Is it considered "passing the plate" ?

[Shiwiii]

The back cover of Nov 2018 wt magazine has a full page asking "What gift can you give to Jehovah?"  There are a few ways to give your "gift" and are explained. Using your web browser or jw library app, you can set up recurring donations. 

How is this not equivalent to passing the plate? 

 

[Shiwiii]

God’s Kingdom Rules! pages 195 & 196

Chapter 18: How Kingdom Activities Are Financed

“It Will Never Beg nor Petition Men for Support”

7 Brother Russell and his associates refused to imitate the money-raising schemes so common in the churches of Christendom. In the second issue of the Watch Tower, under the heading “Do You Want ‘Zion’s Watch Tower’?” Russell stated: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.” (Hag. 2:7-9) Over 130 years later, The Watchtower and the organization that publishes it are still going strong!

8 Jehovah’s people do not beg for money. They do not pass collection plates or send out letters of solicitation. Neither do they use bingo, bazaars, or raffles to raise money. They hold to what the Watch Tower long ago said: “We have never considered it proper to solicit money for the Lord’s cause, after the common custom . . . It is our judgment that money raised by the various begging devices in the name of our Lord is offensive, unacceptable to him, and does not bring his blessing either upon the givers or the work accomplished.” [Footnote: The Watch Tower, August 1, 1899, page 201.]

[Shiwiii]

This new wt sure looks like a "letter of solicitation" according to the definition. I wonder if this is the reason why the publication has been suspended (no more printed books and such).  Is this a way the wt can still be correct according to their own statement????

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

BINGO!