If witnesses don't give a tithe of their income, where does the governing body obtain its income?

Oh, there is no need to compel anybody to give a tenth of their income, or pass round a collection plate. At the back of every Kingdom Hall are boxes into which Witnesses can leave their contributions for the upkeep of their Hall, for the literature they order or for any other project that requires their financial support.

Then there are a whole variety of ways in which loyal Witnesses can support the organisation. If you open up the Watchtower article in the link below and go to the end, you will see how the Society gets funding:

"As in the apostle Paul’s day, many today “set something aside,” or budget, an amount of money and place it in the congregation contribution boxes labeled “Worldwide Work.” (1 Cor. 16:2) Each month, congregations forward these contributions to the office of Jehovah’s Witnesses that serves their country. It is also possible for you to send donations directly to a legal entity that is used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in your country. To learn the name of the primary legal entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in your country, please contact the branch office that serves the country. The address of the branch office can be found on www.jw.org. The types of donations that you can send directly are the following:

OUTRIGHT DONATIONS Donations of cash, jewelry, or other valuable personal property. Include a letter indicating that the cash or the items are an outright donation.

CONDITIONAL DONATION ARRANGEMENT Donations of cash with the condition that it can be returned if needed by the donor. Include a letter stating that the donation is conditional.

CHARITABLE PLANNING In addition to gifts of money and valuable personal property, there are other methods of giving to benefit Kingdom service worldwide. These are listed below. Regardless of the method or methods you would like to use, please first contact the branch office that serves your country to see which methods are available in the country. Since legal requirements and tax laws vary, it is important to consult qualified tax and legal advisers before choosing the best way to donate.

Insurance: A donation made by specifying an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or a retirement/pension plan.

Bank Accounts: Bank accounts, certificates of deposit, or individual retirement accounts set up as a trust or made payable on death to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in accord with local bank requirements.

Stocks and Bonds: Stocks and bonds donated to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses as an outright gift or by means of a Transfer on Death agreement.

Real Estate: Salable real estate donated to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, either by making an outright gift or, in the case of residential property, by reserving a life estate to the donor, who can continue to live in the residence during his or her lifetime.

Gift Annuity: Money or securities donated to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses under an arrangement where the donor, or someone designated by the donor, receives a specified annuity payment every year for life. The donor receives an income-tax deduction for the year in which the gift annuity is established.

Wills and Trusts: Property or money may be bequeathed to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses by means of a legally executed will or by specifying the entity as the beneficiary of a trust agreement. This arrangement may provide certain tax advantages.

By using such methods of charitable giving, many have been able to help support our religious and humanitarian activities worldwide and maximize their tax benefits."

I have no idea of how much humanitarian support they provide, but it's heartwarming to know about all the tax benefits Witnesses can obtain. I've never yet heard of any church that goes to these lengths to solicit money out of the membership. The Governing Body are to be commended on their inventiveness and ingenuity.

LM

You have to understand the mindset of that church to get it. One you get it you can see how rich they become.

The church members are so separated from the 'world' that even close relatives who are not JW's are no longer part of their common social circle. They have nobody but their 'friends' in their church.

One this goal has been reached by the church in converting their new members to behave this way, then all their monies and goals are church oriented. When a person dies, many leave all to the church.

Besides this, they have building programs where they get free labor force, and the members pay for the building materials for their new Kingdom hall. However, all branches, and kingdom halls are the legal property of the church. If then at times, in an area,(which has happened a lot lately) congregations need to be consolidated from perhaps e.g. 4. to 2, the buildings that are sold add profit to the society. When branch offices are closed, this generates lots of money also.

In Scandinavia and around the world, many branches have been closed. Who gained do you think?

And since all the labor was free, all the building material usually donated, paid with donated money, land many times donated, - is it any wonder that this organization is extremely rich?!

I think they may be as bad or worse as the Catholic church in this.

It's been said that time is money

.

I really don't think God is short on cash. He is capable of paying his workers.

Seems like it would be better if we give our heart, soul and strength as well as our own time to Him, instead of money.

The governing body is Our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit . . . They don't have much use for US dollars, or the banks that store them last I heard.

...Tell The Clergy To Get A Job...Carpentry...Tent-Making...

...Feed The Multitude With The Help Of Miracles...

There are no "prophets" - only humble men serving the congregations.

You must surely know by now the finest details of the JWs accounts.

The local cong accounts are read out every month and the details posted on the hall board.

The governing body receive room and board and a small allowance for personal expenses (like soap, shampoo, etc).

Some of these men have worked at careers and jobs before going to Bethel, and they would of course be able to apply for their personal Social Security payments as any working citizen can and does.

, our own living expenses, our own ministry expenses, our own "gifts of mercy" to help others, and we also give as we can to help others obtain literature. We also help in the upkeep of those who volunteer their time and energy to produce the literature.

But very few Witnesses give a tenth of their income. They can if they so desire - that is up to them and what they are able to afford. I know of some who give more than a tenth. But I know of many more who are unable to give a tenth.

Jehovah sees to it that all expenses are covered, and it is not a burden or hardship or a requirement on anyone.

Look at it this way -

There are 8 million Witnesses who attend meetings regularly. And if you add another couple million visitors who come regularly, every week, that is 10 million.

If each Witness and visitor were to put ONE PENNY in the contribution box every week, that would be $100,000 contributed every week to the world wide work.

If that ONE PENNY were contributed 52 weeks in a year by EVERYONE, that totals $5,200,000.

It does not take a lot to make much.

So most Witnesses are able to give a few dollars every month - so now we can see how it adds up quickly. WITH OUT TITHING!!

Jehovah loves a cheerful giver - and he only expects a person to do what is in the power of their hand to do. Not more than they can.

If you go out online to the JW.ORG site, and search tithing, you will see the history of tithing, why it was there in the history of God's people, and why it is not a requirement for Christians today.

what do they need money for in the first place.

or, here's a wacky idea - they could go out and earn some money if they need it...

They either work secular jobs or get pensions or social security income like most people do.

Our elders have jobs or get retirement pay to support themselves and their families. They do not get paid to be elders in the congregations.

I don't really care.

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