3341681/child-sex-abuse-inquiry-hears-4000th-testimony/
In the article it seems to suggest that there are 137 allegations against Jehovahs Witnesses with 1500 people waiting to be heard. (I’m not saying that all 1500 are JW’s though).
I’m not good with sums but if you times 137 x $10k, you get $1.3million minimum payout.
Pickled Brain, I need your pickled brain to correct me if I’m wrong.
Reply
 
 howard smith says:

 September 23, 2015 at 6:43 pm
 
Here are the recommendations proposed by the Australian Royal Commission http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/14/national-child-sexual-abuse-redress-scheme-needed-says-royal-commission?CMP=soc_567
Reply
 
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:03 am
 
Grace, I just read it and it said the average would be $65,000. That would severely hurt them and who knows how many more will come out of the closet.
Reply
 
 Grace says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:38 pm
 
Meredith,
Yeah that’s right. I was just giving the absolute minimum payout. I was hoping someone could play around with the figures like say for instance if 50 were compensated with the maximum amount of $200 000. That would be a $10 000 000 payout.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Kat says:

 September 23, 2015 at 5:26 pm
 
can a registered religious charity claim bankrupt.
Reply
 
 
 Garrett says:

 September 23, 2015 at 6:49 pm
 
If Bethelites get their walking papers and now are out in the real world to make a living like the rest of us, I’m sure there will be many waking up and some of those will join us and some of those might have very precious insider information that they would share, not unlike Raymond Franz. This whole downsizing and financial difficulties reminds me of that card game solitaire. Just when you think it’s going no where you flip a card that allows you to flip 2 more that leads to 4 and 8 …. And the whole thing takes off. I think we are living in very exciting times. …and I wonder about all of you.
 Who would you be willing to forgive for shunning you and who not ? Who would you take back as friends and family, and who not ?
 It might be a decision we will be making in the not so distant future.
Reply
 
 JJ says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:48 pm
 
Good points Garrett. If the right people get ‘let go’ from Bethel, or other, “higher forms” of service, it just might waken some of them up. Hopefully a lawyer or someone who knows the finances. Then some real juicy information could come out of this!
I think when this is all said and done, you would have to forgive almost anyone who was also mind-trapped in the JW Org. I would hope that anyone would forgive me. I’m not talking about some pedophile or other criminal, just someone who was deluded into believing that their mean actions were what God wanted.
Reply
 
 
 
 Ken says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:25 pm
 
The downsizing has been going on for years into this decade while at the same time there are grandiose building schemes going on . In regards to Clemente’ s comment I too remember the organization as self sustaining , since leaving in 1989 , the rapid changes started when the GB replaced Watchtower President Don Adams , unlike the ” overthrow” of Knorr , the changes were vary subtle and hardly noticed . More of the changes started in the 2000s with the decline of printed literature , and congregations were facing numerous financial issues . Which at great length Watchtower headquarters began confiscating And selling Kingdom Halls , my old Kingdom Hall was sold in 2007 and converted into a pentacostal church with a cross out side of it . I’m convinced that the JWs are in decline , there many causes besides the Internet and the news of child molestation . However I think changes are coming , perhaps real reform which will oust the whole GB .
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:32 pm
 
@Ken . YOU ARE RIGHT! We Definitely Will see ACCELERATED DECLINE as the NEWS of the CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION CASES INCREASE Especially here in the U.K. ! BAD PUBLICITY which is Now FOREVER at the CLICK of a Button Unlike years ago when a Newspaper item could be Thrown Away & Forgotten About! NOT NOW … Negative Publicity can be REPLAYED TIME & TIME AGAIN & ANALYSED in DEPTH!!
Reply
 
 
 
 Randall Watters says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:34 pm
 
Next they’ll have the Bethelites wiping their old butts. “What a priviledge, brother Needsit!” LOL
They are great at downsizing the self-esteem of even humble people as long as they can boost their own image.
Reply
 
 
 Randall Watters says:

 September 23, 2015 at 7:38 pm
 
Lifestyles of the Rich and Cultic on Youtube:


Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:45 pm
 
Randy Watters, I just had to say thank you for your voice that was crying out in the Wilderness for me. Your site ‘Watchtower News’ was so enlightening. Many thanks. You helped me leave.
Reply
 
 
 
 Tony Brock says:

 September 23, 2015 at 8:00 pm
 
I wonder how the org will handle things as their situation gets more dire. You would hope that they would try becoming more liberal, as many religions have. Unfortunately, their track records leads us to believe they will get even more intense with their control and manipulation. Will they ever go full cult? Right now they still do a good job walking that grey line between cult and religion, where they clearly have cult like practices, but don’t necessarily meet most people’s definition of a cult. As things get more difficult though, I can see them tightening the reins on their members, and uping the ante on the whole “the end is so close, you need us now more than ever” schtick.
Reply
 
 
 Michele says:

 September 23, 2015 at 8:20 pm
 
It really isn’t shocking that the Society is telling their free labor “salespersons known as Witnesses”, that there will be cutbacks. They still haven’t told the flock that they have to pay a lot of money for the people that were affected so negatively by their decision to not report pedophiles to the law. When people inside truly realize the scope of how this organization has destroyed lives, they will have no choice but to get out of Babylon the Great (pun because of their membership from 1991 to 2001).
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:07 pm
 
@Michelle . EXACTLY RIGHT are all your comments.Geoffrey Jackson said at when interviewed by ANGUS STEWART at the A.R.C. The GB might consider paying into a Fund to compensate the JW Victims of CHILD ABUSE by ELDERS & Others within the Organisation. So SAY PANORAMA is Right & there are over 23,000 CHILD ABUSERS on a DATABASE in BROOKLYN & the WATCHTOWER pays a MINIMUM of £100,000 each that is £2,300,000,000 at A Minimum maybe more ! That is £2 BILLION & Three Hundred Million Pounds!! THIS WOULD REALLY DAMAGE WATCHTOWER!!! AHhhhh My HEART BLEEDS For THEM???
Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:15 am
 
But, Pickled Brain, the GB allegedly had that database shredded. So the victims would have to come forward. Let’s hope they do. The list was actually for the English speaking world. Hopefully, in all those countries like Australia, the database has been kept intact.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Aaron says:

 September 23, 2015 at 8:33 pm
 
It’s all doom and gloom, everything comes out from the Watchtower is all negative according to your website. All your contents is sensationalize at its best and beat up, like a spoiled child who didn’t get what they wanted.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 23, 2015 at 10:28 pm
 
Well, I partly agree with you, Aaron. I didn’t get what I wanted.
I wanted to not spend my childhood terrified of demons.
I wanted to not think I had hurt God and set myself up for destruction, many years ago, when I would make the mistakes that teenagers make.
I wanted to not think that people would die, leaving me bloodguilty, if I didn’t overcome my dread of talking to strangers about how wrong their beliefs were.
I wanted to not frequently be in anguish, convinced that all of my non-JW family members were going to die very soon in a violent apocalypse.
I wanted to not see two of my dearest friends utterly devastated when their son committed suicide after being disfellowshipped because of not being able to conquer a drug addiction.
I wanted the doctor to not tell me my mother needed blood, when she had already told him she wouldn’t accept a transfusion, before she had gone unconscious.
I wanted the “Truth” to be true, but it wasn’t. It isn’t.
You might be real, or just a troll. Either way, move on. But if the same kind of pain many of us are carrying one day befalls you, come back. We’ll be here for you. And at that time you’ll understand what this place is, and why it should be respected.
Reply
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:35 am
 
Beautifully put JB….for all of us who have lived in fear and rejected the full potential of our lives because of it…. thank you.
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:31 pm
 
I’m just glad to have found you folks, Idontknowwhattodo.
Reply
 
 
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:26 am
 
What is wrong with some people? Of course it’s doom and gloom. That is what the Watchtower thrives on. Yes, just as JB Reezner put it, we wanted it to be true, but it wasn’t. If someone is lying to you then everything they say to you is wrong. They cannot be trusted. They caused us so much pain and stress in our lives that we never wanted. Sorry, Aaron but there’s nothing good to say about them at all.
Reply
 
 
 
 Julia Orwell says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:00 pm
 
Oh! A hater!!
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:17 pm
 
@Aaron . NOW BE A GOOD LITTLE Aaron (Moses Mouthpiece) and READ VERY CLOSELY P.B.Reezners comments to you !! That is a SIGN (Watchtower People Love SIGNS) of a VERY INTELLIGENT PERSON who has seen through the CHARADES of these 7 COWBOYS (American Terminology here) in Brooklyn.
 NOW Aaron you COMPLAIN about ‘DOOM & GLOOM ‘ on this Website….. Errrr … WHAT ABOUT ‘Doom&Gloom’ for over 7 BILLION MEN , WOMEN & YOUNG CHILDREN who aren’t JEHOVAHS WITNESSES come ARMAGEDDON??? .. A BIT FLIPPING RICH Coming from A SUPPORTER of the 7 PYGMIES of BROOKLYN!!!!
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:41 pm
 
PB, you should have your own Twitter thing where you could send out “Daily Pickled Brain-tweets”. I would be the FIRST to subscribe to it, my friend.
Reply
 
 
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:09 am
 
Welcome Aaron! I’ve got exactly what I wanted – freedom from a cult. I hope one day you have the same.
Reply
 
 Aaron says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:45 am
 
@ Cedars. I must admit, I have not been actively or officially involve with the Society for over the past 10 years or so. My interests in the WT is still there. Growing up in the Truth, I always hate getting up early on my Saturday morning and going from DTD. I have not had the bad or traumatic experiences like others here, so I can’t not comments on that. My drifting away was painless. My parents are still active in the Truth and happy with life. My sister and her husband are both Bethelites and very happy with life. As for me, I won’t be welcomed back to the cong anytime soon. I am happy with my life. I do enjoy reading your sensationalized and beat up pieces on the WT. It’s OK to see things from different prospective.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:50 am
 
Aaron – it’s either true, or it isn’t. If it’s true then let’s see some evidence. And I’ve been more than fair by offering to take down this website if evidence is forthcoming. If there is no evidence, then it’s no more credible than any other religion, and is hurting and even killing people needlessly. I don’t mind you sitting on the fence through fear, but don’t expect a pat on the back for evangelizing your cowardly passivity.
Reply
 
 Tom says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:56 pm
 
Wow, very uncalled for. Unprofessional.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Richard says:

 September 23, 2015 at 9:04 pm
 
I wonder how many times Matthew 22:14 will be quoted in the kingdumb hall in the following weeks. They will have a spin for this, they always do, but those on the outside know exactly what’s going on, and I for one, LOVE IT!
Reply
 
 
 Holly Chu says:

 September 23, 2015 at 9:21 pm
 
First of all, I am in process of fading. Have not been to a meeting in 2 months. But with summer vacations and conventions, my absence hasn’t been noticed enough for a “call”. But more to the point of this discussion, heard from two sources in my former circuit that we have no new Circuit Overseer appointed. They have a back up, used for times when in the past too many congregations to visit. He is now assigned to ones that I am still in touch with for the next visit.
 This is a very odd turn of events, and your post gives me great insight on probable cause. I still have my sources, and will post any updates I recieve.
Reply
 
 
 Bret says:

 September 23, 2015 at 10:06 pm
 
Confirmed it with my son who works at Wallkill in laundry. They are cutting the help departments of laundry and kitchen…
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:10 am
 
Thanks Bret.
Reply
 
 
 
 ScotWm says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:12 pm
 
Those Watchtower branch office workers who get fired can reap “joy and blessings beyond measure” now that they are able to preach Watchtower doctrine full time.
Branch Offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses Consolidated.
1. Technology has simplified the work: In recent years, improvements in communications and printing technology have reduced the need for personnel in some branches. When the branch offices closed in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, approximately 95 who were not reassigned took up the full-time preaching ministry.
2. Workers are available to spend more time preaching. After being terminated, a Witness in Africa, who was reassigned to the preaching activity, wrote: “Adjusting my lifestyle to suit the new circumstances was a challenge during the first few months. However, being in the ministry daily has brought me joy and blessings beyond measure.”
So there you go. The throwaway workers who did menial jobs for the Watchtower branch offices can now do menial jobs on the outside to support their full time Watchtower preaching activity.
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/bethel/jehovahs-witnesses-office-consolidation
Reply
 
 
 ScotWm says:

 September 23, 2015 at 11:33 pm
 
Check out this interactive map which shows the Watchtower’s multi-billion dollar, worldwide corporate empire.
You can click on the various dots on the map and a description of the asset will appear with a picture on the left. The size of the map can be adjusted to zoom in on areas where Watchtower investment properties are heavily concentrated.
For example, clicking on the red dot over Cuba reveals: “Branch office consolidated. The preaching work of Cuba is now supervised by the United States Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The red dots indicate consolidated (closed) branch offices.
Or clicking on the yellow dot in Brewster, New York reveals: “Audio/Video Production Office and warehouse complex. This industrial property sits on 11.42 acres of land and features warehouse space and adjoining offices.” A couple of pictures illustrate this lavish facility.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zLkKdokDnwBI.kecrK4Vv3voU
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:07 pm
 
Wow, fascinating, ScotWm. Well that certainly helps to put it into perspective. And imagine what that map would look like if there were also dots for every Kingdom Hall out there that can be sold anytime they want to. Thanks for this.
Reply
 
 
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:50 am
 
Too right Kat….I would leave right now and Im beginning to feel many would do the same…. that is why they wont change it…and it would be too late for some…the cult rule of shunning is evil….interestingly those crazy Scientologists do the same…its called disconnecting with them…and it is something they are under attack for.
Reply
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:53 am
 
Things must be bad, it’s not like they are paying anyone for their services, they are volenteers. Either that or they’ve spotted a problem and are ready for a radical overhaul. Either which way though a governing body member (with the whole body’s approval) has admitted they are short of cash . . Interesting indeed.
Reply
 
 
 pearlsB4swine says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:05 am
 
I must say I have seen this coming.It must cost a fortune in donation money to keep those theocratic hotels running. And what an unnatural existence for the ones who live there. I think they will eventually reduce the number of branches to a select few and the bethelite populations to a skeleton staff. And not before time the whole bethel arrangement is now unnecessary and unsustainable.
Reply
 
 
 JWChange says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:22 am
 
Excellent article Cedars……..My first post:
 Borg UK accounts are interesting
There are two key charities in the UK for the Borg. WTBTS of Britain and International Bible Students Asc. The links for the audited accounts of the WTBTS from the Charity Commission UK website are shown below. Their 2015 Accounts are about to be published, however what’s interesting is the extracts below from 2013/2014. Sorry if copy/paste doesn’t line up properly
You can get DFd for buying lottery tickets, but it’s OK for the Borg to gamble donated money
In 2013 they were happy that their flutter worked (Merrill Lynch, I think)
In 2014 they gambled on currency and lost.
Also, they had 8 months expenditure reserves in 2013, but in 2014 it was 6 months.
Furthermore, in 2014 accounts, litigation is shown as a risk. I wonder why? They are also seeking to relocate to save funds.
2013 Accounts http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends61/0001077961_AC_20130831_E_C.pdf
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31st August 2013
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Investment policy and objectives
The memorandum and articles give power to invest funds in any lawful manner having full regard to the suitability of
the investments, the need for diversification, and to be a socially responsible investor having due consideration to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The objective is to preserve capital and achieve a real return of 4% plus inflation. The portfolio had a positive performance on August 31, 2013 of 4.6%. Given the objective, and because of the necessity to retain a conservative investment strategy we are happy to have achieved a real return above the inflation benchmark of
 3.1%. To reduce risk the portfolio was diversified by currency and asset class. The trustees continue to see the wisdom in holding to the current strategy favouring portfolio diversification both by asset class and currency exposure, having adequate liquidity and investment quality.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
Although the charity has a consistent income base, the trustees have arranged to work closely with a similar charity overseas. This arrangement continues to work well. At the year-end, free reserves stood at £21,471,000 which represented 8 months of expenditure (2012: £17,056,000 and 5 months). The trustees feel that such a policy makes best use of the charity’s income, and are confident that it in no way adversely affects the charity’s ability to both sustain and
 increase its activity.
2014 Accounts http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends61/0001077961_AC_20140831_E_C.pdf
for the Year Ended 31st August 2014 STRATEGIC REPORT
Financial review Investment policy and objectives
The memorandum and articles give power to invest funds in any lawful manner having full regard to the suitability of the investments, the need for diversification, and to be a socially responsible investor having due consideration to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The objective is to balance the following issues: Preserve the purchasing power, provide adequate liquidity and provide consistent long-term returns. Over the fiscal period, the Portfolio remained diversified by currency, overweighting the US dollar and due to the charity re-location project, holding mainly highly liquid assets. During the period, the value of sterling improved verses other currencies the portfolio holds. This is reflected in the value of the Fund decreasing by 4.5%, in sterling terms, primarily due to currency effects. It is anticipated that sterling will weaken against the US dollar reversing the loss in the following quarters. The trustees continue to see the wisdom in holding to the current strategy favouring portfolio diversification both by asset class and currency exposure, having adequate liquidity in investment quality.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the charity are: Litigation; Failure to comply with legal requirements on health and safety, fire, environment, waste; Disaster in Kingdom Hall construction or maintenance. Statutory inquiry The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry.
Plans for future periods
The charity is actively seeking to relocate its facilities in order to save funds.
Financial review
 Reserves policy
Although the charity has a consistent income base, the trustees have arranged to work closely with a similar charity overseas. This arrangement continues to work well. At the year-end, free reserves stood at £24,179,000 which represented 6 months of expenditure (2013: £21,471,000 and 8 months). The trustees feel that such a policy is prudent in the current financial climate and makes best use of the charity’s income, and are confident that it in no way adversely affects the charity’s ability to both sustain and increase its activity
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:02 pm
 
@JwChange . EXCELLENT FIRST POST !!
Reply
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:14 pm
 
GOOD GOD! man you know your stuff this is amazing thanks so much for the info ruthlee
Reply
 
 
 
 FadingFast says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:26 am
 
This comment is still waiting moderation. I believe it is on topic and not overly controversial. Was this just an oversight?
Reply
 
 
 KateWild says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:12 am
 
Wt must be getting less donations. Then there is the balance of funds. The higher up the hierarchy you get the more funds are spent.
Some pigs are more equal than others
Kate xx
Reply
 
 
 eyes opened says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:17 am
 
@J.B. Reezner,
So well said! Some of your words echo those of one of my awakened children. He wanted the truth to be the truth, but it wasn’t. He has moved on and has a very happy life in spite of all our ” good intentions”. Still waiting on our other children. Which is why I tread cautiously. A high price is already being paid and as parents we’re trying not to make it worse. Your comments are filled with honesty and humor and are so good to read.
Now moving on to someone else’s comment about downsizing yet building more and more. Free labor to build a real estate empire is kinda how I see it.
Reply
 
 
 Nemorino says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:50 am
 
For whatever it’s worth, a source on another ex-JW website reported of an announcement at the Bethel Morning Worship this morning that up to 1600 Bethelites will be let go when the move to Warwick is made, and that Kingdom Hall projects are to be put on hold for at least another year, ostensibly “to focus on the preaching work,” whatever that means.
Reply
 
 
 Nemorino says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:52 am
 
For whatever it’s worth, a source on another ex-JW website reported of an announcement at the Bethel Morning Worship this morning that up to 1600 Bethelites will be let go when the move to Warwick is made, and that Kingdom Hall projects are to be put on hold for at least another year, ostensibly “to focus on the preaching work,” whatever that means. … credible, but the figure seems quite high.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 24, 2015 at 7:34 am
 
Aaron,
 I don’t understand the motivation for your slurs against Cedars
 and the info published on this site. You say your interests in the
 WT are still there. But you don’t want the physical effort that’s
 required, you prefer to lie-abed on Saturday mornings,
 ( At least we’re on common ground there Aaron.)
I wonder if this isn’t a bit of conscience salving, a way of keeping
 a toe hold, just in case you need to get back sometime .
You say you grew up in the religion, ( sorry, I recoil from using the
 word truth). Then I’m glad you were not among those pictured
 In that disgusting 1994 Awake article, “Youths who put God First”
UGH.
So exposing tragedies like that is sensational and beat up is it?
 Aw, go get back in bed.
Reply
 
 
 Nemorino says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:23 am
 
… just noticed on the Italian ex-JW website Geova.org that they’ve gotten word of the downsizing. “1600 “licenziati” (fired) and not reassigned; and of a letter which speaks openly of global “downsizing”… again for what it’s worth.
Reply
 
 
 Nemorino says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:23 am
 
… just noticed on the Italian ex-JW website Geova.org that they’ve gotten word of the downsizing. “1600 “licenziati” (fired) and not reassigned; and of a letter which speaks openly of global “downsizing”… again for what it’s worth.
Reply
 
 
 FadingFast says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:24 am
 
Does anyone know if the RTO (regional translation office) model that they are switching to includes a residence? I get the impression from the videos that these poor 3rd world Witnesses aren’t given room and board for their services. Probably working 18 hour days and then back to some tin roofed, dirt floored shack. This is pure speculation on my part. What isn’t speculation that I have seen played out repeatedly is, when the GB visit they stay with the local congregation business tycoon, of course. Every congregation has one, and despite their lacklustre service record, and questionable business practices, manage to employ a large portion of the congregation and, always have an extra plush room ready and waiting for any travelling C.O., bethelite etc.
Reply
 
 
 John Henry Kurtz says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:24 am
 
The Governing Body wants money, not spend money on workers who are not revalued with the passage of time … but with the real estate, hedge funds, venture capital and covered bonds … heaven can wait…
Reply
 
 

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← The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available
Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance →
 
More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
avatar 
Posted on September 23, 2015

Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?
Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?

Normally I don’t like to report on stories unless I have confirmation in my hand, be it in the form of a printed letter or leaked recording. But three separate sources have contacted me this evening warning of a special letter that was read out at morning worship at branches worldwide.
According to sources, the letter indicates that Watchtower could be bracing itself for further downsizing as bethel families have been warned that cuts are on the way and more branches are expected to close.
According to one source, it has even been suggested that bethelite numbers at remaining branches may be slashed to such a degree that volunteers might need to do their own laundry and prepare their own meals. (Edit: this could more likely refer to far-flung branches.) Assembly halls may also bear the brunt of huge cuts in spending.
Once I hear more I will provide updates. If you are a bethelite reading this article and you are able to supply further information, we would be interested to hear from you via the email address provided on our “contact us” page. Total confidentiality is assured.
If these reports are true, they could lend further credence to the idea that Watchtower is beginning to buckle under its own weight as the internet age continues to wreak havoc on its growth.
 
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Further reading…
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing


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← The silent majority speaks: Results of the 2014 Global Survey now available
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98 Responses to More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts

← Older Comments
 
 JJ says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:25 am
 
Here is my specualtion, which is pretty close to the other ones I’ve seen posted. (I remember how we all loved to speculate on the End of the System when we were active JW’s! “Satan is going to make the U.N. try and shut down the Kingdom Halls and we would have to go into the woods or Book Study groups.” Or “this war will lead to economic this or that” which all turned out to be totally wrong.)
 But what I can see happening is that the GB goes totally digital and closes down Bethels, KH’s, Assembly Halls and the printing work. You can get everything online and streaming. Then the GB distance themselves, after they get all of the real estate money, from the congregations. The GB just pass on ‘suggestions’ like in Russel’s Day (not his generation because that would still be now!). That way the rulers from the headquarters and remaining Bethels would not be constantly dragged into courts, where they are inevitably losing, over child custody, shunning, medical treatments, political issues and sexual misconduct. They would cut their expenses hugely while, hopefull, taking in the same or greater donations. They could still do their Conventions where they appear as ‘Special Guest Stars’ and no longer as the organizers.
 Kind of like 100 Huntley Street and not like an organized religion.
‘Publishers’ wouldn’t have to keep track of hours and ‘elders’ wouldn’t have to continually discipline people. It will be loosie-goosie with people and there will just be the mild gossip of who is doing what wrongdoing and it will be between them and Jehovah. Don’t ask, don’t tell for the elders and then the authorities won’t have to come knocking.
 It will all be New Light going back to the 1st Century Congregations with every congregation be Autonomous.
 They should pay be a consulting fee!!!
 Hey! If any GB are poaching my ideas, I want be paid and I’ll continue to work from home, part-time for you guys. I want to be an elder, with alternate CO status and a talk at every Convention!
Reply
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:38 pm
 
Hilarious! JJ the spiritual mercenary. Goes where the money is. SHAME, JJ, shame…
Great comment. Sounded very realistic to me. They’ll just keep making whichever choices best protect themselves and the money.
They say the end is coming tomorrow, but the idea of not having enough money for 100 more years is sending them into a panic. (I’m sure that point has been made many times before.)
By the way, how many predicted this money thing? My guess (seriously) was always that they would just keep spiraling further down some bizarre doctrinal rabbit hole, requiring more and more perverse acts of devotion by their followers until it all just imploded. Okay, some of that is happening, but I’m surprised that the GB’s PRIORITY now appears to simply be a run-of-the-mill obsession with money. How unoriginal.
I like my cults to be way more creative than that. Like “let’s all meet at the Hale-Bopp comet, jump on the first spaceship that comes by, and get the hell outta this doomed galaxy!”. Or, more realistically, pronouncing some everyday necessary interaction with the world or government as being unacceptable to Jehovah, and many JW’s willing to try to adhere to that, but then it all just falls apart, crushed by the weight of its own insanity. But now I don’t even think it will be anything THAT interesting. Just an eventual realization by most JW’s that the GB is simply full of malarkey.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:07 am
 
“By the way, how many predicted this money thing?”
This has been on the cards for some time. I first began noticing things were afoot in 2012…http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-watch-tower-society
Reply
 
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:30 pm
 
Nooo, man. No working at home for you, JJ. It’ll be you and the GB on JWTV every week. For you, a weekly feature: “Who’s the King of the North THIS WEEK?” Followed by “Fashion Tips with Tony Tightpants”. Next, Steve Lett gives everyday tips to make our lives better, like “How to pet a puppy REALLY hard”, or “How to ALWAYS look and sound like you’re brain is oxygen-deprived”. And then, after this one-hour show mistakenly runs 70 minutes, David Splane will come out and explain that the first 30 minutes actually overlapped the first 10 minutes of the last 40 minutes, meaning that the show had indeed only lasted an hour, just as they always said it would. And then all of you will go home happy and proud of yourselves. Yes, you have an exciting future ahead of you, JJ!
Reply
 
 
 
 John Henry Kurtz says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:25 am
 
The governing body wants money, not spend money on workers who are not revalued with the passage of time … but with real estate, hedge funds, venture capital and covered bonds … heaven can wait
Reply
 
 
 John Henry Kurtz says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:28 am
 
The Governing Body wants money, not spend money on workers who are not revalued with the passage of time… but with real estate, hedge funds, venture capital and covered bonds… heaven can wait…
Reply
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:33 am
 
If you go to Youtube videos, you have anti-Witness videos and you have pro Witness videos. I have seen quite a few youtube videos in Spanish but I can’t understand anything they are saying, but those youtube videos have hundreds of thousands of views. I am fairly sure those videos are anti Witness because there are comments below the videos whereas all the videos that are pro Witness won’t allow any comments below the videos. That says to me that if the pro-Witness videos don’t allow comments, it is because they don’t want to see anything bad said under those videos. If they weren’t afraid of bad comments, they would allow for comments, don’t you think?
Those videos have an awful lot of Spanish viewers so I think that the Spanish speaking people are getting the picture and it isn’t just English speaking people who are quitting.
I think the Society is running scared and can see the writing on the wall and it scares them and the internet is going to be the thing that destroys the illusion.
I saw another poster asked the question of who I would forgive for preemptive shunning and right now, I can’t say that I would forgive any of them. If a person had stopped going to meetings, I would never have shunned them. I didn’t talk to them when they were disfellowshipped but never for being “weak”. That is why I won’t forgive them if the Society comes clean for what it really is, which is a dangerous cult that destroys families.
We all joined this religion in good faith but we were taken advantage of and it took over our ability to determine right from wrong.
Reply
 
 
 John Henry Kurtz says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:32 am
 
From Spain. September 23, 2015:
“I wanted to discuss with you the news that has reached me through a Bethelite of Spain close friend of my father. Apparently this morning during the “morning worship” have been told that the dirt has decided to make cuts in all Bethel homes in the whole world. They even canceled some projects previously approved construction. It seems that many Bethelites redeployed as regular pioneers to reduce Bethel families. And of course, the funny thing is that they are happy, because as you have said it is not because there is crisis, or because donations have plummeted (lest you believe that the Lord has withdrawn the blessing), but to promote and enhance the preaching !! So everyone is happy … All assemblies recruiting volunteers to Bethel, people leaving their lives to volunteer in dedication to God (although most of the ones I know were to show off and pick up all the sisters who fell into their networks ). People who spent years working without pay and send them home with a hand in front and one behind, no job and no prospects, wing! Espabilad! And the others, ohhh, how wise the CG, we are in the last days and the preaching is the most urgent task we can do! Of course we must recognize that they are the kings of marketing, they are great …”
http://www.extj.com/showthread.php?26763-Recortes-by-WT&p=494028#post494028
Reply
 
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm
 
Any joy with getting hold of an official copy of that letter Lloyd? The Bethelites I know won’t even talk to me about it! 😉
Reply
 
 
 HomebytheSea says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:30 pm
 
I wonder if there is more going on behind the scenes than we know of re: the ARC or further investigations in the US. All speculations of course, but it’ll be worth watching the news closely over the next few weeks! It’s crazy how much has happened over the last few months! I don’t know Cedars, once again you’ve been spot on! You do have some amazing inside sources, however…LOL.
Reply
 
 
 JWChange says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm
 
Word has got out to mainstream pro-JW forums. Seehttp://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/23024-some-changes-announced-at-bethel/
Reply
 
 Stirring Awake says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:19 am
 
Need to be logged in with an “active publisher” account to view that link unfortunately :(
Reply
 
 JWChange says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:39 am
 
Thanks Stirring Awake. This is strange as yesterday I could see the post, but today I can’t. Some people were putting a positive ‘God’s Will’ spin, on the latest news, others seemed puzzled.
 Anyway i just thought i would register on that JW forum, but to do so, you have to swear an oath. See what it is below this post. Furthermore you have to answer questions about recent publications to prove you go to meetings, which i do not.
oath to register on JWTalk forum:
‘I understand that when I click the Submit button below, I am declaring before God and men that all the information above is faithful and true, and that I honestly am an active publisher of the good news associated with the organization known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that I both attend Christian meetings regularly and report time spent in the field ministry to my field service group overseer each month on average. ‘
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:30 am
 
Whoa! secret society oaths, handshakes… real cloak and dagger stuff. Do we have any cold war spies here that can infiltrate?
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 Dee says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:21 pm
 
Wowwwww. This is really…what is this? Exciting, awesome, terrific, scary hopeful?
Reply
 
 
 Ready 4 to Fade says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:12 pm
 
Attempting repost…Does anyone know if the RTO (regional translation office) model that they are switching to includes a residence? I get the impression from the videos that these poor 3rd world Witnesses aren’t given room and board for their services. This is pure speculation on my part. What isn’t speculation that I have seen played out repeatedly is, when the GB visit they stay with the local congregation business tycoon, of course. Every congregation has one, and despite their lacklustre service record, and questionable business practices, manage to employ a large portion of the congregation and, always have an extra plush room ready and waiting for any travelling C.O., bethelite etc.
Reply
 
 
 Fader~Blues says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:44 pm
 
Wow,appreciate reading all the comments…yes they are experts at spinning things,so as to the ? Who you would forgive for shunning,really made me think….my husband & I still consider ourselfs very spiritual & living each day in a loving way…in spite of the fact,that 97% of our family…you know think They are doing the right thing,in not associating with us mentally~messed~up ones. Well we are not into any organized religion these days,either!!but I would like to think we would welcome anyone to our home…and not impose conditions for associating,we’ve seen what becomes,from conditional love…& I wouldn’t wish that on anybody!!!
Reply
 
 
 Paul says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:22 pm
 
This may be the tip of the iceberg.
 Let’s hope that more downscaling results in a massive wake up by those still blinded by these 7 men in NY.
Reply
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:25 pm
 
has anyone thought how they will downsize the kitchens and laundry? ie who will finance the inmates food will they have a time concession to prepare meals or are the ravens going to provide ? Its a bit woolly!can you imagine those boys ironing shirts ha ha us women not so useless after all.If someone can inform me how you can run a huge outfit and not feed them please enlighten me thanks ruthlee
Reply
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:26 pm
 
P.S any word on the Chelmsford project I have a friend there but if i ask him he will get suspicious and im not ready to be discovered yet thanks rl
Reply
 
 
 Dwain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm
 
ust 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. How exciting are these times!
 Sent from my iPad
 According to three of my correspondents, in three entirely different locations, some major adjustments are to be made. A brother in Vancouver writes:
An announcement was made today at morning worship (at all branches worldwide) that there will be major changes in an effort to reduce or save costs. The primary goals of the changes are
 1) so that expenses will not exceed donations.
 2) to speed up the work.
 3) every aspect of the organization is being looked into in an effort to save money.
 4) certain projects will be cancelled or delayed.
 5) changes with personnel and departments in Bethel.
A sister in Essex, UK, who is helping with the British branch location and is linked in with the morning worship at London Bethel, says that a letter was read from the Governing Body this morning:
It basically said further to the broadcast about helping contribute more money as it won’t last forever, they are postponing, cancelling or majorly reducing all construction work, worldwide. This includes reducing bethel family drastically, and reducing the services they get while on bethel, like getting more to do their own laundry and housecleaning. All those that have to leave will be assigned to the field, in most cases as regular pioneers. It said that the governing body loves you very much and just to trust in Jehovah and make it a matter of prayer. They will follow with more information in the next weeks and months.
A brother in Argentina adds:
Building projects will be stopped and a reduction of full-time servants will be made. In addition, many Bethels are closing the dining rooms. Each Bethelite will see the morning worship from his room. For now, no more sending out special pioneers, only regular pioneers. All construction projects will be put on hold. Volunteers will return home when they finish their current assignments. The idea is to reduce costs and staff at Bethels. There will be no waiters, and meals are simplified. There will be a buffet for serving.
Do you understand this? If more pioneers are being sent into the field, the result will be more new ones coming into the congregations. And yet, the building projects are being curtailed. So, should an announcement like this surprise us? Not at all. As we get closer to the end, some decisions may be made that we perhaps don’t understand, that may seem to go against all logic. Whatever the reasons, obeying and accepting those decisions will result in blessings.
In the days to come, wait for more clarifications on what the meaning is for us. Especially, keep your eyes open for news from the Annual Meeting at the beginning of October.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:06 am
 
@Dwain Thank you for the information especially about the UK as I live here. Do you know if they are continuing with the New BETHEL at Chelmsford?? I presume they are but just reducing staff!
Reply
 
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:25 pm
 
I wonder if they will cut the conventions back to 2 days? The cost incurred at those must be considerable. If all this is penny pinching I can see it happening. After all, they can easily stream to assembly halls on a Sunday. Then the GB only have to sit behind their news desk.
Reply
 
 
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← More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
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Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
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Posted on September 24, 2015

Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance
Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance

It’s the time of year when Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide look forward with eager anticipation to Watchtower’s Annual Meeting.
Usually hosted at the Jersey City Assembly Hall (or “Stanley Theater”), over recent years the Governing Body has increasingly used the event to showcase new releases, or announce new organizational developments or understandings of scripture.
The 2015 Annual Meeting, to be held next Saturday, October 3rd, will be no different. But this time, thanks to an anonymous contact within the organization, JWsurvey has exclusive details of what will be announced.
A letter to be read to all congregations dated October 4, 2015 (the day after the Annual Meeting) outlines a number of intriguing changes that, in different ways, highlight the new direction in which the organization is moving.
Gone is the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School, to be replaced by a 15-minute session for demonstrating preaching presentations. And, perhaps more tellingly, printing of the public Watchtower and Awake! magazines is being further scaled back as the organization continues to downsize.
The full text of the letter is available below…

October 4, 2015
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: New Provisions Announced at Annual Meeting
Dear Brothers:
At the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held on October 3, 2015, several new provisions were announced.
Teach Us Book: The first provision is a new 224-page publication entitled What Can the Bible Teach Us? It is based on the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? The Teach Us book does not replace the Bible Teach book. Rather, it will be useful when studying with individuals who need to have the truth presented in a simpler manner. Besides having simplified text, the Teach Us book has the following additional features:
◾At the end of every chapter is a two-page summary rather than a review box. These summaries can also be used to conduct Bible studies.
◾At the end of the book, endnotes are provided rather than an appendix. The endnotes correlate closely with the glossary of the revised New World Translation. The endnotes clarify some expressions that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses use in our everyday conversation but that may not be familiar to the public.
◾Some of the text and illustrations used in the Bible Teach book have been adjusted.
The Teach Us book will no doubt be a useful tool that can be used to help people gain a basic understanding of Bible truth, similar to the way the Bible Teach book is used. The Teach Us book is the same size as the Bible Teach book and is similar in appearance but has a slightly altered cover design to differentiate the two publications. Printed copies of the Teach Us book in more than 200 languages will be made available to congregations as the books become available. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Sign-language editions will be made available for download and on physical discs. Web-only audio recordings will also be made available for download in due course. Please note that in due course the Teach Us book will be available for download in electronic Braille format. Requests may now be submitted for copies in embossed Braille format.
Revised Organized Book: We are also pleased to inform you that a revised edition of the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will has been produced. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Before you can access the book in JW Library, you must first download the latest version of the application. The following disclaimer will appear on the screen: “This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.” Because of the cost involved in producing printed publications, it is preferred that wherever possible, publishers make full use of electronic copies rather than requesting printed copies. However, a printed copy of the Organized book will be requested for any publisher who desires to receive one. The group overseers will begin to check with each publisher after the meeting to determine if printed copies are desired. Please note
[Page 2]
that the revised Organized book is also available for download in electronic Braille format and for request in embossed Braille format.
New World Translation (study edition): For the next announcement, please watch the following video. [Show 5:30 minute video.]
Electronic copies of the study edition of the book of Matthew are now available in English on jw.org. In the future, they will be available in the JW Library app.
Public edition of The Watchtower and Awake!: Beginning in January 2016, the magazines for the public will be published bimonthly, that is, every two months. We will offer one magazine to the public each month, alternating between The Watchtower and Awake! During January, we will offer The Watchtower. During February, we will feature subjects in Awake!, and so on. This arrangement will allow us to focus on the appealing information in each magazine for the entire month. In addition, an issue date will no longer be printed on the cover. Instead, the magazines will be identified by a number followed by the year. Why is this helpful? We often would like to offer older magazines because the message is just what the householder needs. However, the date on the cover may give the impression that the information is out-of-date. That will no longer be an obstacle. We are confident that you will offer the life-giving information in the magazines with renewed enthusiasm.
Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting: Beginning the week of January 4, 2016, congregations will have a new midweek meeting called Our Christian Life and Ministry. This one meeting will replace the three separate meetings currently being held, namely, the Congregation Bible Study, the Theocratic Ministry School, and the Service Meeting.
In connection with this change, Our Kingdom Ministry is being replaced by a new four-color, eight-page monthly publication entitled Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook (mwb). This publication is intended for Jehovah’s Witnesses and for those who regularly attend our meetings. It outlines the weekly meeting schedule and features artwork designed to make your personal reading of the Bible more meaningful. It is a workbook that prompts you to make personal notes. No doubt you will enjoy reviewing the January 2016 issue of the Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook when you download an electronic copy from jw.org or the JW Library app or receive a printed copy through the congregation. Since the workbook will not include a section for announcements, congregations will be informed of monthly literature offers by means of letters from the branch office.
Each Life and Ministry Meeting will begin with an opening song and prayer followed by comments from the Life and Ministry Meeting chairman. His opening comments of no more than three minutes will generate anticipation for the program to follow. Thereafter, the chairman will introduce the first section of the meeting, called Treasures From God’s Word. The first part in this section will be a ten-minute talk based on the weekly Bible reading and artwork from the work- book. When the scheduled weekly Bible reading begins a new Bible book, a brief video introducing the book will be shown at the start of this part. The second part in this section, entitled Digging for Spiritual Gems, will be an eight-minute question-and-answer consideration based on the weekly Bible reading. Questions for consideration during this part are found in the workbook, and the audience will answer these based on their research. The Treasures From God’s Word section will conclude with a brother reading an assigned portion of the weekly Bible reading.
[Page 3]
The next section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry and is 15 minutes in length. Three student presentations assigned to brothers or sisters will help us develop our ability to teach on an initial call, on a return visit, and on a Bible study. During the first week of every month, in place of the three student presentations, videos of model presentations will be shown and discussed to help us prepare for the ministry that month. The printed edition of the workbook is designed so that you may write your own presentation on the front page. We encourage each of you to take full advantage of the Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry section of the meeting. Doing so will help you to become a more effective preacher and teacher of the good news.—2 Cor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 4:5.
The final section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Living as Christians. This section begins with a song. The next 15 minutes of this section will consist of one or two parts designed to help us apply God’s Word. Then there will be a 30-minute Congregation Bible Study. Thereafter, up to three minutes may be used by the chairman to review the meeting and preview material to be considered the following week. Any necessary announcements may also be made at this point. Expressions of praise to Jehovah in song and prayer will conclude the meeting.
The entire meeting will be 1 hour and 45 minutes in length. A video has been prepared to help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. It is now available on JW Broadcasting in English. Please watch it if you are able to do so. This video will help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. Also, please be alert to provide assistance to any publishers who may need help to download our videos and electronic copies of our publications.
We are confident that you will be eager to prepare for and participate in this new meeting. It is our prayer that the variety of teaching methods used will enable all to benefit from the ongoing education that comes from our Grand Instructor, Jehovah. (Isa. 30:20) We send our warm Christian love.
Your brothers,
As mentioned, the scaling down of magazine printing is perhaps the most telling of these changes. In July 2013, I wrote about how the magazine reductions for that year represented a 39% reduction in printing since 2005. That figure is now up to a staggering 57% reduction in monthly magazine printing, even after factoring in increased circulation figures for the Watchtower and Awake!.
If you want to check my math for yourself, please do…
mag-reduction-stats
Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to digest this news would do well to ponder the question: “If we are so deep in the last days, and more urgently in need of spiritual food than ever before in earth’s history, why is spiritual food in our magazines being reduced? Why would Jehovah give us MORE spiritual food 10 years ago, when there was supposedly more time to elapse before Armageddon, than now?”
The reduction in printed “spiritual food” will be especially noticeable to anyone who collects bound volumes of the organization’s magazines. As the following graph shows, the equivalent of only 9 months’ worth of pages out of the original 24 months (12 months for each magazine) will be printed from 2016 onwards…
combined-bound-volume
The announcement about the updated “Organized” book also offers a glimpse at the direction Watchtower is being forced to move in as its woes deepen. Publishers have been told to ponder carefully whether they really need a printed copy of the book rather than viewing it online.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if, within the next few years, we reach a stage where printing operations are cancelled altogether and ALL material for preaching and meeting preparation is to be accessed online, with greater use of tablets or publishers printing out their own leaflets advertising JW.org.
The Theocratic Ministry School - soon to be a thing of the past.
The Theocratic Ministry School – soon to be a thing of the past.

The scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School will similarly come as a shock and disappointment to many thinking Witnesses. As I mention in the video that accompanies this article (see below), if there was one nugget of goodness in my experience as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was in the training I received as a public speaker in the Theocratic Ministry School.
Not that the Theocratic Ministry School compensated me in any way for the many years I wasted being taught lies, but at least it gave me skills that were transferable for when I left the organization. Now, even that small personal benefit has been excised by the Governing Body, who are seemingly only interested in their followers learning how to be distributors of their propaganda rather than competent individuals who can express themselves effectively.
But any sadness and nostalgia I may feel for seeing the religion I grew up in bled of all useful cultural elements is quickly replaced by joy, for two reasons.
Firstly, I have the privilege of witnessing a harmful cult entering its death throes, forced by this wondrous new age of information to downsize and implement counter-productive measures in its floundering attempts to stay afloat.
And just as significantly, I am witnessing a Governing Body that, already unable to claim control over ALL of its 8 million members (many of whom stay inside through fear rather than choice), cannot even stop leaks from the bethelites it sits down for breakfast with.
Change is happening before our very eyes, and THAT is worth celebrating.
 
new-cedars-signature3
 
 
 
 
 
 
Update: for those of you who might be wondering whether this leak is genuine, the following images have emerged on a pro-Watchtower website (jw-archive.org) related to the new “Teach Us” book. The title differs from that mentioned in the letter (“What Can the Bible Teach Us”). Also, the letter advises that the cover will be only “slightly altered” from that of the Bible Teach book, so it could be that these are only early mock-ups before changes were made to the title and appearance. We shall see.

teach-us-book
Further reading…
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on organizational downsizing
Related video…




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← More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries →
 
225 Responses to Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance


Newer Comments →
 
 Kamael Xevious says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:39 am
 
While I see where you’re coming from regarding downsizing, I was more intrigued by the “dumbing-down” of materials, relying more on simplified versions of texts and the sudden inclusion of “art work” (and with the WBTS, I use the term “art” very loosely) as teaching tools. How long will it be before the Kingdom Halls start throwing up stained glass windows, which were originally developed for the same reason? I think the GB may be trying to mainstream their religion before it’s too late and Armageddon becomes a complete impossibility given the organization’s teachings.
Reply
 
 Paul says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:36 am
 
Loyd, how do you get this information? Never mind, I’m glad you do and enjoy reading your thoughts about them. I have the same story as many others here when I escaped the JW stronghold. Needless to say I haven’t spoken to my family in years but I do have a core of ex JW’s that left when I did, not because of me but because we all knew it was bs.
Your updates and comments are a source of rehabilitation. Instead of getting flustered about my family situation, I find solace in knowing how wrong they are. Hopefully one day this cult religion comes to its own demise by its own hardheadedness.
 I can only wonder what my mother, brothers, and sisters will do once this happens.
My thoughts on what will happen to the Watchtower:
 Money dries, conflict arises, and Jehovah Witnesses will break up into 2 classes each having there own religion and separate views. One more fundamental and the other more liberal. Possibly, someone like you that leads it.
 2. Congregations will be required to buy there own high quality printers and ink with their own contibutions. This will eliminate delivery costs, waste, and save the society tons of money. This will give them a few more years.
Peace, keep up the great work!
Reply
 
 
 
 FadingFast says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:56 am
 
Our Life and Ministry and Digging for Gems, they seem to be getting more hokey, emotional and Evangelical as time goes on. Any semblance of scholarship, albeit contrived, seems to be vanishing quickly. The study aids simplified to capture “low hanging fruit” as it were is also indicative of an organization in its twilight. I can’t wait to hear my family all excited about the changes…. The celestial chariot changing direction… Yada yada. Chariot hasn’t the ability or will to change direction in the face of tens of thousands of pedophile victims of course, that has to wait for due time.
Reply
 
 freemindfade says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:14 pm
 
Took the words right out of my mouth
Reply
 
 
 
 Veaney Arteaga says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:56 am
 
Strike two watchtower ! Soon you are going to be out.
Reply
 
 
 Tipper says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:56 am
 
Only one thing to say “Hurrah!”
Reply
 
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:06 am
 
I really got excited when I saw the title. Materially not a whole lot has changed though. They renamed and restructured the meetings and are incorporating more ‘canned’ material in the form of videos but it is still 1:45 long with student assignments and some guided audience participation. There was a bit of a preview of this when they started giving the men talks with householders last year. I told the school overseer not to give me one of them, I refused to do them. As far as teaching public speaking the school was pretty worthless anyway. The only thing it did was give you a chance to get on the stage. I rather enjoyed it and rarely looked at the counsel points anyway. My talks were stellar next to the semi-literate babble that many of the students were capable of so there was rarely any counsel anyway unless the counsel point was something very specific and there was no evidence of my having put any thought into it. The fact that they always said there were 5 meetings a week betrayed their love of big numbers, there are only 2 meetings in reality.
Now, the push to get everyone online is interesting. A definite cost-saving measure hinting at financial problems, coupling this with the possibility of them cutting staff is a good indicator that they are in trouble. Reducing the number of issues reduces writing department costs since there is less to write meaning less staff is needed. I won’t even address the issue of the last days and the need for increased spiritual food, precious little of that was provided ever. The next few years will be interesting.
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:09 am
 
@FadingFast I totally agree that they are really trying for emotional involvement. This is of course because they cannot compete on an intellectual level. Videos are great for playing the heartstrings, jumbotrons are now a requirement at the summer conventions so they can show the sugary, nauseating drivel onscreen.
Reply
 
 
 
 Priscilla says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:08 am
 
As a woman, I see that with the end of the TMS, there is no room for women to give a ‘talk’. Only to do a demonstration how to hand out magazines. That was the only ‘fun’ bit for me, writing ‘talks’. Now there is nothing more to do than to just clean the toilets.
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:15 am
 
I don’t recall women doing much more than you describe ever. Good observation though, women can’t cry foul if everyone is doing demonstrations instead of giving real talks from the podium. About the toilets, c’mon, you got to push the vacuum cleaners around too 😉
Reply
 
 
 Tam Emers says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:18 am
 
I agree with you, women are marginalized more than ever with this new arrangement.
Reply
 
 
 
 alanv says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:09 am
 
Wow so many changes have occurred recently and now even more. Totally agree with Lloyd about the printing, it will be soon be an option you can do yourself if you do not have or want a tablet at the meeting. Shame the mid week meeting is still quite long, would have been nice to see just one hour for the members. Also yes I too benefited from the public speaking. It was at least something that was of benefit when I left the org. But overall, great. Watchtower’s days are numbered.
Reply
 
 
 The Swede says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:12 am
 
Btw, anyone who knows the response from Watchtower in Australia to Angus Stewart’s and the Commission’s request for the W. to pay damages, very high ones, to all the pedophile vitims?
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:19 am
 
If it was a ‘request’ what do you think they will do? They won’t pay when ordered by a court, look at the Candace Conti case, Jose Lopez. Do you think they saw a nickel yet? The Royal Commission inquiry was not a trial, it was just that, an investigation to make recommendations for change in procedures for all organizations like that. They never had problems criminalizing the victims, they won’t have a problem not paying either. I hope I’m wrong, time will tell.
Reply
 
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:00 am
 
Forgot to mention that they already backpedalled on all the things that Jackson said would be brought up for discussion – the two witness rule and the precedent in Deuteronomy where a raped women could actually get justice without a second witness, and allowing women to handle matters where men might create discomfort or undue stress in the victims. Lloyd I believe has a link to the letter that was sent to the Royal Commission. They in effect ‘thumbed their noses’ at the Royal Commission and incorporated their usual bewildering, illogical arguments from scripture to support it. Read it, it’s priceless.
From where I stand they missed the golden ring when Stewart brought up Deuteronomy. They should’ve grabbed that and run with it. But then I suppose they can’t be taking advice from one of Satan’s government henchmen. We all know where that leads…
Reply
 
 Sir R says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:24 pm
 
Could you post a link to this letter? Really interested to read it. Followed all of the Royal Commission.
Reply
 
 ScotWm says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:12 pm
 
Here is the link to Geoffrey Jackson’s Royal Commission transcript:
http://jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Geoffrey-Jackson-Transcript.pdf
And Jackson’s follow-up letter to the commission:
http://jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/STAT.0670.001.0001.pdf
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 Tam Emers says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:16 am
 
The Theocratic Ministry School scrapped? This is staggering. When I was a JW the TMS was praised as being a sign that the organization was the true religion–all members were trained in public speaking and defending the Bible and JW doctrine. I know that the emphasis in recent years has been on giving a memorized message from OKM rather than writing out the 3 point, 3 scripture presentation that I was taught to do in the 80’s when I joined, but this is really telling. Another sign that leadership might believe they are the only true religion but that they don’t believe that Armageddon is coming soon if ever.
When I was a member (and regular pioneer for almost 10 years of that time), I remember people talking about how important it was to have the Congregation Bible Study in private homes–that when the tribulation hit this is how congregations could stay together underground even under ban. I left in 2001, a couple of years later that arrangement was scrapped. That was another telltale sign to me that the leadership didn’t believe that the Great Tribulation was imminent.
Now with the TMS scrapped and the CBS reduced to 30 minutes, where is the place for deeper study in the JW church? Nowhere. It’s going from an organization where members were encouraged to do a lot of extra study and preparation, to an organization where members are encouraged to be more and more passive in their spiritual life every year.
To me, all this is damning proof that not only are JWs not expressing the true faith, but that their upper echelons ceased believing in what they are preaching years ago. I cannot believe that thinking people could see this and still want to be part of this church.
Reply
 
 
 KateWild says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:24 am
 
The new Teach Us simplified book is definitely aimed at children or vulnerable adults with learning difficulties. I am outraged at this.
Does anyone agree?
Kate xx
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:38 am
 
Outraged? Who do you think the target market is? It’s a brilliant strategy. They’ve been focusing on children for a while – get them while their young they’ll be trapped when they’re old. If you look at the Pew survey – http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/jehovahs-witness/ – you will see that JW’s are the least educated religious group in the US with the lowest income. Of course they have to dumb everything down.
Reply
 
 
 FadingFast says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:40 am
 
I agree, it’s the only audience they have left in the developed world. The only good news is that neither of these two groups have the means to support the org. financially. In my old congregation I’d estimate 75℅ are on government assistance of one kind or another. Just a matter of time before the money runs out.
Reply
 
 
 
 dontknowwheretogo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:25 am
 
More and more use of the videos too…that is one sure way to cope with the lack of appointed men to teach…just show a video!
Reply
 
 
 Jimmyk says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:30 am
 
Makes you wonder what all the Bethel construction is really for.
Reply
 
 
 JWIntellect says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:33 am
 
CHANGE…has come to the Watchtower!
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:43 am
 
CHANGE will come when they admit they screwed up and apologize for misleading millions of people and wrecking many thousands of lives. This is to keep the drones distracted by getting them amped up by a ‘new arrangement’.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:50 am
 
Aren’t you Mr Glass Half-empty! 😉
Reply
 
 Malachi says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:05 am
 
Lol, I will lead the parade when real change comes :) I’ve been around this bunch for 50+ years. I’d like to think I’ve seen and heard it all but I love surprises too! If I’m ever in the Old Country I’d like to buy you a pint though. Definitely good writing worth reading. Your emails and Twitter feed are the first things I read.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:48 am
 
There’re not really cancelling the TMS school; they still have 3 students giving 5 minutes presentations each just like we had with the TMS school. So, not sure of what you mean by the concept that they are doing away with training for public speech.
To me, re formatting the mid-week meeting is not a big deal. However, the bi-monthly magazines? They are yet again trimming down the amount of information they are publishing…. that is interesting keeping in mind how they used to brag about the abundance of spiritual food.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:54 am
 
Presentations are not the same as talks, or even readings, where the onus is on public speaking skills. Rather than honing transferable skills, the onus will be on helping publishers “prepare for the ministry.”
Reply
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:32 am
 
That’s basically what they always said about the TMS… We’ll see for sure when they provide the actual program. If that is indeed the case, than, my feelings are exactly like yours.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Chiafade says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:49 am
 
It seems to me that the inclusion of more videos is the GBs way of saying “if you want something done right you have to do it yourself”. They want to make sure that none of their ” guidance “is lost in the hands of some local elder.
 The use of technology is dual purpose. It saves money and it shows the ” young ones” that this is a hip forward moving org. Holding on to their young people is desperately needed to keep things afloat. External growth is stagnating and they depend on future JW generations(pun intended) to make up more explanations on “generations”.
Reply
 
 
 Mouchette says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:50 am
 
So more pictures (a picture is worth a thousand words) more videos (entertainment) more simplified teaching aids (is that possible?) who are they appealing to? – obviously to the poorly educated , the kind they prefer and who are more likely to be taken in.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:44 pm
 
Oh do we get a colouring page too? I like colouring at the meetings. Filling in all the ‘O’s’ and ‘0’s’ is getting boring.
Reply
 
 Michele says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:04 am
 
Ha ha!
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Muddy Waters says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:54 am
 
Wow, this is mind boggling stuff.
I liked the part about the Christian Life & Minstry meeting beginning with a part from the Ministry chairman.
 It totally made me think of Orwell’s 1984 thing with the “Ministry of Love” (representing hate and all the things they must hate, which is basically everything and anything against the Party). In same book, the Ministry of Truth was a place for disseminating lies….
Consistency, thy name is Cult….
Truly mind boggling. And what are older brothers and sisters to do, who have little to no knowledge on how to use computers or smart phones, with all this app stuff…? And all these videos… What’s up with that? Can’t have the brothers or sisters speak on their own, as we all did in the past? Might they say something not quite in line with present truth? (That expression, “present truth” always cracks me up!) Perhaps there are now too many “Awake” people in the org for them to trust what anybody might say?
Reply
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:57 am
 
Not that many years ago, our congregation had two ministry schools going every week and then it went to one every week and the other one every other week and I quit giving talks about five years ago. It was a hard decision for me and I did initially like giving talks but it got to the point where I was having to give one every few weeks and I had too much stuff going on and it got to be too stressful for me so I quit. The school overseer said he’d just assign me on every six months but I refused and quit.
What bothered me so much about it was that I had to read the school guide book about the points I was working on and then they would assign you extra assignments besides and if you didn’t do the extra assignment, they’d keep checking up on you to make sure you did the extra assignment. I decided that when I joined the school, it was voluntary and so why now am I being made to jump through all these hoops? I quit and I was really happy about it.
By the time I stopped going to meetings last year, there was only one school every week and the other one once a month, if I recall. So, I think a lot of people came to the same conclusion as I did and quit altogether. I think that was happening all over the world and so the Watchtower pulled the plug on it so they wouldn’t look so foolish with the ones giving talks dwindling down to nothing. What that would have alerted the rank and file to is that something is really wrong with the whole thing and so to me, this changing the names of the meetings is just another red herring to distract the rank and file from the fact that the Society is dying and they are desperate to save it.
Reply
 
 JJ says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:02 am
 
Good point anonymous!
Reply
 
 
 
 Chris says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:59 am
 
I agree ,the TMS has been the most helpful and maybe worthy educational tool that has been used It has helped us develop some good skills that have been beneficial in the work place.
 But this is far from the religion I have grown up in over the last 45 years.I served a good number of years as an elder ,standing down a couple of years ago because of my conscience. Like many,my whole life has been the organization from pioneering,MS, Elder. All my family and extended family are JWs and I know I am living a lie,but the world would fall in for them if I left. I have felt like this for a long time and I mean a long time, and its been very hard.But I do see light at the end of the pathway ; ), and its websites like this one that have in recent times helped and been a source of comfort.Thanks Lloyd for your work and your good humour
Reply
 
 Jimbo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:14 am
 
Sorry but its not what you think.
Reply
 
 
 
 Jimbo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:05 am
 
Sorry Lloyd but you are not witnessing the death throws of a “harmful” cult. All they are doing is embracing modern technology and therefore do not need as many young gullible young working there and yes some of the unconnected older ones. I worked at one of the largest corporations in the world and they were constantly downsizing and using modern tech to be more efficient. Why can’t the society? Less magazines? Less content, more pictures? Yes, society in general can’t read something more then a paragraph in length now anyhow. I know you want to see the religion go away but it won’t, sorry. In a few hundred years from now it will still be here. I am sure they will drop the overlapping generations and come up with the Methuselah generation some time in the future. You always want to see the worst but its not always the case.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:19 am
 
There are lots of reasons to conclude that all is not well at Watchtower. The shrinking magazines are just one omen, there are others – unless you think a GB member going on JW Broadcasting and admitting a shortfall between income and expenditure is a sign of a financially prosperous outfit? http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/is-watchtower-imploding-10-reasons-why-the-end-could-be-nigh
Reply
 
 
 
 Joanna Foreman says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:14 am
 
This qualifies as the best news I’ve read in a very long time. I agree that the Ministry School gave me much in confidence and helped me to see the importance of developing good communication skills, including grammar and punctuation, etc. So your summary of not worrying about teaching the members, but just setting them up to go out and get more members is pretty darn accurate. I am getting a kick out of watching Watchtower slowly sink into the quicksand.
Reply
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:29 am
 
What happens to the position of Theocratic School Overseer…one of the 5 most important jobs in the congregation…blah blah blah blah…..Please let this be the beginning of the end of this high control cult.
Reply
 
 
 
 Andre Brown says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:17 am
 
You know what I think would be interesting: as a JW what they would think about the school being discontinued. They would probably give a bunch of reasons why the GB wouldn’t do that. But they will happily go along with it when it’s announced!
Reply
 
 Andre Brown says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:22 am
 
* ask a JW
Reply
 
 
 
 Felipe says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:38 am
 
The reduction in printing can easily be explained away: the Internet. By itself, this reduction is not an indicator of general failure. The sweeping changes, however, are an indicator of either trouble or trying to keep up with the changing times. Also, when the WT removes “kingdom” as in kingdom ministry, and introduces “christian life”. This to me is a big indicator of mainstreaming the religion, while abandoning millenarian roots
Reply
 
 
 Jimbo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:39 am
 
Sorry LLoyd but is not what you think. The JWs will still be here 200 years from now. The new light will be the Methuselah generation. The overlapping generations will have been scarped in 2114.
Reply
 
 
 danman says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:40 am
 
It’s quite revealing that even after 35+ years out expressions like “loving provisions”, “new arrangements”, still generate old jw emotions.
I can remember the excitement regarding “new” releases at conventions. Standing in line to just get a single copy of the new red, blue, green, purple publication. Cracking it open and looking for tidbits about what was coming in the near future.
The local elders will embellish these “provisions” to sound as if the organization is indeed like a ‘chariot’ speeding toward Armageddon. Anyone not hitching a ride with it will be left behind. Sadly the majority of 8 million poor deluded members will sigh a big amen to it all.
The power of mind control is demonstrated every time these gb charlatans open their mouths. Unobserved by those who have had their minds and hearts so taken in through years of indoctrination.
Reply
 
 
 Chicamarie83 says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:43 am
 
How much simpler can the bible teach book get? I love that they are making all these changes! Hopefully it will wake up some more people. Pretty soon the only thing going on at meetings will be videos with a brief intro from someone.
Reply
 
 
 Oubliette says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:47 am
 
This is really telling!
I joined this religion in the ’80s. It’s is now completely unrecognizable. I’m glad I’m out.
Let’s review: It’s a cult!
Reply
 
 Starved says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:52 am
 
It’s feeling that way from within too. It’s not the organization I chose to associate my self with years ago. Back then, you barely knew who yhe GB was, because it was all about Jehovah, the Bible, Jesus. Now it’s about being indoctrinated by the GB, watching internet televangelism and doing whatever the Big 7 say. No different than ancient Israel with their kings and princes. But we know what happened to them….
Reply
 
 
 
 Rosie says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:56 am
 
Am I the only one upon whom the TMS has left a detrimental effect?
Although it is years ago since I was involved and gave talks, I still occasionally have terrible nightmares about being on the platform. As a young girl, speaking in front of an audience about a subject matter I had no belief in gave me little in the way of confidence, and reduced me to a bundle of nerves.
Unfortunately the legacy lives on and often when I have to talk in public the association with being on the platform at the KH (with the overbearing and arrogant School Overseer staring at me and making notes about my inadequate performance) returns and shatters my confidence so that my mind goes blank.
Maybe I need hypnotherapy to recover from PTSD?
Reply
 
 Chris says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:13 am
 
Rosie
 I used to be the School Overseer and my attitude was to be very kind to all the brothers and sisters . Encouragement and kindness so important especially when previous and subsequent TMSO could be as you say rather harsh and not qualified to teach to be frank.
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:08 pm
 
@Rosie . No Rosie you are NOT the only one… My Mother-in-Law found it VERY DIFFICULT to concentrate on Anything Else for 2 Weeks prior to the talk… EVERYTHING SUFFERED… She was SNAPPY,TENSE, ARGUMENTATIVE with Everyone because of Being SO NERVOUS until the TALK was out of the Way!! & YES We had a PIG of a THEOCRATIC School Overseer who was SO PERFECTIONIST that it Bordered on being SADISTIC!! The JWs who were best Giving Talks Hardly went on the Field Service! They Just were Fluent Speakers & KNEW IT & LOVED the LIMELIGHT!!
Reply
 
 
 yawn says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:44 am
 
To a natural introvert, it I hell. There are better ways to get accustomed to public speaking than “ok now get up there and talk while we judge you!” It still makes me uncomfortable thinking about it. Being an introvert JW is certainly “spiritual weakness” if not sin. Just another reason to hate oneself! Cult.
Reply
 
 
 Ocma says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:10 am
 
Aw Rosie. That is terrible!
 I too hated giving talks. I naturally speak quickly, and sitting in front of a Hall, filled with people who I knew were judging me, made my speech speed up even more.
 I was always told to “work on it”, very little praise given for the content of my talk.
 Towards the end, before I left for good, when I was fed up with it all, I would end my conversation with the householder by having her say “no thank you” to the offer of keeping the publication to read. I was just trying to keep it real. I never had any success in field service, so why pretend up on stage that the householder is always keen as for a r.v or regular copies of the mags?
Reply
 
 
 
 ShunnedForLife says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:59 am
 
So, If I understand this, the weekly meetings have been combined into one meeting. I’d heard the book study had been done away with, but it’s interesting that they are making things so much easier, finally.
All those meetings before, left people exhausted, with little free time to be a family.
In the end, unless they change their shunning and two witness policies, nothing much will stem the exodus.
The slick new image/rebranding does not change one iota their Pharisee-like family/life/child-destroying policies.
One thing is certain, if they do finally change tracks, they will spin it to make it look like they are being progressive.
Reply
 
 
 TheLordHumongos says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:04 am
 
The dumbing down and mainstreaming of the JW Cult….never thought I’d ever live to see this!
 What a puny cult this is now.
 Just walk away….and your life will be spared…..
Just walk away…..and spare yourself from the horror of perpetual boredom that lies before you…..
Just walk away, and spare your own lives!
 Just walk away……leave your oversized service bags and cheap JC Penny suits behind……
Just walk away……and spare yourself having to buy more gaz-o-line
Reply
 
 Mandalay says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:40 pm
 
@Thelordhumongos
Soooooo… funny :)
Reply
 
 
 
 Juli says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:27 am
 
Great news! Keep it coming! I can’t stop smiling!
Reply
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:28 am
 
This is happening quickly. . . For absent friends, Genesis.
Reply
 
 
 Da' says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:29 am
 
My thoughts on theses changes immediately went to the practical side. Will not scaling way down on print pose a potential financial issue for many worldwide in the congregations ? These devices (iPads, tablets etc) are expensive and will especially be so if they want the info downloaded. Additionally , the elderly still seem to be resistant to the Internet. I work for a major newspaper which is currently badgering its customers to go digital and they just won’t have it . Felipe great point regarding the dropping of the word “kingdom” . Moving in a different direction indeed. Now if only the length of the meetings were reduced , that’s a change all would embraced. Btw Pope Francis. Visiting the US this week , he also believes the Internet is a great tool !
Reply
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:42 am
 
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SP8rUIFE_q4
 The full horror of indoctrination:-(
Reply
 
 
 Darlene Alexander says:

 September 24, 2015 at 11:43 am
 
More pretty pictures and less text? More rejoicing at the resurrection and playing with pandas? They are appealing much more to emotion than to intellect. After all, it’s never the logic that draws people to cults, but the emotional needs/wants. Should be pretty appealing to those in poorer countries who need a reason to hope their lives will get better. Very crafty….
Reply
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:37 pm
 
Iv never ‘got’ the resurection… even when I was regular pioneering… especially after watching The Stepford Wives…. and countless arguments about ‘Cloning’….its never appealed to me as a hope because the person that was..is gone…and since I no longer believe in God…they are not in his memory either…what a load of rubbish!
Reply
 
 
 
 Mary says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:00 pm
 
“This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.”
I guess the silly asses still don’t realize that the days of hiding all their insane doctrines, rules and regulations are long gone. Cedars will probably have a copy of it before the COs do. LOL!
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:59 pm
 
I was thinking the same about the Organization book. Its was used in the ARC. I wonder if they have rushed this out with changes in it.
Reply
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:42 pm
 
Mary, pertinent point vigorously expressed. So agree with you! The GB and its hierarchical henchmen are so out of touch, so transparent.
Do hope the good-hearted ones in the Rank and File call these henchmen on it in their own individual and myriad ways — and say them resoundingly nay. I think this is evolving reality, thanks to the Net.
For my spouse and I — never part of the oppressive, repressive regime of the WT, but leaned on endlessly through 20-plus years to ‘join’ by our (actually still very much loved) family members — this increasing exposure of the punitive reality of the JW religion is welcomed.
The numerous times I have had to say, in response to ‘if you would ONLY agree to a bible study’ … ‘yes, but I have to follow your Q and A format if I do that, and I think your Q and A format is reprehensibly totalitarian! And, so, I can’t even agree with the primary notion of this so-called bible study of yours!’ And, flipping heck/expletives-as-you-wish, as a female, what the hell is the point of me joining a belief system that will immediately denude me of my inalienable, human right to speak my integral mind, simply due to the fact my genitals ain’t of the male variety?
None of what was offered was ever very tempting, to be honest, but it WAS very heart-hurting to have to deal consistently with such pressure, especially when you really liked (and later loved) the family members attempting to kick-start your putative ‘conversion’ — to try to be respectful of their beliefs, and yet live your own.
Oh well, such is experience, and trying to live compassionately and with kindness to others and ourselves; and us family members all still speak to each other and meet. So I know that is an amazing positive of all of these rather ship-wrecking-at-times 20-plus years.
Yet I know too that many others haven’t been so fortunate; and, for them, and for ourselves as well, I support with a full heart this jwsurvey forum and others like it.
Lloyd Evans, my spouse and I thank you for creating this forum. And well-deserved CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the 5,000 plus subscribers status on YouTube. Good wishes to you, your wife and little daughter.
Reply
 
 
 
 Jake says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:02 pm
 



Reply
 
 
 David says:

 September 24, 2015 at 12:06 pm
 
As “tight pants” said they are guided from heaven therefore the new changes are rock solid.
 Can God give wrong directions?
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:59 pm
 
@David . OF COURSE STEPHEN[God]LETTS CAN’T GIVE WRONG DIRECTIONS !!!!
Reply
 
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 24, 2015 at 1:05 pm
 
Well, well, well, loadsacomments! my first reaction was can’t they cut the time down. Second thought the announcements (the bit we actually listen to) is at the end of the meeting to keep us there to the bitter end. I did think they might be trying to get people to read the Bible more with the first part of the meeting. That is my biggest criticism in that we don’t read the Bible enough when we come together as a congregation and it is too rushed. Anyway as been said Christian living no mention of the Kingdom as we know it’s further away from them as ever and yes the majority of jdubs DO need lessons in Christian living learning to play nicely and be kind to sinners and the shunned would be a start. The games afoot. Maybe the dogs of war are snapping at the heels of the GB.
Reply
 
 
 San Diego says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:12 pm
 
I remember in the Proclaimers book a quote from the first edition of the Watchtower, Russell wrote some to the effect “When Jehovah stops providing the necessary funds, we will see this as a sign to discontinue publication of Watchtower.” Maybe the Governing Body will see the lack of funds as a “sign from God” to close up shop once and for good. One can only hope.
Reply
 
 

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← More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
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Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
avatar 
Posted on September 24, 2015

Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance
Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance

It’s the time of year when Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide look forward with eager anticipation to Watchtower’s Annual Meeting.
Usually hosted at the Jersey City Assembly Hall (or “Stanley Theater”), over recent years the Governing Body has increasingly used the event to showcase new releases, or announce new organizational developments or understandings of scripture.
The 2015 Annual Meeting, to be held next Saturday, October 3rd, will be no different. But this time, thanks to an anonymous contact within the organization, JWsurvey has exclusive details of what will be announced.
A letter to be read to all congregations dated October 4, 2015 (the day after the Annual Meeting) outlines a number of intriguing changes that, in different ways, highlight the new direction in which the organization is moving.
Gone is the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School, to be replaced by a 15-minute session for demonstrating preaching presentations. And, perhaps more tellingly, printing of the public Watchtower and Awake! magazines is being further scaled back as the organization continues to downsize.
The full text of the letter is available below…

October 4, 2015
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: New Provisions Announced at Annual Meeting
Dear Brothers:
At the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held on October 3, 2015, several new provisions were announced.
Teach Us Book: The first provision is a new 224-page publication entitled What Can the Bible Teach Us? It is based on the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? The Teach Us book does not replace the Bible Teach book. Rather, it will be useful when studying with individuals who need to have the truth presented in a simpler manner. Besides having simplified text, the Teach Us book has the following additional features:
◾At the end of every chapter is a two-page summary rather than a review box. These summaries can also be used to conduct Bible studies.
◾At the end of the book, endnotes are provided rather than an appendix. The endnotes correlate closely with the glossary of the revised New World Translation. The endnotes clarify some expressions that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses use in our everyday conversation but that may not be familiar to the public.
◾Some of the text and illustrations used in the Bible Teach book have been adjusted.
The Teach Us book will no doubt be a useful tool that can be used to help people gain a basic understanding of Bible truth, similar to the way the Bible Teach book is used. The Teach Us book is the same size as the Bible Teach book and is similar in appearance but has a slightly altered cover design to differentiate the two publications. Printed copies of the Teach Us book in more than 200 languages will be made available to congregations as the books become available. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Sign-language editions will be made available for download and on physical discs. Web-only audio recordings will also be made available for download in due course. Please note that in due course the Teach Us book will be available for download in electronic Braille format. Requests may now be submitted for copies in embossed Braille format.
Revised Organized Book: We are also pleased to inform you that a revised edition of the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will has been produced. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Before you can access the book in JW Library, you must first download the latest version of the application. The following disclaimer will appear on the screen: “This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.” Because of the cost involved in producing printed publications, it is preferred that wherever possible, publishers make full use of electronic copies rather than requesting printed copies. However, a printed copy of the Organized book will be requested for any publisher who desires to receive one. The group overseers will begin to check with each publisher after the meeting to determine if printed copies are desired. Please note
[Page 2]
that the revised Organized book is also available for download in electronic Braille format and for request in embossed Braille format.
New World Translation (study edition): For the next announcement, please watch the following video. [Show 5:30 minute video.]
Electronic copies of the study edition of the book of Matthew are now available in English on jw.org. In the future, they will be available in the JW Library app.
Public edition of The Watchtower and Awake!: Beginning in January 2016, the magazines for the public will be published bimonthly, that is, every two months. We will offer one magazine to the public each month, alternating between The Watchtower and Awake! During January, we will offer The Watchtower. During February, we will feature subjects in Awake!, and so on. This arrangement will allow us to focus on the appealing information in each magazine for the entire month. In addition, an issue date will no longer be printed on the cover. Instead, the magazines will be identified by a number followed by the year. Why is this helpful? We often would like to offer older magazines because the message is just what the householder needs. However, the date on the cover may give the impression that the information is out-of-date. That will no longer be an obstacle. We are confident that you will offer the life-giving information in the magazines with renewed enthusiasm.
Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting: Beginning the week of January 4, 2016, congregations will have a new midweek meeting called Our Christian Life and Ministry. This one meeting will replace the three separate meetings currently being held, namely, the Congregation Bible Study, the Theocratic Ministry School, and the Service Meeting.
In connection with this change, Our Kingdom Ministry is being replaced by a new four-color, eight-page monthly publication entitled Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook (mwb). This publication is intended for Jehovah’s Witnesses and for those who regularly attend our meetings. It outlines the weekly meeting schedule and features artwork designed to make your personal reading of the Bible more meaningful. It is a workbook that prompts you to make personal notes. No doubt you will enjoy reviewing the January 2016 issue of the Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook when you download an electronic copy from jw.org or the JW Library app or receive a printed copy through the congregation. Since the workbook will not include a section for announcements, congregations will be informed of monthly literature offers by means of letters from the branch office.
Each Life and Ministry Meeting will begin with an opening song and prayer followed by comments from the Life and Ministry Meeting chairman. His opening comments of no more than three minutes will generate anticipation for the program to follow. Thereafter, the chairman will introduce the first section of the meeting, called Treasures From God’s Word. The first part in this section will be a ten-minute talk based on the weekly Bible reading and artwork from the work- book. When the scheduled weekly Bible reading begins a new Bible book, a brief video introducing the book will be shown at the start of this part. The second part in this section, entitled Digging for Spiritual Gems, will be an eight-minute question-and-answer consideration based on the weekly Bible reading. Questions for consideration during this part are found in the workbook, and the audience will answer these based on their research. The Treasures From God’s Word section will conclude with a brother reading an assigned portion of the weekly Bible reading.
[Page 3]
The next section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry and is 15 minutes in length. Three student presentations assigned to brothers or sisters will help us develop our ability to teach on an initial call, on a return visit, and on a Bible study. During the first week of every month, in place of the three student presentations, videos of model presentations will be shown and discussed to help us prepare for the ministry that month. The printed edition of the workbook is designed so that you may write your own presentation on the front page. We encourage each of you to take full advantage of the Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry section of the meeting. Doing so will help you to become a more effective preacher and teacher of the good news.—2 Cor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 4:5.
The final section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Living as Christians. This section begins with a song. The next 15 minutes of this section will consist of one or two parts designed to help us apply God’s Word. Then there will be a 30-minute Congregation Bible Study. Thereafter, up to three minutes may be used by the chairman to review the meeting and preview material to be considered the following week. Any necessary announcements may also be made at this point. Expressions of praise to Jehovah in song and prayer will conclude the meeting.
The entire meeting will be 1 hour and 45 minutes in length. A video has been prepared to help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. It is now available on JW Broadcasting in English. Please watch it if you are able to do so. This video will help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. Also, please be alert to provide assistance to any publishers who may need help to download our videos and electronic copies of our publications.
We are confident that you will be eager to prepare for and participate in this new meeting. It is our prayer that the variety of teaching methods used will enable all to benefit from the ongoing education that comes from our Grand Instructor, Jehovah. (Isa. 30:20) We send our warm Christian love.
Your brothers,
As mentioned, the scaling down of magazine printing is perhaps the most telling of these changes. In July 2013, I wrote about how the magazine reductions for that year represented a 39% reduction in printing since 2005. That figure is now up to a staggering 57% reduction in monthly magazine printing, even after factoring in increased circulation figures for the Watchtower and Awake!.
If you want to check my math for yourself, please do…
mag-reduction-stats
Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to digest this news would do well to ponder the question: “If we are so deep in the last days, and more urgently in need of spiritual food than ever before in earth’s history, why is spiritual food in our magazines being reduced? Why would Jehovah give us MORE spiritual food 10 years ago, when there was supposedly more time to elapse before Armageddon, than now?”
The reduction in printed “spiritual food” will be especially noticeable to anyone who collects bound volumes of the organization’s magazines. As the following graph shows, the equivalent of only 9 months’ worth of pages out of the original 24 months (12 months for each magazine) will be printed from 2016 onwards…
combined-bound-volume
The announcement about the updated “Organized” book also offers a glimpse at the direction Watchtower is being forced to move in as its woes deepen. Publishers have been told to ponder carefully whether they really need a printed copy of the book rather than viewing it online.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if, within the next few years, we reach a stage where printing operations are cancelled altogether and ALL material for preaching and meeting preparation is to be accessed online, with greater use of tablets or publishers printing out their own leaflets advertising JW.org.
The Theocratic Ministry School - soon to be a thing of the past.
The Theocratic Ministry School – soon to be a thing of the past.

The scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School will similarly come as a shock and disappointment to many thinking Witnesses. As I mention in the video that accompanies this article (see below), if there was one nugget of goodness in my experience as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was in the training I received as a public speaker in the Theocratic Ministry School.
Not that the Theocratic Ministry School compensated me in any way for the many years I wasted being taught lies, but at least it gave me skills that were transferable for when I left the organization. Now, even that small personal benefit has been excised by the Governing Body, who are seemingly only interested in their followers learning how to be distributors of their propaganda rather than competent individuals who can express themselves effectively.
But any sadness and nostalgia I may feel for seeing the religion I grew up in bled of all useful cultural elements is quickly replaced by joy, for two reasons.
Firstly, I have the privilege of witnessing a harmful cult entering its death throes, forced by this wondrous new age of information to downsize and implement counter-productive measures in its floundering attempts to stay afloat.
And just as significantly, I am witnessing a Governing Body that, already unable to claim control over ALL of its 8 million members (many of whom stay inside through fear rather than choice), cannot even stop leaks from the bethelites it sits down for breakfast with.
Change is happening before our very eyes, and THAT is worth celebrating.
 
new-cedars-signature3
 
 
 
 
 
 
Update: for those of you who might be wondering whether this leak is genuine, the following images have emerged on a pro-Watchtower website (jw-archive.org) related to the new “Teach Us” book. The title differs from that mentioned in the letter (“What Can the Bible Teach Us”). Also, the letter advises that the cover will be only “slightly altered” from that of the Bible Teach book, so it could be that these are only early mock-ups before changes were made to the title and appearance. We shall see.

teach-us-book
Further reading…
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on organizational downsizing
Related video…




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← More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries →
 
225 Responses to Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance

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 ShunnedForLife says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:13 pm
 
They did two things wrong which are sounding their death knell: 1. printing voluminous materials when all they needed was the Bible, 2. trying to so strictly control members and every facet of their lives.
They are changing the former: downsizing on materials, which will save on costs.
Now, imagine if the Gov Body relented and told members they were free to socialize with family members who have left. Imagine the family reunions; imagine the joy. If they turned around and stopped all the legalistic, controlling nonsense, what a joyous new day it would be. Other religions allow for this and they have survived.
The Damage is Evident:
 They have left a damning paper trail so are also trying to cover themselves by reducing what is printed; their bad fruitage (shunning, unmerciful policies, risky medical dictates) has caught up with them in an upwardly mobile and vocal world. The old silencing tactics are no longer working and they are being exposed for their dangerous, psychologically abusive practices.
Reply
 
 
 Sister drifter UK says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:41 pm
 
It would not be possible to have a change of thought on shunning.
 Too many have been obedient on this issue too long.
 They would lose too many that way.
 There may well be reunions but there would also be a massive amount of resentment due to time that has been lost and years wasted.
Reply
 
 
 Garrett says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:44 pm
 
“The sky that came in out of the cold”
I love this cloak and dagger stuff with insiders in Bethel helping us out. I hope there are trench coats, brief cases, collars turned up and slow burning cigarettes under the street lamp while waiting for a contact.
 I hereby name the secret agent “Rapunzel” because they are a mystery, yet beautiful to us but locked up high in a Tower. If there are more than one Bethel agent they can take on the name Gandalf as he was locked in the tower by Saruman and Galileo as he was under house arrest by the church.
 CANT WAIT to meet these individuals on the inside when this cult collapses.
Reply
 
 Garrett says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:45 pm
 
Ugh.. Spell correct.. It should have said..
 The SPY that came in….
Reply
 
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:46 pm
 
I like Felipe’s point about dropping the word Kingdom from
 the K,Min, and replacing it with “Our Christian Life & Ministry”
Indicating a swing to mainstream religion.
That word kingdom is imprinted on the JW mind as strongly
 as the name Jehovah ( strangely not Jesus the model for the
 Christian life.) It seems now, the Kingdom ( or rather its absence )
 has become like some embarrassing episode in your life, that
 you prefer to forget.
Is it too fantastic to conjecture that they could make a complete
 transition to mainstream, and assign the great crowd a heavenly
 destination, albeit in a lesser position than the 144,000.
 Wasn’t that Russell’s original view? Eph. 4:4-6 would support
 that.
And of course it would convey the idea that you’ve got keep on
 for life, and not expect some imminent new world.
 The Mormons do very well out of that dogma. And the org, has
 already adopted their method of eliciting funds directly from
 the sheep ,or should that read fleecing. Time will answer.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:55 am
 
@Ted I like the points you made about the Great Crowd maybe going to heaven Like RUSSELL taught & only changed in 1935 by Rutherford!! WELL it Was STRANGE a Few weeks ago in Watchtower Study the Word ‘PARADISE ‘ was Discussed & the GREEK meaning & it was Admitted it CAN Refer to ….. ‘HEAVEN!!!!’ As in Revelation ch. 2v7 ! There are only 3 Mentions of PARADISE in Greek Scriptures the other 2 at Luke 23v43 and 2Cor 12v4 . So YOU Could be RIGHT Ted !! I Think I am going to PROMOTE you TED to the 8th Governing Body Member as you have Great Insight!
 FANCY the JOB?? COMES with FREE LUXURY ACCOMMODATION by the Lake ; FREE New CAR & Maintenance; Free Food & Cooks & Cleaners; Free ROLEX Watches & Pinky Rings!!!
Reply
 
 
 
 sammy says:

 September 24, 2015 at 2:58 pm
 
The translation of this page in frenchhttp://www.jehovahforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1012
thanks
Reply
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:08 pm
 
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it,
 I’m about to loose control and I think I like it :)
Ding dong Watchtowers gone….
They have dug their own grave now.
 I haven’t been on the school in years. The same old faces always did the talks and others who didn’t fit in were never given slips. Two years of not even being asked to be a householder. I can’t afford an ipad so rely on the old fashioned way. Bummer when it comes to the new songs lol. I just get to stand there and look stupid while everyone is singing… oh dear, how sad, never mind.
Reply
 
 
 Jeffreycanning says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:14 pm
 
E-haa. Not sure if ehaa is a world wide exclamation of joy or jus an Aussie thing… Hopefully the beginning of the end for them and not us…
Reply
 
 
 Cedars says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:47 pm
 
The video I filmed earlier to accompany this article is now up on YouTube! :)



Reply
 
 Garrett says:

 September 24, 2015 at 4:49 pm
 
Outstanding job on the video Lloyd!
 The last bit where you address the governing body to their faces was the best segment of video I have ever seen you do. The GB must have felt they were looking down the barrel of a gun.
 Bravo!!!
Reply
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 24, 2015 at 9:07 pm
 
Excellent :) but your message to the Governing Borg. was priceless. Wow I had goosebumps. BTW you have very pretty eyes… lol
Reply
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 25, 2015 at 5:56 am
 
What a powerful video, Lloyd. Found it very encouraging. Financial crisis is writ large and clear over this Organisation now.
Thanks again for your inspirational activism.
Reply
 
 
 
 Jc says:

 September 24, 2015 at 3:56 pm
 
I wonder how long before they rename the KINGDOM halls to Christian-Dom-Hall’s?
Reply
 
 
 kofybean says:

 September 24, 2015 at 4:14 pm
 
Without the TMS, they will have less gender inequality complaints levied against them. So that’s a plus. The reduction of printing is a wise move economically, though the entire point of the WTS was printing, so over all, idk if that is a good sign.
It seems the WTS is running things like a business, which seems reasonable if there wasn’t this pesky notion they are God’s spirit direction organization, rather than CEO Jehovah’s fortune 500 company.
Reply
 
 Meredith J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:42 am
 
Then what else could we expect. They are a corporation after all and are certainly behaving as one. I’m afraid it’s all about money.
Reply
 
 
 
 Paul says:

 September 24, 2015 at 4:28 pm
 
More evidence that they are facing drops in demand and in Steve Letts words “they have done the math, and the outgoings are greater than the incoming funds” – so expect to see even greater reductions in printed matter.
 This is quite telling.
 The next moves are redundancies at branch offices.
 Interesting times, and we may be seeing a major exodus soon.
Reply
 
 
 Ren says:

 September 24, 2015 at 4:49 pm
 
I thought they already did away with the Congregation Book Study about 8 years ago, and turned it into some sort of “family night” study. This changed the same year of my exit so I may have it wrong. Can anyone clarify for me? And if so, does this mean no more family night study as well as no more Ministry School?
 I know what you mean, Cedars, about the benefits of the TMS. I had a love/hate relationship with it, and am oddly sad to see it go. It was such a big part of my childhood–giving a “talk” was one of the few times I received praise from my parents, which could quickly be offset by being too wiggly after sitting for two hours. LOL
 Here’s a question: Could it be possible that a another reason for this big change, in addition to cash flow troubles, is the sex abuse scandal? I mean, they’ve got to be scared witless over the fallout from this, don’t they? I know the WTBTS likes to keep people hooked with new stuff. A major change might keep would-be doubters exited, and thus distracted from said scandal, anticipating a new chapter in the count down to armageddon. What say you?
Reply
 
 Garrett says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:01 pm
 
Ren
 To answer your question… The book study arrangement went away in 2009 just a month after I left. It was no longer in private homes and it was no longer one hour. It was reduced in time and held at the hall.
 The new changes are all a part of an organization that is a sinking ship and they are throwing everything overboard that they can think of to keep it afloat… Branches, District Overseers, Bethelites, 75% of the magazine compared to 2004, selling Brooklyn etc etc.
 Yes… They will always spin it and try to make it look like an improvement….look for words like “stream lining” ,”simplification”, “Gods chariot on the move” etc. change keeps peoe in their seats. If a restaurant never changes the menu they lose customers..
 I’m not religious but I can’t help thinking about that scripture in Revelation where they talk about “her waters are drying up” in application to Babylon the great. It fits the Watchtower society however perfectly right now.
Reply
 
 Ren says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:52 pm
 
Thanks for the clarification, Garrett. I hope she is drying up. I miss my daughter and grandchildren terribly. I was hoping that this ongoing sex abuse issue would bring them to their senses. But now the GB has made these changes, and I know all too well how they will be received–with a sense of privilege to belong to such a progressive *cough, cough* organization.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Catalina says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:19 pm
 
Ren, The Congregation Book Study is included in the same Meeting Night as the theocratic ministry school. The book study is conducted before the theocratic ministry school.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:28 pm
 
Garrett,
 Enjoyed your spy narrative re, intrigue and sinister goings on
 at Bethel. Maybe more truth in it than we imagine. It was like
 reading Grahame Greene, Ian Fleming and John le carre all
 rolled into one. Good fun though. Thanks.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:31 pm
 
@Ted John Le Carre novels .,, I was a very big fan & I like the role of Double Agents!! That’s why I stay Inside the Organisation going to meetings & on Field Service … SOWING SEEDS of DOUBT where possible to those willing to listen , BUT it is a DANGEROUS GAME as My Wife makes MY STRANGE COMMENTS in the Watchtower.,, I am playing THEOCRATIC WARFARE in Reverse!! Quite Fascinating & Amusing at Times!! I have been BLANKED & COLD SHOULDERED as more are getting SUSPICIOUS but a Quite easy to Quell it by occasionally saying ‘Isn’t the GB SOooooo Wonderful with ALL? This NEW LIGHT we are getting!!
Reply
 
 
 
 Field misery says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:31 pm
 
I remember last week the TMS elder approach and said he would like me to do talks again. Watching I was like naaahhhh there wouldn’t be A School anymore.
Reply
 
 
 Kat says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:36 pm
 
I remember when they scrapped the book study many had questions and especially for the elderly ones it was a kick in the heart they loved the association and cups of tea and cake after the group, it was a sad day and I knew of a few that left after this.
Just maybe ones will start to wake up and realise that the GB are like CEO of a business org rather than a so called FDS of a Christian org.
Reply
 
 
 Paul says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:37 pm
 
The depersonalization angle is intriguing. I think it points to a near concession that they’ve lost control of the flock to the internet and are prepared to see a lot of turnover. The fact that they’re using strategies perfected by corporations in regards to technology should speak volumes. This is not how a religion tends to the flock or saves souls; this is how they reduce overhead and rebrand. It’s hard to see how they’ll effectively be able to tie this to theology or faith of any kind.
Not complaining.
Reply
 
 kaput says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:18 am
 
I agree Paul – as in in most big corporations:
– Top down communication style – suggestions not considered or entertained.
– The politicians ‘float’ to the top while the average employee is not regarded as a valued member or stakeholder.
– Keep it lean – overheads are not good for profit unless they are charitable and you can get a tax credit for them.
– The average worker is a faceless expendable number expected to deliver and report on the 8 hours daily.
– Your boss got where he/she is based on connections, family, A type personality or just being there long enough to know how the game works.
– You are fired if you don’t tow the company line or question authority.
– Never promoted if you question the rules or if the company is your not your only reason for living.
– Ex employees and CEOs take the blame for anything bad and the executive take the credit for anything good.
No room for love here – after all it is business!
Reply
 
 Markw1509 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:30 am
 
Excellent points, kaput, and even more significant as we see the organisation becoming more corporate in its expressions.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Catalina says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm
 
Wow, This website is awesome. Check this out. When I responded to Ren’s question I didn’t see anybody else online. I checked back five minutes later and I saw several answers. I think we were answering at the same time. I love that. That is so awesome.
Reply
 
 
 Wip it says:

 September 24, 2015 at 5:51 pm
 
The TMS served me well, good training for latter life, & as i have seen the training it provides for younger men who are reaching out is no longer available, so how do they get trained anyway, the old format was out of date anyway, as i have said before they are trying to attract new young ones, because us older ones are all becoming a bit sinacle as time goes on & nothing is happening, & yes financially they are struggling.
Reply
 
 
 Kat says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:17 pm
 
Bethelites to do their own laundry and cook their own meals, was that correct?
If so wonder if the GB will do the same, or at least get their wives to do it.
Reply
 
 
 Michael Ashworth says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:17 pm
 
Another great video about the reduction in Cult output to the Congregations. I’m wondering if the New Ministry Literature will form a series of collected Part-Works over the Year that Witnesses will use as a Ministry Education Series that goes above & beyond what the Watchtower issues as changes in Doctrine? No doubt the Governing Body realises that following the Australian Commission they have about 2.5 years to bring about changes to its administration policies and will have to discuss amongst themselves how to release any changes as New Light from Je-Hovah(the Lord of All their Mischief over the years) !
Reply
 
 
 DJ says:

 September 24, 2015 at 6:59 pm
 
Hi guys funniest thing just happened. My dad, who’s an elder, just came out sayin if we get emails bout this leaked stuff don’t read it. I sent it to my cousin nd now he believes JWs are about to crumble. Keep up the good work Lloyd. My assembly is this Saturday I’ll give details to what I hear guys. This JW nightmare may be over soon.
Reply
 
 
 Ken says:

 September 24, 2015 at 7:07 pm
 
“The scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School will similarly come as a shock and disappointment to many thinking Witnesses. As I mention in the video that accompanies this article (see below), if there was one nugget of goodness in my experience as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was in the training I received as a public speaker in the Theocratic Ministry School.”—
Ceders I agree . I did not like the Theo school , but doing away with it is a poor design . I hated it as young boy , but now as a middle aged man I think it’s the only way JWs got some education . Now the elements of calling the new meetings “Christian” makes me wonder are they Finnaly emphasized Jesus Christ ?
Reply
 
 
 DJ says:

 September 24, 2015 at 7:28 pm
 
Guys look at this text my dad sent.
Good evening friends. Sorry for disturbing you friends. However, there’s an email or text that’s being spread that is not from the branch. Please inform your groups not to open or even read this information. IT’S NOT FROM SOCIETY! Please do not be curious to this information. Thanks and please let me know that you received my text.
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:02 pm
 
The really interesting TMS nights were when the usual TMS overseer wasn’t there and an elder would stand in who could scarcely get a “G” himself on any of the points he was judging people on, like pernownce-ee-ashin.
I love the “breaking news” feel of this post. It’s exciting that there is an increasing number of Bethelites willing to contribute to the enlightenment of those searching for the real truth about the Org.
Thanks again Lloyd, for this vital site, today’s posts and your excellent video. On top of that, you get a “G” for pitch, pace and “marjulashin”.
Reply
 
 Outlookingin says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:48 pm
 
I think we may have had the same stand-in TMS overseer!
Reply
 
 
 
 Winston Smith says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:04 pm
 
I think the GB may be trying to crackdown on free thought even more so. Reduce any critical thinking what-so-ever and just have them looking at pictures and reciting singsong. They want a bunch of robots that are easy to control. I don’t know if I can ever imagine them going “mainstream.”
The reduction in printing IS telling. I think they are hemoraging financially, more than they let on.
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:36 pm
 
1600 bethelites told ”cut backs”, f off youre going warwick. Chemsford england shutdown till futher notice. One mag a month? Oh how im enjoying this. Ha ha ha!
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 24, 2015 at 8:49 pm
 
GOD pays debts without money,i can only hope this evil cult is going down the toilet qwicker than i thought.
Reply
 
 
 JKL says:

 September 24, 2015 at 10:22 pm
 
Wauw! No end to JW changes. Thanks again for the news Lloyd.
 In the letter it does mention 3 student assignments though. But definitely great changes. A bookstudy at the END of the meeting!
Reply
 
 
 Steve says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:50 am
 
I thought with the last days being iminent ( i was told at 16 that i would not see 18, i’m now 44) that the preaching work would be increased and publications would be churnen out by the boat load, but no, cut back on printing and don’t give members the chance to gain confidence by public speaking. Well done.
Reply
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:13 am
 
I was told I would never leave school…Im now 57!
Reply
 
 
 I Am Not Known says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:41 am
 
I refused scholarships because I wouldn’t have time to use the knowledge…I was 17, now I’m 62
Reply
 
 JJ says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:29 am
 
My parents and I were told that I would never finish school!
 (Ok, they were right about that one, but not for the reasons that they thought)
Reply
 
 
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:48 am
 
dear Cedars the best yet! thankyou for giving the GB some valid truth , some well needed advice and a gentle warning. Reguardless of our current religious views you are doing Great work,truly and this site has great value to all who read it andwho contribute. Thanks once again.ruthlee. Note to 1914 hahaha. perfectly put God pays debts without money this org is money mad and this debt they owe to the rank and file jw society is long overdue. They no longer build with fire resistant materials rather shoddy ones now.The snakes in suits might be shiny still but the message is getting threadbare. rl.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:41 am
 
The M.S, was one of the less boring meetings, the faux pas
 and mannerisms of different bros, often provided occasions
 of mirth. One brother informed us in his talk, that Jehovah
 at Armageddon could use “Cosmetic Ray’s ” to destroy the
 wicked, and that the bible was not full of “Leg-Ends”
Another very nervous bro, used to get tongue tied, and we’d
 get such expressions as,”Watchtower Tribal & Bact society,”
or “John Bed Zedebee”, the Bulgarians became “Gulbarians”
Yet another bro, was so short sighted, he would hold the Bible
 about 2 inches from his face, and when he got to the name
 Jehovah, he would emphasise every syllable, Je-ho-vah,
 You couldn’t see his face, all you could see was his right hand
 stabbing the air with his fore finger, in unison with the added
 stress he placed on each syllable.
Lovely people, brave souls, fighting their anxieties, nerves
 and disabilities, to serve God . Cruel shame about the religion.
 I’m afraid the meetings will be even drearier without the M,S.
Reply
 
 
 Wild Olive says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:57 am
 
Funny I remember the TMS when it was brought in by Knorr, that it was to increase our skill in the house to house ministry, I guess that’s not needed anymore, I’ve felt for a long time that the door to door ministry is really more about reinforcing solidarity than spreading the good news,after all you don’t need training to tell the bro or sis working with you how nice it will be to have a pet panda,so of course the TMS is no longer needed lol
Reply
 
 
 Kat says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:04 am
 
I wonder about this dumping of the TMSCHOOL, as there is usually always some legal thing behind what the WT does, could it be because its a school and kids have parts, maybe I am being overly suspicious.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:36 pm
 
@Kat . I Think YOU COULD be SO RIGHT!!
Reply
 
 
 
 Mc fan says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:21 am
 
I will give my JW father a call with this news tonight!!
 Than! When he hears the actual annoncemant next week, I wonder if he will think that I am the FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE!! lol!!
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:37 pm
 
Brilliant, Mc fan! Tell him you saw it in a dream!
Reply
 
 
 
 ForestDaughter says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:23 am
 
Blinking ‘eck, this is wonderful! I’ve been having the feeling lately that the org will gradually diminish to an innocuous little bible group of little consequence and very few members, and my goodness they’re really helping it along aren’t they. Lovely jubbly! *Big grin*
Reply
 
 
 David says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:38 am
 
Thanks for the hard work Cedar.
Informing people is the only tool we have to let people know that the JW love as long as you follow them blindly. Even if it goes against basic logic.
It is emotionally draining following their crazy mentality and cult like behaviour so I appreciate your efforts.
Reply
 
 
 James Broughton says:

 September 25, 2015 at 5:33 am
 
Lloyd, that was brilliant, especially in the light of the recent Watchtower magazine on ‘Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?’. By the way I loved your expression “nougat of goodness”. I think you meant “nugget”. The later means “rough lump or mass” whereas the former is “sweetmeat of almonds in a sugar and honey paste”. On second thought perhaps you are right all along.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:20 am
 
lol, I fixed that mistake yesterday and still got picked up on it! 😉
Reply
 
 
 
 pearlsB4swine says:

 September 25, 2015 at 5:37 am
 
I think the reason for dropping the TMS and replacing it with demo session is to avoid taking responsibility for any children enrolled.
 In many places as soon as you have anything called a “school” where children are enrolled a whole bunch of legal requirements come into play re child safety etc.
 I ‘m almost positive that this is what these adjustments and name change is really about.
Reply
 
 
 The Swede says:

 September 25, 2015 at 5:51 am
 
— TO CEDAR — Can you please tell me why you deny me to post any comment anywhere on your site? What did I do?
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:19 am
 
Obviously you are not prevented from posting, unless I’ve blocked you under a different IP, in which case how would I know who you are and what the reasons were?
Reply
 
 
 
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← More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
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Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
avatar 
Posted on September 24, 2015

Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance
Key announcements from the 2015 annual meeting have been leaked over a week in advance

It’s the time of year when Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide look forward with eager anticipation to Watchtower’s Annual Meeting.
Usually hosted at the Jersey City Assembly Hall (or “Stanley Theater”), over recent years the Governing Body has increasingly used the event to showcase new releases, or announce new organizational developments or understandings of scripture.
The 2015 Annual Meeting, to be held next Saturday, October 3rd, will be no different. But this time, thanks to an anonymous contact within the organization, JWsurvey has exclusive details of what will be announced.
A letter to be read to all congregations dated October 4, 2015 (the day after the Annual Meeting) outlines a number of intriguing changes that, in different ways, highlight the new direction in which the organization is moving.
Gone is the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School, to be replaced by a 15-minute session for demonstrating preaching presentations. And, perhaps more tellingly, printing of the public Watchtower and Awake! magazines is being further scaled back as the organization continues to downsize.
The full text of the letter is available below…

October 4, 2015
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: New Provisions Announced at Annual Meeting
Dear Brothers:
At the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held on October 3, 2015, several new provisions were announced.
Teach Us Book: The first provision is a new 224-page publication entitled What Can the Bible Teach Us? It is based on the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? The Teach Us book does not replace the Bible Teach book. Rather, it will be useful when studying with individuals who need to have the truth presented in a simpler manner. Besides having simplified text, the Teach Us book has the following additional features:
◾At the end of every chapter is a two-page summary rather than a review box. These summaries can also be used to conduct Bible studies.
◾At the end of the book, endnotes are provided rather than an appendix. The endnotes correlate closely with the glossary of the revised New World Translation. The endnotes clarify some expressions that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses use in our everyday conversation but that may not be familiar to the public.
◾Some of the text and illustrations used in the Bible Teach book have been adjusted.
The Teach Us book will no doubt be a useful tool that can be used to help people gain a basic understanding of Bible truth, similar to the way the Bible Teach book is used. The Teach Us book is the same size as the Bible Teach book and is similar in appearance but has a slightly altered cover design to differentiate the two publications. Printed copies of the Teach Us book in more than 200 languages will be made available to congregations as the books become available. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Sign-language editions will be made available for download and on physical discs. Web-only audio recordings will also be made available for download in due course. Please note that in due course the Teach Us book will be available for download in electronic Braille format. Requests may now be submitted for copies in embossed Braille format.
Revised Organized Book: We are also pleased to inform you that a revised edition of the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will has been produced. Electronic copies are now available in selected languages on jw.org and in the JW Library app. Before you can access the book in JW Library, you must first download the latest version of the application. The following disclaimer will appear on the screen: “This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.” Because of the cost involved in producing printed publications, it is preferred that wherever possible, publishers make full use of electronic copies rather than requesting printed copies. However, a printed copy of the Organized book will be requested for any publisher who desires to receive one. The group overseers will begin to check with each publisher after the meeting to determine if printed copies are desired. Please note
[Page 2]
that the revised Organized book is also available for download in electronic Braille format and for request in embossed Braille format.
New World Translation (study edition): For the next announcement, please watch the following video. [Show 5:30 minute video.]
Electronic copies of the study edition of the book of Matthew are now available in English on jw.org. In the future, they will be available in the JW Library app.
Public edition of The Watchtower and Awake!: Beginning in January 2016, the magazines for the public will be published bimonthly, that is, every two months. We will offer one magazine to the public each month, alternating between The Watchtower and Awake! During January, we will offer The Watchtower. During February, we will feature subjects in Awake!, and so on. This arrangement will allow us to focus on the appealing information in each magazine for the entire month. In addition, an issue date will no longer be printed on the cover. Instead, the magazines will be identified by a number followed by the year. Why is this helpful? We often would like to offer older magazines because the message is just what the householder needs. However, the date on the cover may give the impression that the information is out-of-date. That will no longer be an obstacle. We are confident that you will offer the life-giving information in the magazines with renewed enthusiasm.
Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting: Beginning the week of January 4, 2016, congregations will have a new midweek meeting called Our Christian Life and Ministry. This one meeting will replace the three separate meetings currently being held, namely, the Congregation Bible Study, the Theocratic Ministry School, and the Service Meeting.
In connection with this change, Our Kingdom Ministry is being replaced by a new four-color, eight-page monthly publication entitled Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook (mwb). This publication is intended for Jehovah’s Witnesses and for those who regularly attend our meetings. It outlines the weekly meeting schedule and features artwork designed to make your personal reading of the Bible more meaningful. It is a workbook that prompts you to make personal notes. No doubt you will enjoy reviewing the January 2016 issue of the Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook when you download an electronic copy from jw.org or the JW Library app or receive a printed copy through the congregation. Since the workbook will not include a section for announcements, congregations will be informed of monthly literature offers by means of letters from the branch office.
Each Life and Ministry Meeting will begin with an opening song and prayer followed by comments from the Life and Ministry Meeting chairman. His opening comments of no more than three minutes will generate anticipation for the program to follow. Thereafter, the chairman will introduce the first section of the meeting, called Treasures From God’s Word. The first part in this section will be a ten-minute talk based on the weekly Bible reading and artwork from the work- book. When the scheduled weekly Bible reading begins a new Bible book, a brief video introducing the book will be shown at the start of this part. The second part in this section, entitled Digging for Spiritual Gems, will be an eight-minute question-and-answer consideration based on the weekly Bible reading. Questions for consideration during this part are found in the workbook, and the audience will answer these based on their research. The Treasures From God’s Word section will conclude with a brother reading an assigned portion of the weekly Bible reading.
[Page 3]
The next section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry and is 15 minutes in length. Three student presentations assigned to brothers or sisters will help us develop our ability to teach on an initial call, on a return visit, and on a Bible study. During the first week of every month, in place of the three student presentations, videos of model presentations will be shown and discussed to help us prepare for the ministry that month. The printed edition of the workbook is designed so that you may write your own presentation on the front page. We encourage each of you to take full advantage of the Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry section of the meeting. Doing so will help you to become a more effective preacher and teacher of the good news.—2 Cor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 4:5.
The final section of the Life and Ministry Meeting is entitled Living as Christians. This section begins with a song. The next 15 minutes of this section will consist of one or two parts designed to help us apply God’s Word. Then there will be a 30-minute Congregation Bible Study. Thereafter, up to three minutes may be used by the chairman to review the meeting and preview material to be considered the following week. Any necessary announcements may also be made at this point. Expressions of praise to Jehovah in song and prayer will conclude the meeting.
The entire meeting will be 1 hour and 45 minutes in length. A video has been prepared to help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. It is now available on JW Broadcasting in English. Please watch it if you are able to do so. This video will help you to become familiar with the format of the Life and Ministry Meeting. Also, please be alert to provide assistance to any publishers who may need help to download our videos and electronic copies of our publications.
We are confident that you will be eager to prepare for and participate in this new meeting. It is our prayer that the variety of teaching methods used will enable all to benefit from the ongoing education that comes from our Grand Instructor, Jehovah. (Isa. 30:20) We send our warm Christian love.
Your brothers,
As mentioned, the scaling down of magazine printing is perhaps the most telling of these changes. In July 2013, I wrote about how the magazine reductions for that year represented a 39% reduction in printing since 2005. That figure is now up to a staggering 57% reduction in monthly magazine printing, even after factoring in increased circulation figures for the Watchtower and Awake!.
If you want to check my math for yourself, please do…
mag-reduction-stats
Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to digest this news would do well to ponder the question: “If we are so deep in the last days, and more urgently in need of spiritual food than ever before in earth’s history, why is spiritual food in our magazines being reduced? Why would Jehovah give us MORE spiritual food 10 years ago, when there was supposedly more time to elapse before Armageddon, than now?”
The reduction in printed “spiritual food” will be especially noticeable to anyone who collects bound volumes of the organization’s magazines. As the following graph shows, the equivalent of only 9 months’ worth of pages out of the original 24 months (12 months for each magazine) will be printed from 2016 onwards…
combined-bound-volume
The announcement about the updated “Organized” book also offers a glimpse at the direction Watchtower is being forced to move in as its woes deepen. Publishers have been told to ponder carefully whether they really need a printed copy of the book rather than viewing it online.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if, within the next few years, we reach a stage where printing operations are cancelled altogether and ALL material for preaching and meeting preparation is to be accessed online, with greater use of tablets or publishers printing out their own leaflets advertising JW.org.
The Theocratic Ministry School - soon to be a thing of the past.
The Theocratic Ministry School – soon to be a thing of the past.

The scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School will similarly come as a shock and disappointment to many thinking Witnesses. As I mention in the video that accompanies this article (see below), if there was one nugget of goodness in my experience as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was in the training I received as a public speaker in the Theocratic Ministry School.
Not that the Theocratic Ministry School compensated me in any way for the many years I wasted being taught lies, but at least it gave me skills that were transferable for when I left the organization. Now, even that small personal benefit has been excised by the Governing Body, who are seemingly only interested in their followers learning how to be distributors of their propaganda rather than competent individuals who can express themselves effectively.
But any sadness and nostalgia I may feel for seeing the religion I grew up in bled of all useful cultural elements is quickly replaced by joy, for two reasons.
Firstly, I have the privilege of witnessing a harmful cult entering its death throes, forced by this wondrous new age of information to downsize and implement counter-productive measures in its floundering attempts to stay afloat.
And just as significantly, I am witnessing a Governing Body that, already unable to claim control over ALL of its 8 million members (many of whom stay inside through fear rather than choice), cannot even stop leaks from the bethelites it sits down for breakfast with.
Change is happening before our very eyes, and THAT is worth celebrating.
 
new-cedars-signature3
 
 
 
 
 
 
Update: for those of you who might be wondering whether this leak is genuine, the following images have emerged on a pro-Watchtower website (jw-archive.org) related to the new “Teach Us” book. The title differs from that mentioned in the letter (“What Can the Bible Teach Us”). Also, the letter advises that the cover will be only “slightly altered” from that of the Bible Teach book, so it could be that these are only early mock-ups before changes were made to the title and appearance. We shall see.

teach-us-book
Further reading…
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on organizational downsizing
Related video…




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225 Responses to Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance

← Older Comments
 
 Faithful Witness says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:07 am
 
I’m wondering why a religion would need this type of disclaimer on their own publications:
“Revised Organized Book: We are also pleased to inform you that a revised edition of the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will has been produced. … Before you can access the book in JW Library, you must first download the latest version of the application. The following disclaimer will appear on the screen: “This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.” ”
What are they hiding? This is just bizarre to me, having never been a JW. No wonder my mother is so confused!
Reply
 
 Paul says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:16 pm
 
All part of the control mechanisms that cults use to keep their weird ideas hidden from the general public
Reply
 
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:10 am
 
When you think about it, who was it that usually wrote up those talks for the kids anyway? Wasn’t it the parents? So, these kids won’t have to pretend to have written those talks anymore and maybe some of the pressure will be off of them to impress and some of the pressure for the parents to “impress” by way of showing off how “spiritual” their families by showing off their 5 year old kids getting up there and giving talks they have no idea what they are even talking about.
Reply
 
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:42 am
 
Great work Lloyd!
Reply
 
 
 Faithful Witness says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:05 am
 
First alarm bell from this letter: Their nickname for this book is “Teach Us.” Now they don’t even say “Bible,” when referring to the book they are using to introduce themselves and their beliefs?
(What does the Bible teach us? – To read God’s word, or to write books ABOUT God’s word?…)
WHY do they need a simpler presentation … ???
“The Teach Us book does not replace the Bible Teach book. Rather, it will be useful when studying with individuals who need to have the truth presented in a simpler manner.”
and I’m curious to hear their reasoning here …
 “Some of the text and illustrations used in the Bible Teach book have been adjusted.” (WHY??)
I was a bible student, and we went through the entire “Bible Teach” book with different JW teachers. I would not describe this book as something that needs to be made MORE simple.
 Maybe they want to make it easier to get your “student” to the end of the book, so you can start pressuring them to join and donate their time and money.
The quote above states that they are presenting “the truth.” My own bible teacher claimed that the “Bible Teach” book taught the truth, but she was not going to try to defend every statement or claim made in that book. Maybe simple sentences will be easier to defend, without making you doubt your own beliefs.
“I just know it’s the TRUTH.” (I heard that explanation a LOT)… and “Let’s put that one aside for now, and we’ll move on to the next paragraph…”
It’s no wonder these poor people are so confused. I can’t imagine dedicating my life to defending an organization that blatantly lies to me, constantly adjusts it’s teachings, and dangles Armageddon out for me as a reward for my hard work.
Reply
 
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:13 am
 
I’ve updated the article with images of the new “Teach Us” book.
Reply
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:22 am
 
Regarding the video on John Cedars YouTube channel; it was really great! Roughly the same information as here but with a message to the Governing Boday at the end.
 You know, I think that one or two of the Governing Body members just may watch Lloyd’s videos, and especially this one (and the prank call to Tony!). But I really doubt that they would look at Lloyd as any kind of a friend or even a person offering helpful advice. There is no way that they would ever contact Lloyd or any ‘apostate’ for any reason but especially not for help in reforming their ‘cult’. No different that any government or major corporation stooping to listen to a citizen or customer but this is even more difficult. Imagine if say one of the GB did call JWSurvey for advice. What a news story that would make! It would destroy any semblance of God-given authority that they ever had! Every Witness would now be free to check apostate websites if the GB did that. There is no way that they could trust any apostate from divulging that amazingly stupid move. And what could anyone of us possibly tell them?!? “Hey, you’re wrong and change your dogma and doctrines?!?” Would we really want to help them in any way? That would be like some fraud artist who has ripped me off, calling me for advice. Guess what I’d tell him to do??? “Confess everything and seek the worst possible sentence from the courts” would be my advice.
 It’s exciting to me seeing the big changes that the Watchtower Society has to make including huge cuts to printing and downsizing its Bethels. It’s even more exciting that there are people on the inside that are obviously giving out top secret information, not to their friends and family, but to “apostate” websites where it will do the most harm. This is how all major downfalls happen, from the inside. I’m sure though, that the members of the Governing Body will be the last to leave, if this does collapse in a big way. The most misquoted scripture that JWs love would apply most to them; “Where would we go?!?”
Reply
 
 
 Sad for jw family says:

 September 25, 2015 at 7:29 am
 
My jw spouse and I were talking about current events in the nation and then he said “there’s something going on , my mom just got an email with news that the Watchtower stopped all construction projects ”
That probably isn’t true but looks like there are rumors about lack of funds.
Reply
 
 
 Jess says:

 September 25, 2015 at 8:39 am
 
I thought it was interesting how in the new bible teach book they will have a guide to teach others their lingo. I wonder what words will be taught?
 It’s Definitely moving more towards cult. If I were on the other side of the door, it would push me away.
Reply
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:05 am
 
http://thewatchtowerfiles.com/crisis/
This is an interesting read.
Reply
 
 
 MimiLove says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:11 am
 
They are probably steering us back to the phonograph days…you don’t have to remember a presentation just take your ipad to the doors and we’ll do the talking for you.
Reply
 
 Faded says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:58 pm
 
My disfellowshipped son was at my house one day (this is in response to going back to phonograph days with iPads) and the witnesses came to the door and were explaining that if he wanted literature, to go to their jw.org website. So he says, “if that’s what I need to do to get information, I guess that renders your need for door to door work obsolete.” LMAO. She was speechless.
Reply
 
 
 
 Daniel says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:33 am
 
mr man or what so ever u called yourself don’t think because you have left the organization u wnt to lure people to join u in your act of apostasy. ..the owners of this this site an other participants are really apostasy that Jesus talk about in the bible. Jehovah God the one who created you this stupid an idiotic person trying to spoil his organization would without fail punished you.for trying to blackmail his witnesses here on earth. …young man or wat so ever u may called yourself. .your the most senseless human being I have ever meet. …may Jehovah judge you.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:53 am
 
You were right first time, I call myself “Mr Man.” :)
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:07 pm
 
@Daniel. YOU AMAZE ME …. YOUR VOCABULARY SKILLS ARE AMAZING!!! …. YOU AREN’T BY ANY CHANCE the THEOCRATIC SCHOOL OVERSEER from my OLD CONGREGATION???
Reply
 
 
 Ocma says:

 September 25, 2015 at 8:52 pm
 
Oh Daniel, it seems you have already done some judging yourself.
 The organization you speak of IS spoiled – from within. By all the hypocrites who attend the meetings and the full of hot air G.B.
 Please learn how to use punctuation, as it is you, who looks stupid and idiotic.
Reply
 
 
 Donald duck says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:50 pm
 
@Daniel, you are certainly not alone… I have seen many others attack Cedars with the same illiterate language and nonsensical approach. You certainly are living up to your “name”.
Reply
 
 
 Conan71 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:03 pm
 
That sounds very feasible . Great comment
Reply
 
 
 Faded says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:37 pm
 
Dude, you sound hammered, calling Lloyd Mr Man and ranting illogically. Nice spelling too.
Reply
 
 
 
 Daniel says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:47 am
 
mr good frnds….mr cedar is an agent of Satan the devil….he his using all his satanic acts to make people turn away from the truth…he did stand first in the truth because truth was not in his heart. ..don’t follow him pls….He MR CEDAR Lloyed EVANS IS AN APOSTASY don’t be deceive. ..pls…..let me tell u mr cedar no matter ur cunning tricks like your master the Devil….you would never succeed in turning the heart of faithful witnesses. ….an you can Never Stop Jehovah’s will From Accomplishing.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:50 am
 
Welcome Daniel! By the way, if anyone does happen to see Satan the devil, can you remind him I’m missing a few paychecks? Being that guy’s agent is hard enough without not being paid. Thanks. :)
Reply
 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:03 pm
 
@DANIEL, you need to LISTEN to what CEDARS SAYS instead of being a SLAVE to the 7 PYGMIES OF BABYLON in NEW YORK!!!! HE is INTELLIGENT and NOT the DEVIL’s AGENT… READ the writing on the wall, “MINI MEANIE TICKLED PERSIANS”!!! This means that the BORGANIZATION is SOON going to heat up 7 TIMES HOTTER THAN USUAL but NO ANGELS will be there to SAVE YOU from feeling STUPID for BELIEVING THE LIES!! GET OUT while you can STILL save a SHRED OF DIGNITY!!
In the style of my mentor… :)
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:01 pm
 
@P.B. MENTOR ??? WHAT WONDERFUL PERSON COULD THAT BE???
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:26 pm
 
I’ll NEVER admit that it’s you, PB. You would get a big ego like Lloyd and start calling yourself “Mr. Man”.
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:35 pm
 
@J.B . Reezner. I Apologise I have just realised I keep calling you P.B. !!… I BLAME the TRAUMATIC SHOCK of hearing the Theocratic School is going to be ABOLISHED!! This is SO UPSETTING ?to me that I might have to seek PROFESSIONAL HELP from Those who are a ‘HIDING PLACE from the WIND’ …. The SPIRITUAL ONES…. JACK DANIELS & JOHNNIE WALKER…. These are NEWLY APPOINTED Governing Body Members !! I know this as it has been LEAKED in a Letter from Fred Franz to JOHNNIE & JACK.!!
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:46 pm
 
No problem, PB. You can call me anything but “late for dinner”.
I’m sure the TMS fizzling out IS devastating to you. In fact, as I read your comment, I imagined you giving talks with the same FRENZIED tone of your comment, haha.
Pitch: Crazy High
 Pace: Supersonic
 Modulation: Modu-what?

 
 
 
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:43 pm
 
Once again, why do the ‘true believers’ of Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any other kind of religion for that matter, have the absolute worst writing and comprehension skills without being totally illiterate?!?
 Is there a direct relationship between education, intelligence and a belief system in some kind of a hard-core cult?
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:18 pm
 
@Daniel. WELL if CEDARS is from SATAN … Then SATANIC Supporters are better WELL EDUCATED than JEHOVAHS Witnesses like yourself Daniel . !!!! & MORE INTELLIGENT!! DANIEL .., YOU Don’t Take the EMBLEMs by any chance??? I can’t decide whether you or ANTHONY MORRIS is the more INTELLIGENT??? …. IT IS SUCH A CLOSE THING!!! Perhaps you could give me your VALUED ??? UMmm OPINION!!!
Reply
 
 
 Faithful Witness says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:17 pm
 
Daniel: Thanks for your insightful and well-written comments. Your input is appreciated here.
 I wonder if you feel as free to express your feelings and your fears, to your brothers in the congregation. You seem upset.
I hope you will subscribe to this blog, so you can keep up on all the lies that are being published on jwsurvey.org.
Thanks for warning us about Mr. Cedars.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:19 pm
 
It’s Mr Man. My name is Mr Man.
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:58 pm
 
See what I mean, Pickled Brain? We’ve lost Lloyd. Soon, HE will be trying to issue commandments to us from way up on HIS ivory tower. But I’m not going for it. I mean, I might sacrifice a few goats to him, but THAT’S IT. Any more than that would just be crazy…
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:52 pm
 
@JB . I can think of 7 PYGMY & Midget SHEEP I would like to NAIL to a CROSS? … Sorry that’s a bit Harsh of me … I meant ‘ Nail to a STAKE ‘ & SACRIFICE to Lloyd !

 
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:43 am
 
Yikes PB, my thing was funny, but your thing was just disturbing, lol…

 
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:47 am
 
He’s da man
Reply
 
 
 Faded says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:43 pm
 
Ok, Mr Man. Where do we send the money, now that we’re all
 Under your control?
Seriously, you will NEVER know how much your hard work and intelligence and dignified way of bringing the truth about the “truth” to light is appreciated.
Please accept my sincere gratitude.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:25 pm
 
Daniel, you’re obviously experiencing great pain and anguish to post how you have. Take time to pause, reflect and rest. It’s okay to do that — how else do we have the energy to go forth anew?
This forum is a safe space for people to connect and be compassionate about what it means to be human — to grow and to learn. Hope you keep exploring here and all other forums you may wish to explore.
Keep a kind attitude to yourself and your journey. And respect others who are trying to do the same. Peace to you.
Reply
 
 
 Conan71 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:04 pm
 
Daniel! Did you play the drunk old gold miner from blazing saddles ? Because that was some genuine frontier gibberish .
Reply
 
 
 Garrett Reinhardt says:

 September 26, 2015 at 11:40 am
 
Daniel, what is the latest grade you’ve completed in school? My seven year old Son has far better penmanship than you.
First of all, your blind castigation of Mr. Evans hold no merit. Your attacks are hateful and full of ignorant and empty statements with no value.
Also, if you really believed what you are stating then why would you even be on this site? Doesn’t the WTBS still teach against viewing ‘apostate’ sites?
Daniel, do you feel you are above the GB’s patronizing control and so you can view this site?
I don’t think you do, you have doubts and it is causing you to lash out uncontrollably. Daniel, you are at a crossroads, slow down and open your mind to knowledge.
After all, if your faith is so strong then nothing you could read will break it, it will only make it stronger.
I laughed when I first read your attacks. You are either inebriated or uneducated, maybe even both.
Cedars, keep up the great work!
…Lloyd you Evil Cunning mr….. mAN!
Reply
 
 
 
 CuriousConfused says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:10 pm
 
I am a serving elder, and this letter has not been sent to the Jw.org inbox. I think this is a very well written hoax, by someone who has mastered the language and syntax used in society letters. It’s clever, I’ll say that. I’d say it’s an experiment to see how many R&F are whispering about all this is advance of the AGM….. Of course I might be wrong…..
Reply
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:30 pm
 
Of course it hasn’t CC! I’m an elder too but the whole point of it being on here is that it has been LEAKED…not even available to the elders yet. Heck, even the Annual Meeting hasn’t been held yet so how are you expecting a letter planned to be delivered AFTER the event to arrive in your inbox BEFORE the event?!
 I’m still waiting for any confirmation on the Bethel cutbacks though. All Bethelites I know (and I use the term loosely) are being very tight lipped.
Reply
 
 Anonymous says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:55 pm
 
Can either of you view the pre-letter that is available for Elders now?
(Congregation -> Documents -> Letters)
Although it doesn’t confirm the details of the leaked announcement, it does confirm that another letter and video will be posted after the annual meeting:
“Dear Brothers:
 On Saturday, October 3, 2015, after 3:00 p.m. in New York, a letter to all congregations will be posted in the “Letters” section of jw.org. A related video will be posted in the “Event Media” section of jw.org.
It is our desire that, where possible, the letter be read to the congregation and the video be played for the congregation at the first congregation meeting after its receipt.
In many cases, this will be at the conclusion of the Watchtower Study on October 4, 2015.
Of course, in some parts of the world, the next congregation meeting will be the Service Meeting during the week of October 5, 2015.”
Reply
 
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:35 pm
 
Please tell me why as a serving elder promoting this woman hating cult..are you on this site?
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:39 pm
 
I would appreciate if you drop the judgmental tone. There are any number of reasons why someone might continue to serve as an elder despite being awake. Apart from anything else it would be impossible to get the amount of leaked information we’re currently getting if we didn’t have SOME on the inside in higher positions. Please remember that Watchtower is a cruel cult that threatens huge ramifications for those that leave, and it is not your place or mine to judge people who choose to exit in their own way and time.
Reply
 
 Idontknowhatodo says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:56 pm
 
Point taken Cedars…its hard for someone who has been sorely treated by appointed men …including my own father..to understand sometimes how they can keep thier cognitive disonance and be a force for good…I will retreat from the site.

 
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:03 pm
 
There’s no need to go off in a sulk. You are more than welcome to keep commenting as your insights are appreciated. However, I don’t take kindly to posters behaving judgmentally with other posters, especially on such matters as this. I’m glad you understand that your comment was inappropriate, and that the way we were treated by the organization is never an excuse to turn on each other – including those of us who are still inside.

 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:18 pm
 
@Idontknowwhattodo, please don’t stop commenting. I have made angry retorts at times and thankfully most of the time, they get flagged and never published. I learned something too from this.

 
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:34 pm
 
Thanks for the defence Lloyd. Anyone that has been on this site long enough, knows very well my reasons for being on here and the type of person I claim to be. At the moment, for obvious reasons I can’t declare my real name, although I think my Avatar does me justice!
 @Anonymous. Just checking now and I can’t see anything new yet. The last letters are dated:
 04/09/2015 Literature Shipping Schedule for 2016
 01/09/2015 School for Congregation Elders
 If no one else puts a link here first, when it finally filters through I will remove all ‘encrusted hidden info’ in the PDF document (you can never be too careful as there might be tracking codes embedded in there) and then post a link to it via WeTransfer.com as per usual (links are valid for 7 days).

 
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:46 pm
 
My last comment seems to have disappeared into the black hole of t’internet so apologies if it later appears and this is duplicated.
@Lloyd. Thanks for the defence although I don’t view it as a “higher position” I’m in; I’m worn out from a hard week of secular work and then it’s a full weekend of congregational activity. I don’t think I’d do it if I were paid to! :)
 @IDKWTD Those that know me (as well as they can do on here) know full well my reasons for being on here and the person I claim to be. I suggest you read my other comments to bring yourself up to speed. No offence taken.
 @ANONYMOUS. I have just had a look but there are no new letters. The latest are:
 04/09/2015 Literature Shipping Schedule for 2016
 01/09/2015 School for Congregation Elders
 If no one else puts it on here before, when I see it become available I’ll put a link on here via WeTransfer. If there’s any others that you are specifically after then just let me know and I’ll post links (they last for 7 days via WeTransfer). Same goes for you too Lloyd but I imagine that you have better connections than me who can get you the info faster.

 
 
 J.B. Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:11 pm
 
Well, let me see if I can embarrass myself by sticking my nose into this. My first impression was that, although Average Joe’s “Reply” button was pressed, Idontknowhatodo was replying to CuriousConfused, whose imaginative theory about the letter possibly being a hoax sent him into a different category for Idontknowhatodo than the other elders here who contribute to this site. Of course, I could be totally wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time).
Either way, Idontknowhatodo, I hope you decide to stay, and I hope CuriousConfused does too. We all believed irrational stuff until enough evidence snapped us out of it.
In summary: Don’t go!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Elka Tire says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:46 pm
 
Cedar, Any mother and father would be proud of you!!!
 Congratulations!!
 The truth always win!!
El Kato
Reply
 
 
 alanv says:

 September 25, 2015 at 12:52 pm
 
I noticed this in the letter
”Since the workbook will not include a section for announcements, congregations will be informed of monthly literature offers by means of letters from the branch office.”
I presume then that there will be no more field service highlights. I think this section has been an embarrassment for a while, with nothing of any substance being reported. Maybe this is a chance for them to get rid of that section.
Reply
 
 Conan71 says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:49 pm
 
Depending on how things go maybe why it won’t be printed . So much up in the air it seems right now , they maybe printing nothing at all .
Reply
 
 
 Malachi says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:36 am
 
I’ve watched in amusement as the ‘good experiences’ over the years have degraded from “we discussed many things and when I showed him answers from the bible he agreed to study and now we’re studying twice a week. He is making fine progress and wants to be baptized at an upcoming assembly” to “they answered the door and when they realized that I was a JW they didn’t slam the door in my face”. I seriously doubt that I was he only person who noticed this decline and I can see where regaling experiences like this would be demoralizing rather than encouraging.
Reply
 
 
 
 Innocent Son says:

 September 25, 2015 at 1:37 pm
 
WOW! The bad news for the Org keeps coming, boy are they in decline. I spent many, many hours getting my talks right for the T M S never ever thought it would come to an end.
Reply
 
 
 Innocent Son says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:08 pm
 
@ Daniel on, leave this site immediately, you will have been reported to the elders in your local congregation! Lol or maybe not? Keep visiting and develop a relationship with us ‘apostates ‘ you might just learn something
Reply
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:45 pm
 
can anyone get on this site? I tried but it said I do not have permission. I copied this just off the google page.
Some changes announced at Bethel – JW News, Encouragement …
jwtalk.net › … › JW News, Encouragement, & Public Information
 2 days ago – 20 posts – ‎15 authors
 Page 1 of 2 – Some changes announced at Bethel – posted in JW News, Encouragement, & Public Information: … Build projects will be stopped and a reduction of full-time servants will be made. … All construction projects put on hold. … The Britain branch project has been in the pipeline for a long time.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 25, 2015 at 2:50 pm
 
Daniel.
 You are becoming an apostate yourself. The watchtower of
 July 15/ 2011 says “Apostates are mentally diseased and we
 must be determined to avoid them”.
By visiting this site Daniel you are renouncing the words of
 your religion. Be careful Daniel you are in danger of becoming
 a full blown card carrying apostate like me. Which would not
 please your leaders. because then you would start to think
 for yourself, and realise that they are false prophets, liars.
 and hypocrites.
Mr Cedar did not lure me, I had already apostasised,
 renounced W,T, lies before I knew Mr, Cedar, Daniel,
 Your rejection of W,T, counsel could be the first step on
 the road to you freedom, I hope so. Best wishes Ted.
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:06 pm
 
@ daniel on, stop waisting money paying to be online.You know full well the gov body need this money alot more than internet servers.
Reply
 
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:16 pm
 
@JB. I like your reasoning mate! Let’s hope Lloyd or one of his team members can find a little time to install some WordPress Forum software on here, then we can chat more freely (even an off-topic section).
 However, I realise that time is limited and that would take things like forum moderators etc. so maybe it is not practical at this stage.
 It might solve the problem of trolls though as you could make downloads of letters etc available only to registered users.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:23 pm
 
Would love to be able to chat to some of you on things that are causing problems… like the whole shunning thing however I will happily tag along with things how they are until that time because each day I find more help on here for boosting my realisation that I am not alone anymore.
Reply
 
 
 Cedars says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:30 pm
 
I think we’re definitely moving in the direction of having some kind of forum. People are increasingly treating JWsurvey as a community and it would be nice to be more accommodating in that regard. We’re just limited in how much manpower we have, not to mention the technical side. But I’m optimistic we will be able to overcome those hurdles eventually.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 25, 2015 at 3:49 pm
 
:) In the meantime keep doing what you do because it’s awesome.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:04 pm
 
@Cedars & Everyone on this site. Has anyone seen the MOST DISGUSTING 5 minute & 20 second interview of an Ex-PRIEST newly posted on TV.JW.ORG & This EX-PRIEST became a JEHOVAHS Witness because of the WAY THE JW Organisation HANDLES CHILD ABUSE & this Ex-Priest Loves the TRANSPARENCY of JW Organisation!!’…. WHAT THE NERVE???? I NEARLY DROPPED MY BOTTLE of PURIFIED SPRING WATER on the FLOOR!!!
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:42 pm
 
PB, that’s disgusting! I keep thinking the GB are 100% believers of their own malarkey, but there keeps being so much evidence of clear, unscrupulous manipulation perpetrated by them, I’m starting to wonder…
Maybe one day they all simply looked at each other and admitted that they ALL know it’s a bunch of rubbish, and then decided that they all have a pretty good life, so why not just keep this thing rolling. I’m still leaning toward total delusion, but, who knows…

 
 
 Mitch Jensen says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:10 pm
 
Almost as bad as GB Jackson telling the entire World “It would be presumptuous to say Jehovah is only using us!” Their ability to lie has historical roots dating back to Russell’s time, our Brothers in Eastern Europe saw their lies and broke ties after several attempts by the Watchtower’s arrogant Whites to tell the Romanian Brothers how to think!’
I think their courage shocked the Governing Body and showed the Boys in New York they are cowards while the tough Romanians proved they could stand firm unlike that “well greased weather vane changing its tune or lying before the World because their afraid to confess their true beliefs!

 
 
 
 
 Mitch J says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:52 pm
 
The Forum here surpasses that stale, crusty outfit known as JWN, how many times have you ever read articles like the one John Cedars posted above? You wont, why, because Simon and his wife Anguard are not journalist or writers, their goal is to spend the least money while letting everyone else make them money.
When people ask questions they get people posting like “Outlaw”, he’s the Mute that can’t write, he cuts and pastes photos and that’s his high quality contribution.
When Lady Lee left along with many others, it was time to bail! If John was to make a Forum or message board, he would blow the doors off the Bully of their forum “Simon Say’s or you are out of here!”. The vast majority of quality writers and seasoned veterans visit Cedar’s because we get real information.
What’s a joke is people are taking the material from jwsurvey and posting it on JWN’s dusty message board, they do more damage than good people! One might think they might help but there’s a reason why men like Ray Franz and others avoided that Animal House, it has no quality plus everyone that had the skills to help have faded or left.
Reply
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:02 am
 
thanks Cedars we would all look forward to that ruthlee
Reply
 
 
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 25, 2015 at 6:20 pm
 
@Average Joe: That sounds great. I appreciate your comments too, my friend. I hope it happens before Pickled Brain and I end up on the chopping block, lol. In my defense, all of our nonsensical banter is HIS fault (even when I start it).
@Cedars: I will look forward to that. I hope it can happen without much more of a burden on you, John Hoyle and the others making this site possible. JWsurvey IS a community! Even if you had less-social intentions for this site, we’re just a standard bunch of run-of-the-mill human beings with an insuppressible need to jibber-jabber sometimes with like-minded folk. However, I honestly doubt I would venture off to some other site to seek that. The combination of social interaction WITH the brilliantly produced articles and videos emanating from this site seems to make it–in my opinion–the place to be. I’m not being a kiss-a**. That’s how I really feel about it.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:21 pm
 
@J.B .Reezner . I am glad you told Mr Average the ‘Barter ‘is MY Humble FAULT. !!
 because I Take Full Humble Responsibility !!
 This is Because I am the Most Humble & Most Modest Person in the ‘JW WORLD?’ …. ALL Becsuse of my being Taught & Corrected by my Theocratic School Overseer in the soon Defunct ‘ THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL! I
Reply
 
 Grace says:

 September 25, 2015 at 11:00 pm
 
What attracts me to this blog is it’s simplicity. I hate blogs that are overfilled with things all over the page. They just look cluttered.
Has anyone watched Karl on youtube that Cedars put on his tweet the other day? He’s hilarious & I don’t think that he is even trying to be funny. I love his accent, I think it’s a little bit Irish or something.
Reply
 
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:31 pm
 
@J.B .Reezner . I am glad you told Mr Average the ‘Barter ‘is MY Humble FAULT. !!
 because I Take Full Humble Responsibility !!
 This is Because I am the Most Humble & Most Modest Person in the ‘JW WORLD?’ …. ALL Becsuse of my being Taught & Corrected by my Theocratic School Overseer in the soon Defunct ‘ Theocratic Ministry School ! This ‘School has made me MORE Humble than EVEN Our ….Most HUMBLE Anthony Morris!
 I am Humbly Ever Grateful to it ! This is From your Most Humble Friend .. PICKLES
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:58 am
 
Well said, PB! I have that in common with you. Humility is one of the many fine qualities that I possess in abundance!
Reply
 
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 26, 2015 at 9:00 am
 
@J.B. Reezner. Humble , Apologies I meant ‘BANTER’ not ‘BARTER’!
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 11:09 am
 
PB, I must admit, seriously, I thought you were using some UK expression that I wasn’t familiar with– rather than me just firing up a couple of brain cells and realizing that you clearly meant ‘banter’. Jeez, I’m dumb. I humbly admit that. :)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 25, 2015 at 4:08 pm
 
Idontknowhatodo
 Non of us enjoy being chastised, but if we’ve made an error
 of judgement (Which of course we all do) especially when
 passionate feelings are involved. Then it can be a learning
 experience for us.
This is a wonderfully balanced and enlightened site. There’s
 no inferior view of women, no homophobia, xenophobia or
 any other unreasonable prejudices. It would.be a great shame
 if you left it . And it’s clear that not only your comments,
 but you yourself are valued here. Best wishes, Ted.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 25, 2015 at 5:04 pm
 
Idontknowwhattodo.
 Non of us enjoy being chastised, but if we’ve made an error
 of judgement (Which of course we all do) especially when
 passionate feelings are involved. Then it can be a learning
 experience for us.
This is a wonderfully balanced and enlightened site. There’s
 no inferior view of women, no homophobia, xenophobia or
 any other unreasonable prejudices. It would be a great shame
 if you left it . And it’s clear that not only your comments,
 but you yourself are valued here. Best wishes, Ted.
Reply
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 25, 2015 at 8:20 pm
 
And now from Canada…
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/blog/spiritual-shepherds
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:05 am
 
I tried to watch this…. those poor little girls. I just couldn’t continue on.
Reply
 
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 25, 2015 at 8:25 pm
 
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/blog/spiritual-shepherds
Reply
 
 Jason Jensen says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:33 pm
 
JJ, we had the Elders in Creep Side tell our Congregation the Society need’s more money so they can build more Kingdom Halls and help the huge influx of publishers. Are you Elders teaching this lie too? Theocratic Warfare is alive and well, love their lies!
Reply
 
 Average Joe says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:46 am
 
@JASON. I’m certainly not. I refuse to mention any donating arrangement in my talks or so-called “need for funds”. The Organised book and other publications slate the churches enough for passing the plate around or guilt-tripping people into contributing but this constant mentioning of money (how much it is per publisher etc) is no different at all in my opinion.
 I prefer to use what little money I have to help out my friends and brothers & sisters locally, take them out for meals, coffee etc and that way the bonds of friendship are strengthened too.
 If this truly is Jah’s organisation then he will make sure it continues without the need for blackmailing or guilt-tripping the flock into giving funds that get used for goodness knows what. Even the Local Needs box money gets sent to the WTS after the account passes a certain amount so you can’t even be sure that your money given gets used for the local congregation.
 Sad times.
Reply
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:12 am
 
Oh yeah, Jason Jensen, it’s always about the need for more Kingdom Halls! They’ve got my mother, wife and my remaining JW friends convinced that’s where all the money goes.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Jason Jensen says:

 September 25, 2015 at 9:31 pm
 
I use to have a terrible fear of speaking before audiences, by the time I started College the Theocratic Ministry School helped me get straight As in Speech 1, Speech 2 “Group Discussion”, all the fear of speaking in public was gone all because we had the best teacher. He worked at Bethel and was arrested during World War 2 for Neutrality.
He was part of the Watchtower’s Radio Station taking live questions back in the 1930-40s, sad to think the Watchtower is taking away the only program that actually contributed to the skills of their publishers.
If you examine the issue deeper, is it possible their elimiating the TMS because their trying to seperate the Elder – Laity Class? This is how the Clergy-Laity Class stareted, sad to think most Witnesses are not able to see the numbers Cedars posted.
If you all were to guess what’s behind their long planned strategic move, what’s your biggest conspiracy theory why their failing? We hear this all the time “We need more money to build more Kingdom Halls and Branches, Oh Brothers, Jehovah is speeding up the Harvest so don’t have a tight fist!”
We know that’s not true but the average J.W.’s bucket-head brian can’t see their religion has nothing to do with Christ or the original Good News, great work Cedars!
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:59 am
 
Interesting ideas regarding a separation of classes, Jason. And that sounds great about having a communications pro for a teacher. My first TMS overseer was a light bulb salesman. Ok, I’d like to follow that up with some interesting episodes of ineptitude, but honestly, he was one of the best speakers I’ve ever known, and come to think of it, he was a helluva successful light bulb salesman too. But the other TMS overseers I had after that left much to be desired.
The GB seems to be focused like a laser on amassing as much money as possible. I know they have long been providing ways for unwitting members to donate all of their worldly possessions in creative ways, but something has shifted so that now money has blatantly become priority number ONE. They’re slashing and burning everything that doesn’t help them to maximize their profits.
I think cutting the TMS in favor of program that more directly emphasizes the urgent need to be proselytizing simply follows suit with any other financially motivated changes they are making. They need JW’s out there finding more convert$.
For me, the main question is, “What happened?” Why has money become the ONLY thing motivating them? I know the sexual abuse cases factor into it, but I can’t help doubting that that’s the only reason. A thought that crosses my mind sometimes (surely not the first to think it) is that the GB members really do seem to be simpleminded people themselves (I know I’m not breaking new ground with that assessment), and maybe there are some sharp lawyers and financial managers in the mix feeding off of the Org who have convinced the GB that the Org is going to COLLAPSE if they don’t act quickly to cut spending and bring more revenue in. This wouldn’t change the fact that the GB is made up of disgusting, soulless, heartless creeps deserving a cruel fate, but it may factor into there motivations.
But I don’t know. I’m not much of a conspiracy theorist. After being duped so thoroughly by the Org for so long, I now usually START with the assumption that my ideas are wrong, and then just try to wait until I see unassailable evidence for one thing or the other.
Reply
 
 
 
 vivian says:

 September 25, 2015 at 10:43 pm
 
Oh my god. tms was terrible, i cant even go in to it. So. Much. Time. Anxiety. Uselessness. I am so over this sect/ cult. With my entire still in family, friends, acquaintances I am at the point of “figure it out yourself. Im not going to do it for you. You havent done any real mental work in decades.” Although I could only skim the letter bc my brain literally can not handle the sentence structure and terminology of wtbts any longer, I do appreciate the insider that provides these updates and that is struggling secretly inside the sect.
Reply
 
 
 Jeffrey Needle says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:25 am
 
Hi. I tried to access the new books on jw.org. Can’t find them. Can someone help me in finding them? Thanks.
jeff.needle@gmail.com
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 1:07 pm
 
I don’t think they are out yet Jeff. the letter isn’t due to be read for a week or so yet so they will probably show up after that.
Reply
 
 
 
 Winston Smith says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:13 pm
 
Just got a chance to watch the video. Awesome. Great job Lloyd. I loved the message to the GB at the end.
Question: my comments take about 2 days to show up on the blog. Anything I can do on my end to improve that?
Reply
 
 
 eyes opened says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:29 pm
 
Idontknowwhattodo,
 Hang in there. Remember reproofs from someone who cares is a good thing. Learn from it, get past it and move forward. We all need reminders to bring us back to earth now and then.
Reply
 
 
 David says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:47 pm
 
I’m physically inside the borg and I have to say that when I read the part where talks about the dissapearing of the Ministry School, I wanted to cry because I gave an speech last meeting and I’m thinking this is going to be the last one. The only part I loved about being witness… gone, so one more reason to leave.
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:50 pm
 
David, the reason why we were all part of the collective is because of our love for God. I think most of us have not lost that love but have awoken to the fact Jehovah isn’t the org. I pray all the time but I feel my prayers are free once again. Free to express myself to my creator about matters that concern me and things I want to express gratitude for. I have stopped going through the ritual of mentioning the brothers and the elders and the building and the world wide work….. I haven’t felt this free since I started going to church as a child. A child who walked into a protestant church and felt like God reached out to me. Somewhere in the last few years I felt that connection slip away. I was baptised as a witness in 95. I now know I will never go back to an organised religion. Once I can pluck up the courage to walk away from the WT I will stop being anxious. However I still have a daughter and a granddaughter trapped in there and I won’t leave them. I am inactive and to some degree still shunned over my daughter and son being df’d. Our cong. was cruel and decided I bore some of the blame for my daughters fall ‘from grace’. She was reinstated and now they expect me to be all happy clappy. But my eyes are open…. to quote a movie… You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I’m offering is the truth. Nothing more.
 Don’t be sad. We all learned valuable things even if we can’t see it right now. I learned to speak in front of a hundred plus people as you yourself did. That’s a skill many do not have. It’s a small blessing we can take away with us from an organisation that has taken so much from us.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 26, 2015 at 9:43 pm
 
@Tara . EXCELLENT COMMENTS & GOOD REASONING… I Feel the same way as you & in similar circumstances which I am sure MANY that read this site face the same situation.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 September 26, 2015 at 9:55 pm
 
@Cedars & Everyone on this site . What I have found as in Lloyds situation with his FATHER & any of us with Relatives in the Organisation. ANYONE who Has GENUINE QUESTIONS who even MILDLY Disagrees with the GB & DARES to VOICE it to another JEHOVAHS WITNESS or GOD FORBID?? … Mention the Reasonable Doubt in a Watchtower… THEN WATCH the SHUNNING BEGIN & ELDERS HAUL you into the BACK ROOM & your INVITE to Certain Social Occasions DWINDLE !! … THIS is CLASSIC SIGNS of a CULT !! When I gave TALKS on the THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL I had FREE REIGN to slip in Craftily a DUBIOUS LINE of Mild Apostate Reasoning !! BUT NOW the NEW FORMAT is about STRICTER CONTROLS of what is SAID from the PLATFORM!!
Reply
 
 
 
 
 
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← Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
 
A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
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Posted on September 26, 2015

A grieving father speaks to a reporter after being preached to via the obituaries
A grieving father speaks to a reporter after being preached to via the obituaries

A man who endured the death of his daughter recently received an unwelcome letter. Sent by one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the letter expressed sympathy for his loss.
How did this Jehovah’s Witness learn about the man’s tragic loss? Apparently by scouring the obituary section of a Jacksonville, Florida newspaper.
According to a news report, a second letter was sent to the man’s church.
A news reporter from the local station reached out to Eva Robinson, the Jehovah’s Witness who sent the letter. Robinson explained that she couldn’t understand why the man was so upset.
This was not the first time she had scoured the obituaries. No other people had expressed disgust at receiving letters from her in their moment of grief, she added.


The man who received the letter explained to the reporter that, during times of grief, it is understandable that one would want to be surrounded by family and friends. However, he said it was not appropriate for a random stranger to send a grieving person a letter with an enclosed tract in an effort to proselytize (or ‘witness’) to you.
Robinson said she was sorry and meant no harm.
McKee asked Robinson why she would send a pamphlet to someone who belongs to a Presbyterian Church. To a non-Jehovah’s Witness, it seems to defy logic and serve no purpose. To one familiar with Jehovah’s Witness culture, it is a way to count hours toward field service.
Witnessing to people who are grieving and emotionally vulnerable is a cruel way to recruit potential converts. It reminds me of ambulance chasers, the phenomenon of lawyers following a road accident victim to hospital in the hopes of drumming up business.
Reading the obituary section for the sole purpose of evangelizing to grieving families to count time for a field service report is reprehensible, and a sad indictment of the extremes to which Witness indoctrination can lead.
 
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← Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
 
56 Responses to A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries

 Jeffreycanning says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:56 am
 
Sad… What will the family destroying morons come up with next…
Reply
 
 
 ForestDaughter says:

 September 26, 2015 at 1:23 am
 
There used to be an elderly sister in my old congregation who did that too. Ghoulish thing to do, especially as they’re more concerned in putting in a report than helping the actual people they intrude upon at their time of grief.
Reply
 
 
 anonymous says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:19 am
 
That practice goes back as far as I can remember. If I recall, it was suggested in the Kingdom Ministry and when a person can’t get out in service that month or for shut-ins, that has always been the practice. I have done it myself and never gave it a thought.
Reply
 
 JBob says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:37 pm
 
@anonymous – yes, it is an old, sanctioned process, and as the Witness indicated, most people don’t give it a second thought or toss literature. Some persons return “thank you” notes but express “not interested” replies. ABW–always be witnessing.. Sounds familiar? It should, the sales industry uses “ABC” – always be closing to put emphasis on converting interest into a final sale. While it can be bemoaned that one is indoctrinated to follow Watchtower suggestions without thought, the real outrage is that a corporation is masquerading as a religion and uses high-pressure sales tactics to fatten its coffers.
This goes beyond the typical “trapped-in-a-plane-seat” beside the typical “have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior” opening because while both are annoying tactics, the presented tactic is clearly designed to garner additional adherents and their time and resources.
Reply
 
 
 
 Holy Connoli says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:32 am
 
How about if the JW who was counting time from the death of someone who is mentioned in the Obituaries
 contacted them and offered or brought some food or did a loving errand to help the grieving person and not mention anything about Religion or try to “WITNESS” to them?
That would show some true concern and love. Oh that is right..JW’s don’t do that bc they have to forefront the religion of the WT at all times.
Reply
 
 
 Joanna Foreman says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:00 am
 
I am ashamed to say that as far back as 1965 when I was fresh out of high school and had just signed up to regular pioneer, the Watchtower encouraged such activity as a way to “witness” to people who otherwise who might not be reachable. So, I did it for an hour before we met for field service, thus counting my time all the way through the car group arrangements, etc., Sure I felt yucky about it, but after all a girl’s gotta get her time in one way or the other. Now I still feel ashamed after all of these years have past. I’m so glad I finally found my way out of that group of disgusting people.
Reply
 
 Gail Nadeau says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:15 am
 
Joanna, I was a pioneer around that time period as well, and I can remember doing the same thing when the weather was too bad to go door to door. It was something that the WTS encouraged, and when you need to get those 100 hours per month, you couldn’t just wait out a rainy or snowy day. You had to do something to get that time in.
Reply
 
 
 
 alanv says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:15 am
 
This has been going on for years. Particularly older or disabled publishers would use this to get their time in. Now they can report just 15 mins a month maybe it is not as widespread. I can certainly understand how a grieving relative would not want to receive a letter or phone call from a completely unknown person.
Reply
 
 
 JOE SMITH says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:23 am
 
What happened in my last but one congo is the Pioneers used to walk through the local cemetery and approach people who were visiting and tending the graves.
Reply
 
 
 JJ says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:57 am
 
I never heard about doing this kind of thing and happily I never did anything like this.
 I can tell you though, when you believe that you have The Truth and you are sure that these people will see their dead loved ones pop up out of the ground and run into their arms, you FEEL like telling anyone grieving about that great hope. I’m glad that I had enough sense to not preach to anyone while I was aware of them grieving. (Who knows what the people were going through when we went to their homes?!?)
 The really horrible things related to this article are: that the Watchtower Society has convinced it’s Jehovah’s Witnesses members that people love it when you tell them about the hope you have and secondly, that these JW’s are ‘counting their time’ and therefore doing things that people wouldn’t normally do.
 Being brainwashed for many years myself, I was under the belief that most of the people out there were thrilled to have us preach to them and that I needed to simply work harder because I was the problem in not reaching people in the right way. These were outright lies from the Governing Body and its programs and publications! Telling us how everyone else if finding “success” in the ministry and we should be able to as well. Stories like this one about people being very perturbed by JW’s are never discussed, and in fact are knowingly swept under the carpet. I had to slowly figure it out for myself that the vast majority of people find the JW message irritating, to say the least! If the ‘brothers and sisters’ would ever hear what people really feel about them, I’m sure it would be a shock and a splash of cold water.
 Finally, by making JW’s ‘count their time’ in the preaching work, they are being forced to do things they would never do normally. The higher-up guys have access to easier forms of field ministry where they count their hours doing things they enjoy. (My fat and useless father in law loves going to the local jail. I don’t know how it works exactly but I imagine some of the prisoners love visiting with him just to get out of their cells for a bit of a break. My father in law ‘hogs’ this ‘privledge’ and any other easy one, for himself and his friends, thereby forcing the less connected JW’s into doing whatever they can to reach people)
 These poor duped JW’s are anxious to have some good experiences to relate at the meetings or to tell the Circut Overseer when he comes around.
 It is only when the complaints escalate into legal threats that the leaders of the congregation will warn the local JW’s to lay off in doing something. I heard about not calling people in the early mornings trying to reach them before they went to work.
Reply
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:04 am
 
Of course I would prefer to not to get anything from JWs when a member of my family passes away, but I’ll be dam to live in a country when laws are passed that would limit the freedom of speech to such an extent.
My prime problem with JWs is that they limit the freedom of speech WITHIN their group. If laws are to be passed, they should be on advocating “hate” through shunning.
Reply
 
 
 Flying Gabriel says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:16 am
 
I used to do “prison witnessing” for years. Characteristically, inmates would be either members of witness families, or those wishing to enhance their status at parole hearings by engaging in a Bible education program. I even attended a parole hearing where a release date was granted to the inmate … that was the last day I saw him. It was largely ineffectual as a proselytising avenue. I was just happy to count the (considerable) time and provide assistance for their release. I’m pleased to say I left the religion 13 years ago, but retained my interest in volunteer inmate support which I still engage in a far more meaningful way to this day.
Reply
 
 
 
 Garrett says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:03 am
 
That was not uncommon at all in the U.S.
 I think my mother did it as well.
Reply
 
 
 Ready 4 to Fade says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:09 am
 
This is a tried and true method of JW indoctrination, catching people at emotionally vulnerable points in their life. Whether it was the special preaching campaign after 9/11 or Witnesses patrolling cemeteries and hospital waiting areas…the more distraught the better. Most of us if we look back at our first encounter with Witnesses could see that the door was opened by some major life event.. Death, divorce, job change, geographic relocation, some trigger that left us or our parents open targets to the emotional pleas of this organization. One common scenario was the stressed out newly housebound mother, stuck at home without a career or spousal support in the home eager for any adult interaction that might come knocking on the door. No doubt many of us could trace our family’s spiritual heritage to emotional opportunism.
Reply
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:01 am
 
That’s true. Even Jesus said he came to heal the sick, not help does who were doing fine. In that line of idea, after some serious events in my life, it is than that I have decided to leave the JW! So, sometimes, such events make you take the right decisions!
Reply
 
 
 Anna says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:32 am
 
Yes its pretty obvious that in that they get people interested in them at major lows in their life. I remember once I was snapped up,thinking I do hope this is all genuine I really do ! I was single and was very vulnerable and guess what? I was a target and found the whole experience a nightmare. How could the cultish clan do that to ordinary loving folk. I got out! Never again. May God forgive them.
Reply
 
 
 
 Marty says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:23 am
 
Hell, I used to visit graveyards and look for the most recent burial plot and leave “When someone you love dies” brochure and the “Comfort for the depressed” tract along with a meeting invite! My God, how awful is that!!! I’m so glad I’m now free and enjoying life after 23 years of servitude to the .ORG!
Reply
 
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:34 am
 
mmm What can I say .A relative of mine Specifically targetted families who’s children went missing. she told me that in passing one time. I said nothing at the time but it seemed a bit off i thought.Now i think it is perverted morbid and very sick indeed.So ashamed to know this was done. She is still alive now and i suppose still does this.rl
Reply
 
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:56 am
 
For once, I don’t agree with an article on this website. When I was a JW, I thought of doing exactly the same thing. The only reason I did not is that most obituaries do not include the address of the family.
If you are 100% convinced that you have the ultimate truth, you will take every possible routes to get your life saving message accross.
JWs can complain about the exact same thing from other religious groups like the catholics. A lot of flyers from these religions are available in salons and even provided in public hospitals in Canada.
I seriously don’t see the point of questioning the motives of this person. It is much easier to write letters to “Not at home”s than to do what she did. Sure, I don’t agree with reporting hours, but I don’t think anyone has the right to question her motives simply because we don’t agree with her message.
Heck, when members of my family die, people tell me: “He/she is in heaven now”. Am I going to question their motives for sharing what they believe to be a comforting message?
Reply
 
 
 HomebytheSea says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:07 am
 
My parents’ congregation actually does cemetery witnessing! They drive around & look for people grieving @ gravesites & witness to them. I can’t even believe that people tolerate this!!
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:05 am
 
This comes as no surprise, jw funeralls are scripted by wtbts and they are basically told not to dwell on the person that has died, but to use the time to give a fine witness about the truth. Disgusting!
Reply
 
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:42 am
 
Not something I would ever do myself. I would feel I was intruding on something that was painfully private. If I met someone on the door to door I may have asked if they would welcome a brochure or tract, but that would be up to the person. To seek out these poor people, to me, is a bit macabre and would make me feel uncomfortable. I believe this sister had good intentions. I am sure she is feeling terrible now. The TMS book teaches tact. Now that is to be done away with, one can only wonder what will be allowed under ‘personal judgement’.
Reply
 
 
 Pascal says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:54 am
 
This is very sickening and if not,reprehensible. Taking advantage of individuals in their weakest hours of needs speak volumes about this cult group mentality.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:59 am
 
Pascal, I really looked forward to seeing my dead loved ones again in the resurrection and to me, I thought of it as a wonderful hope to those people. That man might have gotten mad at what that “sister” did but she really thought she was giving those people a hope. I don’t believe it’s just about counting time.
Reply
 
 ruthlee says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:46 am
 
That’s true no sincere witness would think they were doing anything untoward but really! If you think about it people in their time of grief do not want to be bothered about thinking about our complicated belief system. If the witnesses would just think for once then they would not impose upon strangers. The point about counting time i would almost guarantee they would not write to these ones if they could not count the time so for my twopence worth i think its well intended but heartless. If your that convinced God needs them to know then pray rather than prey.Leave it to him rl
Reply
 
 
 
 
 Sardec says:

 September 26, 2015 at 9:05 am
 
I too have done this. I did it with the best intentions tough, I was one of those witnesses who ‘made time count instead of counting time’.
Reply
 
 
 San Diego says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:38 am
 
I knew a sister who used to do this (maybe she still does). Once she got a reply she told a few of use about. I don’t remember everything the man wrote, but “I find what you are doing to be very disturbing” was the jist of it.
 Also, our Kingdom Hall at the time was directly across from a cemetery, so a few sisters early in the morning would go through the cemetery to try and find anyone at a gravestone, to “get their time started”. I was usually with them, but I don’t recall ever taking part in that. I was considered a “hardcore” Witness, but even I had my boundaries, and preaching to people who were grieving was one of them (unless it was a non-Witness I knew personally, but even that I feel embarrassed about just thinking of it now).
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 10:41 am
 
Anoyamass, ever given a thought to all innocent children and babys that youre loving god ‘jehovah’ is going to destroy at armagedon because they didnt buy a watchtower. Best not metion all those jws that died who could of had blood fractions after god changed his mind!
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:21 pm
 
@1914 ha ha ha, Are you referring to my comment and if so, did you spell my name that way to be insulting?
Reply
 
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 11:02 am
 
The wbts have got so much blood on there hands, i just cant see anyway of defending them in anyway.Even if they are brainwashed theres still a thing called humanity.
Reply
 
 
 LOL says:

 September 26, 2015 at 11:19 am
 
Good job on the reporter on going out to get Ms. Robinsons point of view. That doesn’t happen very often. And its obvious that the grieving father has an agenda towards the JWs. Reaching out to a news station to air laundry in public? He didn’t even have the balls to go to Ms. Robinson his damn self and confront her with his beef. If he was so hell bent on questioning her motives, he should’ve gone there himself or shown up at the local hall to square things away, instead of having a reporter do his dirty work. What a coward.
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:25 pm
 
Go away.
Reply
 
 
 Robert67 says:

 September 26, 2015 at 1:06 pm
 
I know many witnesses at our and surrounding halls that have done this as well as take advantage of a local hospice center with friends that work there and have access to data. Hours are spent on field trips to the local library in order to take advantage of their resident database getting names, addresses and phone numbers in order to send letters and call at dinner time with their preaching. This is more likely the method that was employed to get this grieving mans information. I applaud this man for going straight to the media with what is definitely unwanted solicitation.
 I’ve been thinking about creating a large poster board with http://www.jwsurvey.org and http://www.jwfacts.com printed on it and then standing next to publishing carts with my own preaching set up. Who would I report the hours to? Any suggestions? I desperately need someone to acknowledge my efforts in rounded off hours and occasional padded math. Just kidding, I’m the guy with the preaching cart. I really do believe that it takes a special kind of stupid to stoop to the level of Ms.Robinson. The message she was trying to share is of the most sensitive sort and definitely not something you do by mail. Shame on her for not getting her butt off her letter writing station and actually visiting this gentleman if she was so compelled. She forgets that it is supposed to be angels and Holy Spirit directing her preaching work and not the scavanging like a vulture through the local Time’s. Shame on you and every other false witness Mrs. Robinson. In Job we read where his elder buddies messed up as he was going through loss and hardship and that was the moment they opened their mouths. They couldn’t leave well enough alone, which was praying for job and crying with him. Ms. Robinson needs to realize that being a witness she is more than likely uneducated, so even if she knows what the man needs to hear, she will have no real education and manner as to how to share without offending and coming off as ignorant. (Which by definition is every last home schooled and school drop out in the entire borg. I really want to see that t-shirt JW.BORG in blue and white.
Reply
 
 
 EverydayExplorer says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:21 pm
 
LOL, you are obviously feeling incredibly hurt by life. I don’t know what else to say, other than I hope that life gets less painful for you, more loving.
Reply
 
 
 
 Mama Joy says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:08 pm
 
They are giving a new meaning to chasing after ambulances.
Reply
 
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:23 pm
 
I think it’s most likely that the sister, although surely counting her time, was mainly motivated by good intentions. But, then she said, “We are not trying to change anybody[‘s] religion”. And that’s just not true. It’s actually dishonest to the point of being comically ironic. Changing people’s religion is the PRIME GOAL of witnessing. So there’s no letting her off the hook for that.
Of course, I’m guilty of uttering that same stupid phrase a few times myself years ago. But I’m not letting myself off the hook either. It’s just one more thing to be profoundly embarrassed about…
As for the people jumping to the JW’s defense: Remember, the biggest offense that took place in this story is that a grieving man was contacted by a cult member wanting him to become a cult member too. Don’t let your sympathy for the sister obscure the disgusting reality of what took place in this story.
Even the sweetest little JW grandmother out there trying to push the perverse teachings of this dangerous cult on others is guilty, albeit unwittingly, of something very serious, and very wrong.
Reply
 
 JBob says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:59 pm
 
I honestly told a door-opener once “yes, I am here to convert you because I truly believe…” It short-circuited the presentation and I got the ‘stink-eye’ from the field group lead who was with me, but I felt much better about myself rather than lying in the quest and cover of the fog of “theocratic warfare”. And, then I knew–
Reply
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 2:38 pm
 
Good on ya, JBob. I developed a more direct approach fairly quickly myself. Starting out though, if I used the “not here to convert anybody” line, (I realize now) it was as a cowardly way to TRY to make the householder think that I was there for a less offensive reason than I really was. Gross.
Reply
 
 
 
 
 ShunnedForLife says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:31 pm
 
Having been an insider, I can affirm that Witnesses avoid “worldly” people to a great extent, unless they are witnessing to them.
This woman did not do this merely to be kind, as she asserts, but with a view to witnessing. The proof is in the pudding, the pamphlet she enclosed, which, of course, was JW ORG-produced and would have presented JW ORG teachings about death.
If she were truly neutral, with no agenda, why not have sent a Presbyterian tract? Or some flowers would have sufficed. It is bad form to present your own religion’s views/teachings about death to someone who already belongs to a church and may hold deep beliefs, and who you know holds different views, and who is grieving.
This is as inappropriate as J.W.’s calling Christmas morning and interrupting people opening presents and spending time with their families. This does not show respect for others’ beliefs, nor was this J.W. showing respect for this grieving father’s religious beliefs to capitalize on such a stressful and grief-filled time to present different religious views to someone in anguish.
Reply
 
 
 JBob says:

 September 26, 2015 at 12:53 pm
 
1914- you summed it up exactly. Even now, the trend is toward not having a person’s casket in a KHall, but only a “memory” service with a picture, but after a brief synopsis of that person’s history and service as a JW, the “celebration of life” is not there. It is primarily a way to pound the psyche of those attending and pondering on the mystery of life and death that your time could be “up” next, so “get right with Jehovah”.
Reply
 
 
 Ted says:

 September 26, 2015 at 1:37 pm
 
I don’t blame the sister, she’s a victim of brain washing.
 They’re all intimidated into believing their salvation rests
 on being free of blood guilt.
Even the sick and incapacitated feel guilty of not doing
 their share in the witnessing work, I have a relative who
 feels that way, and the org, doesn’t let up on them, but
 points out alternate ways such as letter writing. The
 F,S,report is important to the bro,or sis, in feeling part
 of the cong, and their elder will be looking for it.
Like all cults, members are tasked with recruitment and
 that is the orgs, only concern, numerical growth, cold
 hard figures. They’d never leave the 99 just to save one.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:29 pm
 
@Ted, I don’t blame that sister either. We all know the pressure to get time in service each month and Witnesses are victims, not predators. It’s the Watchtower Organization who are the predators. It costs a lot of money to have a car and pay for that car and the gas and insurance and upkeep etc. and take it in service and writing letters is a lot cheaper. We thought we were saving their lives. We didn’t do it because we liked bothering people.
Reply
 
 
 
 Grace says:

 September 26, 2015 at 2:50 pm
 
I can relate to why she did what she did to a point. Having lost a child & truly hanging on to the belief of the resurrection, I thought that I could help others through their grief.
I would watch the news & if a story came up where someone had lost their child, I instantly thought of wanting to contact them to reassure them. I even thought of sending them a tract or something to help because I felt their pain. But this is where I would stop at it being just a thought because I knew that somewhere in there it would be inappropriate to do this.
My only criticism to those that did this sort of thing is that it is not good form to sit there & use this as a way to get your time in. I was never big on field service so I couldn’t even relate to doing cold calling, door to door was bad enough for me.
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:12 pm
 
The hole set up from the wbts makes me sick. Get as many converts as you can, regardless of inappropiate timing or fealings others may have cause we want there cash.Guess what its true,i just found out from my uber elder dad, the world wide construction work has stopped.An elder for 40 years is dumbfounded!
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 4:43 pm
 
1914 do you have tangible proof of this? I’ve heard and seen reports of the construction work stopping but has a letter actually gone out to elders? can you get a copy of it and send it to Lloyd?
Reply
 
 
 
 Ocma says:

 September 26, 2015 at 3:43 pm
 
It’s just so impersonal.
 I have faded out, my mother, was never baptised but believed it was the ‘truth’ and many in the two local congos knew her well.
 It’s a small city. It would be very easy for them to call in to the house and express their condolences when she passed away before christmas last year. But no, the few cards received from the jw’s were having a quiet dig at me for no longer ‘serving Jehovah’, and made clear that if I wanted to welcome my mum back from the dead, I should really return to Jehovah.
 These cards were of NO comfort to myself, my dad nor my brothers.
 Yes, it is something they are encouraged to do, and many will think they are passing on some great hope, but, come on, it’s 2015 now, they need to get their heads into some fresh air and see that really, their preaching work is ineffective.
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:14 pm
 
Tara,all i know is my dad is the secutary here in the uk and he deals with other elders who were working on construction.The plug just pulled and there running around like headless chickens!
Reply
 
 Tara says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:31 pm
 
This is crazy. All this happening within a week… something major must have happened at Borg control. I spoke with one MS very ‘discreetly’ and he said we are going to have trouble keeping up with the chariot. Well I think the chariot has left the station and the GB missed it.
Reply
 
 
 
 FadingTruth says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:31 pm
 
For any JW apologetics lurking here, this example of writing to the bereaved from obituaries isn’t an isolated practice:
*** g95 6/22 p. 23 How I Benefited From God’s Care ***
“There I began to share in the ministry by writing letters to people whom the Witnesses had difficulty contacting in the house-to-house ministry. I also read the obituary columns and wrote to relatives of those who had recently died, enclosing comforting scriptures from the Bible.”
*** km 1/70 p. 8 par. 3 Presenting the Good News—By Letter ***
“Many in the congregation know that this sister has had good success in witnessing by mail… Some names she gets from the obituary column. Or if there is information in the local paper about new mothers, or engaged individuals, she writes them, sharing good news from the Scriptures to encourage them as they embark upon their new responsibilities.”
*** w67 6/1 p. 345 Letters—Not Outdated ***
“He had received a letter from a Witness who obtained his name and address from the obituary column in the newspaper. Though the man was a stranger to her, she had written a kind letter explaining the Bible’s glorious hope of a resurrection. The man concluded that surely he ought to look into an organization that would take the time to go from door to door and to write letters of comfort to people.”
*** w56 11/15 p. 688 Preaching by Writing Letters ***
“At one of the Society’s Bethel homes a brother, close to eighty years old, unable to climb stairs because of heart trouble, sends letters of comfort together with literature to those whose addresses appear in the obituary column because of having lost a loved one.”
Reply
 
 
 Catalina says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:32 pm
 
I asked an elder about counting time. The elder explained counting time is like a heart beat for the society to check so it can see how it’s members are doing spiritually as a whole. I answered I feel it’s an inaccurate way to tell. I feel witnesses are victims because listening to idiots turns people into morons. The JW religion is very manipulative and it lacks common sense. I say hate the sin without hating the sinner. Be understanding. Many people are here on this website looking for help and common sense. Waking up takes a while because of fear. Being helpful means using a little more self control sometimes. Be positive. Bullying doesn’t help, it causes a lot of damage. John Cedars is doing a good job at preventing cyber bullying on this site.
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:45 pm
 
anoyamouse, no dissrespect intended,but please dont forget,if jws dont count time,there considered inactive or weak.They will do whatever it takes as we all know.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 September 26, 2015 at 5:48 pm
 
@1914 ha ha ha, I know all about it. I was an “active” Witness from 1964 right up until last year, with 50 years under my belt in that cult.
Reply
 
 
 
 Alone in MD says:

 September 26, 2015 at 6:27 pm
 
My wife used to write to the funeral homes asking them to forward the letter to the grieving family. This was mostly done to get her “hours in”. This worked for a while until the families started to complain. The funeral homes are no longer forwarding the letters because of privacy issues. What a strange organization!!
Reply
 
 
 1914 ha ha ha says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:25 pm
 
Anoymous,i lost brother when he was 4 years old, and still to this day, 40 years on i still get ”why dont you come back to the truth, so you can see your brother again in the new order”. Crazy cult.
Reply
 
 
 JB Reezner says:

 September 26, 2015 at 7:32 pm
 
Every day, millions of active Jehovah’s Witnesses walk out into a world that SCREAMS OUT to them with an abundance of clearly-visible evidence that their worldview is wrong, and that they are in a cult. But they don’t hear it. Brainwashing is, of course, a real thing. And people who are brainwashed are rightly called “victims”. I was brainwashed for 9/10 of my life.
But it’s one thing to say that we don’t “blame” an indoctrinated JW for doing something they’ve been conditioned to do, but to go all the way to the point of feeling that they bear NO RESPONSIBILITY for what they do seems to be going a bit too far. I personally can’t go so far as to completely unburden myself of ALL responsibility for the cultish behavior and actions in my JW past, writing it all off as just a short-circuit in my brain. There were many specific occasions when I, quite simply, “should’ve known better”.
This story LITERALLY hits “close to home” for me, as this sister lives in a town that is less than a day’s drive away. The voice you hear from behind that door is EXACTLY the same, down-home, southern accent of DOZENS of active, older sisters who I STILL love, though I rarely encounter them anymore.
So no, the honest-hearted ones among these victims shouldn’t be personally vilified–which I haven’t done, nor would I do–but maybe neither should we see a story about a father having his period of mourning be interrupted by the attempt of a cult to capitalize on his intense pain, and our reaction to it mainly be overwhelming feelings of sympathy for the sister who got embarrassed by it a little.
Who knows? Maybe the sting of this experience could be for that sister the kind of thing that adds to a case possibly building in her mind against the cult. I hope so.
Anyway, I’m a lover, not a fighter. Not tryin’ to start no mess. I don’t have a mean bone in my body. I’m just holding active Witnesses to the same standards of accountability that I’m determined to hold myself to.
Reply
 
 
 vivian says:

 September 26, 2015 at 8:53 pm
 
Basically the same practice/ concept is highlighted in the sophia video where the character gives her classmate literature after she learns she is sad about her grandmothers death.
Reply
 
 
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13 Responses to Videos

 KtotheRAD "Konrad" says:

 August 25, 2013 at 6:55 pm
 
With every word they reveal and “impart” far more than they ever intended…
Reply
 
 
 george says:

 August 27, 2013 at 4:45 am
 
Sorry Cedars, I can only access the first video on my I pad. There are a lot of over sized play icons and they won’t work.
Reply
 
 
 Luke says:

 October 27, 2013 at 5:27 pm
 
Continue the good work on this site that expose what Watchtower Organization really are — a fanatic end-time driven cult that only serve interests of its leaders. I left this
 cult three years ago for good. My only regret is that I had not left the Watchtower Cult earlier! On Easter Sunday this year, I was baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and received into Eastern Orthodox Church, apostolic Church that preserved the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Cedar, you have my blessings of your work on this site that
 will yet help millions of JWs to see the truth of so-called ‘Truth’.
Reply
 
 
 Fred says:

 November 2, 2013 at 12:09 pm
 
Forget taking your numbers from a 1974 yearbook if you question the amount of those killed, interned, etc get the numbers from the Holocaust museum. You forgot to mention the ‘JEWS’ were and its quoted several times in the Watchtower publications as it is related in the bible, “ONCE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE” but they did not remain that because of their actions. Your quotes from WT publications are based on the latter that they fell out of favour in God’s eyes. They therefor were NOT written in an anti-Semitic nature. Many Jews have become JW’s over the years are they lesser beings because they were of Jewish blood?…ABSOLUTELY NOT! All races are equal so this video in my opinion is twisted in its presentation. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of Rutherford’s so called love letter to Adolf Hitler. No blinders on here, I have checked the facts. Sorry but this video paints an untruthful twist of events and statements about the WT as regards the comments on the Nazi’s and Jews.
Reply
 
 
 Palma says:

 February 28, 2014 at 3:48 am
 
Hi everybody! Hi cedars!
 I found this article about a discovery in egypt that brings light to the origin of story of joseph in the bible.
 What do you think?http://www.davidovits.info/the-lost-fresco-and-the-bible-my-new-book-in-french/
Reply
 
 
 Idris says:

 March 27, 2014 at 8:12 am
 
Thank you for this page, it has been a great help to me, as I seek the truth of the word of God, however I noticed in the video ‘Does the Bible speak of ‘Paradise Earth’ the speaker quotes Luke 21v43 twice, regarding Jesus word on the cross, there should be a correction note as the verse he mentions is in Luke 23 v 43.
 Keep up the good work
Reply
 
 
 Julia Orwell says:

 July 17, 2014 at 3:47 am
 
Been to internationals before and this elaborate souvenir thing is entirely new. The last one I went to in 2009, the last ones they had, had nothing like this so it’s not a matter of you having not noticed it in the past, it’s a matter of it being a new phenomenon.
 I theorize that the wt motives for this involve keeping the masses busy and therefore obedient. Jws would volunteer to do this because there are no other legitimate outlets for creative expression. Armageddon being near has nothing to do with it: it’s about keeping the sheeple busy and happy. Making stupid trinkets is also a team building activity as it involves jws working together, thus reinforcing the herd mentality jws have.
Reply
 
 
 frankie fernandez says:

 February 27, 2015 at 4:44 pm
 
dear friends I was baptized in 1974. Thank God I am no longer a member of the WT. Free at last and oh what a relief it is. A member of my former congregation who I considerd my best friend molested a minor. There was a big argument amognst the elders on the judicial committee. One elder who was a maverick, wanted to notify the police. But, instead they followed the instuctions of the society. They kept this crime against the child, hush hush. So as not to tarnish the name of Jehovah. But in reality it was a coverup to protect the wt’s reputation. Meanwhile this poor child that was raped has to carry the heavy burden of a victim for the rest of thier lives without compensation and without justice. While the abuser has remaind a member in good standing. The congregation he is attending now has not been notified that he is a sexual preditor.
Reply
 
 
 Kirtley W. Burggraf says:

 March 11, 2015 at 11:16 am
 
Tell me, since governing body members are elected (replacing someone who dies) at what point do do they become “divinely inspired” or “spirit guided”? Were they always thus in the lower ranks or does this just “happen” the moment that they are appointed? What’s Watchtower’s take on this?
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 Alone in MD says:

 March 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm
 
Regards your video on the Memorial Service. I am one of those “non believers” married to a baptized witness. I go to just keep the peace but I’ve made it known that I consider this service one of the worst religious ceremonies that I have ever been to. “Anointed What”. Also it was announced at last years meeting that “this may be the last memorial service”. They are at it again. Thanks for the great videos.
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 frankie fernandez says:

 May 10, 2015 at 9:50 pm
 
IF CHRIST WAS ENTHRONGED IN 1914, WHY ARE THE WITNESES STILL CELEBRATING THE MEMORIAL? CHRIST SAID THAT AFTER HIS ARRIVAL NO ONE WAS TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORIAL .ALSO HE SAID THAT THE DAY OF HIS PRESENSE, IT WILL BE LIKE LIGHTNING FROM ONE POINT OF THE EARTH TO ANOTHER. LIGHTNING TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF 3500 MILES PER SECOUND. SO IT WILL TRAVEL AROUND THE GLOBE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALL EYES WILL SEE HIM. NOT LIKE THE WTS THAT SAYS WE ARE IN HIS INVISIBLE PRESENSE.
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 pj wilcox says:

 July 31, 2015 at 3:21 am
 
I watched the latest video of the inept elder being questioned by the commission. Who prepared this man for testimony? You all are aware of the dentist who shot Cecil the lion in Kenya? Well his life is over. He is in hiding. What he did ,did not break laws in Kenya and his is in a world of trouble with public sentiment. But this elder being questioned is far worse. He covered deeds that drove people to think of killing themselves. Should he not go into hiding? Is his life over? Has he know conscience? Emotion, caring? You know the answer. Bet ya, damage control is working overtime on this.
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 Adrian says:

 September 8, 2015 at 3:32 am
 
I think the Royal Commission videos demonstrate that fragility of the governance within the WT society. Yes, it’s an Australia branch issue but cross examination only points to the seat of control on which the governing body members sit. Everything starts and stops with the governing body, they set the policy but where are they? Sitting comfortably in NY watching from a distance ready to abdicate any responsibility whatsoever. A governing body governs and leads but I see no leadership I see the followers talking and being bashed around the head with questions, all too easy for the legal team.
However, it might just be me but does anyone else not see the lawyer’s gap in knowledge regarding the fundamental rationale for the WT society policies, they fall back in their comfort zone knowing that they can say ‘well we don’t have the authority to go beyond the bible.’
It’s this gap in knowledge of the legal representatives which the WT society exploit. I mean nobody is going to ask ‘ where actually did this translation come from anyway?’ What were the academic qualifications of the translators? Is there a possibility that you have interpreted things wrongly or even worse, translated things incorrectly? If there’s a possibility that your interpretation on how to deal with modern day child abuse cases in congregations may be flawed, then are you in agreement that your policies could result in lasting harm to victims of abuse? In my view that translation is the ‘elephant in the room’ every scholar knows it’s perverse but no one is holding this cult to account. So easy to say it’s all in the bible but should they really be saying it’s all in the NWT instead?
The WT society in the videos almost give of an innocence as if to say, ‘ but that’s what we understand from the scriptures’, and I think it works in their favor, but a savvy legal representative would do well to tease out the basis for the rendering of certain verses on which doctrine, policy and organisational decisions are based. So far the WT Society appears to be one step ahead because their authority is not a person but a book, which they are ‘only trying to understand and live by’. Expose the origin of the NWT and the basis for so many ridiculous uncaring decisions is called into question.
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