The New Donation Arrangement

[GodsWordIsTruth]

My COBE just read the letter regarding the new "donation" Arrangement.

After reading the letter he said that it was fresh off the "governing body's desk" and saying the governing body PERSONALLY wrote this letter (because of the letterhead).

While on stage he said that just a few minutes ago, he was handed an envelope with a message the congregation recieved from the GB today.The congregation erupted in applause as he held back tears as he announced that our $46,000+ loan was forgiven.

What is with the melodramatics? He gave the usual lines invoking the hard work of the GB , The GB recognizes this is a big year and Jehovah is speeding up the work and clearing our debts? ?? This system is on the way out?

I walked out. ..again. An very older sister who I love dearly was disfellowshipped tonight. Her daughter hinted that she was dissed for apostasy. I've never ever known anyone personally dissed for that. If they are throwing old ladies out of the "ark" they surely do not care about me

I am resolved to partake publicly in the memorial next year.

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[KeepOnSeeking]

We had our letter read tonight as well. I could tell that the elder reading the letter was very uncomfortable with the content. Our congregation was in silence the entire time. It was clear that the letter was not receiving the warmest welcome. We will be having slips passed out next week so we can commit to our monthly amount.

I sat and literally shook my head in disappointment as it was being read. Even though I knew this was coming and read the letter ahead of time, I still felt sick to my stomach.

We have become the Catholic Church. We have the hierarchy with our own version of the Pope. We teach the traditions of men as doctrine. We now require our publishers to commit to a monthly payment.

Without exaggeration, 'the slave' was mentioned 15+ times throughout the meeting tonight through comments and talks. Our obedience to 'the slave' was highly emphasized as a prerequisite for our salvation. Jesus was only mentioned twice the entire meeting--the final sentence of the opening and closing prayers. Brothers and sisters, I do not know how much longer I will be able to sit through these meetings anymore.

[KeepOnSeeking]

We now require our publishers to commit to a monthly payment.

To revise this statement: We now pressure our publishers to commit to a monthly payment.

[GodsWordIsTruth]

Without exaggeration, 'the slave' was mentioned 15+ times throughout the meeting tonight through comments and talks. Our obedience to 'the slave' was highly emphasized as a prerequisite for our salvation. Jesus was only mentioned twice the entire meeting--the final sentence of the opening and closing prayers. Brothers and sisters, I do not know how much longer I will be able to sit through these meetings anymore.

I realize now that my COBE is definitely mixing his own brand Kool-Aid at home . The kind of devotion that he gives the GB ... the GB themselves are not asking for Even before my "awakening" I was very uncomfortable with the praise that he and the other elders shower on the GB. He recently said from the platform that watching the actions of the GB gives us a glimpse of Jehovah must be like .

The brothers at my hall constantly refer to the “slave” as the “brothers” throughout the meeting . The brothers wants us to do this, the brothers wants us to do that , the brothers are trying to help us to appreciate this , the brothers are trying to desperately help us to avoid that ….

My COBE’s zeal is strongly entrenched and misplaced. He is has no problem with checking someone on the spot with even slightly disagreeing with the “slave” . He apparently he has no problem throwing people out of the congregation who disagree either. He was definitely on the older sister’s JC committee. 3 of our elders stepped down and 2 moved to other congregation . We only have 3 elders at my hall for the last 2 years.

One thing I can say about him… He WITHOUT question loves Jehovah.. there is absolutely no denying that . I am drawn to him and dearly love him for that.

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[KeepOnSeeking]

During the Watchtower study once, the COBE in my congregation literally had us name off the members of the Governing Body in comments, one by one. This was probably two years ago or so, long before my 'awakening' as well, but I still felt really uncomfortable with it.

My congregation actually does say 'the slave' in their comments and not 'the brothers'. When we discussed the exodus from Egypt in the Bible reading a week or two ago, there were two separate comments about how our obedience to 'the slave' will be required for our salvation just like the Israelites' obedience to Moses. I guess this stuff just wears on me after a while.

[apollos0fAlexandria]

He recently said from the platform that watching the actions of the GB gives us a glimpse of Jehovah must be like .

[GodsWordIsTruth]

Exactly smh. If the end doesn't come this year he's gonna jump off a cliff.

What bothered me that he was disingenuous IMO. He acted as if he JUST found out moments before the meeting that the governing body "forgave" our loan. Truth is... He knew that they were going to do that weeks ago when he received the letter. He is connecting this event with Jehovah canceling debts because the system is ending soon :/

I kinda felt like... What else is this brother hiding/bending the truth about for his precious GB? I know he doesn't see it that way. Your comment on the other forum regarding the UN controversy helped me to see that my COBE may in fact be really and truly blind and completely vested. He would die for these men and he has said it. I think that he is more so willing to martyr himself for our "cause" however



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[MeletiVivlon]

To give with one hand while taking with the other is an age-old tactic to fool the masses. According to the letter, the loans are being forgiven, but the amount of the "voluntary" monthly pledge (I can't bring myself to call it a donation) is expected to equal or surpass the amount of the monthly loan payment. Of course, under the old arrangement, the loan would eventually be paid off. We were about four years from paying ours off. However, now the payments will continue into perpetuity.

Is there a bank or financial institution in the land that wouldn't run, not walk, to forgive loans under this type of arrangement?

[Bobcat]

To give a little historical perspective to the new arrangement:

*** w65 5/1 p. 278 Why No Collections? ***
WHY NOT NEEDED
To pressure members of a congregation in a gentle way to contribute by resorting to devices without Scriptural precedent or support, such as passing a collection plate in front of them or operating bingo games, holding church suppers, bazaars and rummage sales or soliciting pledges, is to admit a weakness. There is something wrong. There is a lack. A lack of what? A lack of appreciation. No such coaxing or pressuring devices are needed where there is genuine appreciation. Could this lack of appreciation be related to the kind of spiritual food offered to the people in these churches?

*** w70 2/15 p. 100 Is Your Minister Interested in You or Your Money? ***

How do you feel in church when the collection plate is passed? How do you feel when a minister visits you to persuade you to contribute more? This is one of the things an editor of a South African magazine wanted to find out. He devoted a year to a painstaking inquiry on the subject “The Church, the People and the Gulf Between.” Summing up his findings the editor wrote:

“The Church seems to have developed a compulsive habit of appealing for funds-without-end-amen, whether they be for building churches or halls, for repairs, organs, bells, salaries, pensions, Lent, Easter, Christmas, etc. etc. . . . Now the Church seems to take pledges and appeals for granted, and sometimes as many as three are running at the same time. . . . This preoccupation with money has also made some people take a second look at the Church, and ask themselves whether they really want to participate after all.”—Femina, May 18, 1967, pp. 58, 61.

Is it not understandable why some are taking a second look at the churches? The Bible makes it clear that giving should not be done “under compulsion” but from a ‘readiness of mind according to what one has.’ (2 Cor. 9:7; 8:12) So while it is not wrong for a minister to inform his congregation of reasonable church needs, the methods used ought to be in harmony with Christian principles outlined in the Bible.

[menrov]

Wow Bobcat....thanks for your research.