Watchtower blatantly instructing Publishers to lie for financial gain

[Jack Ryan]

A letter from the Spain branch was sent to elders informing them about what to do if anyone is assaulted on the carts/trolleys during public witnessing.

The letter is dated 10th July 2019 and includes a sheet with instructions that must be included with each cart. This means that we now have a legitimate document to be able to reason with active JWs.

 

The document is entitled "What to do in the case of aggression during public witnessing activity?"

First point it mentions is to call the police IMMEDIATELY, not the branch, hence highlighting that Watchtower value preaching carts more than the lives of abused children (where the Bethel branch must be called first).

 

But the real point of this post is this: Look at point 3. "If you file a complaint at the police station, what should you say?" Amongst other things, it clearly states that "carts must be reported as the property of the brothers involved in this incident" and they've even underlined it. They stress that JWs "should not say that the carts are the property of the religious denomination or congregation."

 

With me so far? Maybe you don't see anything wrong with this so let me refer you to the Elder's manual (Shepherd ver 2019, Chapter 23, point 9: Public Witnessing Equipment).

There it clearly states that "The equipment will remain the property of the congregation."

 

So why are Watchtower clearly asking their members to lie to the police in an official report? Go back to point 3 in the instructions to get the answer:

 

"The police will probably ask who owns them in order to facilitate the option of asking for compensation." Ah good old money... at the root of most things that motivates Watchtower.

So next time you see the JWs on the carts, ask them if their conscience permits them to lie to the police, not for "theocratic warfare" but for monetary compensation? What would Jesus think about that?

[Jack Ryan]

I do not think a quicker reimbursement is the motive for this blatant lie. It is to avoid liability. Over and over, it has been stressed that our ministry is a “personal expression of our faith.”

We are not allowed to use the congregation’s name on applications for public witnessing, or as the entity to get insurance, etc. Again, they don’t want the congregation to be held liable if something goes wrong.

To have a police report show that the cart is property of the congregation would make the final connection they are working so hard to avoid.

[John Houston]

That is correct. As a worker on the public carts, to get those permits, the congregation does not get insurance for us, but we can, if we do wish to.  Having liability insurance for this activity if one thinks where they are situated and during the short period of time they are there is called for then, they should get it, if they can also afford it.

[John Houston]

By the way me and my wife have it!

[Srecko Sostar]

7 hours ago, John Houston said:

liability insurance for this activity

First time hear about this . How that works, please?

[Jack Ryan]

In August I shared a screenshot from a policy letter wrt Jehovah’s Witnesses’ literature carts. In September they have revised the letter. Are the carts & literature the property of the brothers or not? Was the lie now or then? https://t.co/WWfPKR3vHx pic.twitter.com/vxJz5QEPRD

— J. M. Wynne (@jasonmwynne) September 13, 2019

[Guest Indiana]

And if the case you get compensation where the money will go? to the publisher or the congregation or the WT? 🤔