On April 1, 2009 a letter was sent from the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses to congregations in Spain informing them that the printing, shipping, and storage of Watchtower publications would be discontinued at the Madrid (Ajalvir) Branch office. The letter expressed confidence that the Spanish Witnesses would, despite the move, continue to generously support the world wide work and ends with an appeal to remain united under the direction of the Witness leadership.
At a glance, this story may seem like a non-issue, perhaps, just another example of reorganization and consolidation within a multinational corporation; however, the dissolution of the printing branch has caused considerable hard feelings among some of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain. To understand the reason we must first look at the history behind the branch office and external factors that some feel prompted this abrupt move.
Early in their history, Jehovah’s Witnesses began printing their trademark Watchtower magazines and associated books and tracts in-house at their “Bethel” headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. As the religious organization grew and expanded overseas, “branch offices” and printing facilities were established in different locations across the globe to support the preaching work in those territories. Such was the case in Spain in 1980, where the need for a local printing facility was explained at Spanish district conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
At the time, expansion at the headquarters in New York left the Watch Tower corporation without the finances to build offices and a printing facility in Spain and so the Spanish Witnesses were solicited to follow the example of the Israelites in bringing their gold, silver, and valuable items to Moses in order to build the Tabernacle. (Exodus 35:5–9) The 1983 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, reports the generous way that the Spanish Witnesses responded to this appeal.:
At the close of the conventions, people were lining up to contribute their jewels, gold and silver rings and bracelets, so that these could be turned into cash to finance the new project. At the convention in San Sebastián in the Basque country, an elderly sister handed over a heavy gold bracelet. When asked if she was sure that she wanted to donate such a valuable item, she answered: “Brother, it is going to do far more good paying for a new Bethel than it will on my wrist!”
With the unsparing financial support of the Spanish Witnesses a new branch office and printing facility was later constructed in Madrid. Being financed within the country, this new Bethel was a source of pride for the Spanish Witnesses. Many would make special trips just to tour the facility. Now some are hurt to watch as the printing presses that they gave their precious heirlooms to buy are shipped to Germany and the Bethel that they sacrificed their savings to build is anticipated to be sold, with the proceeds of the sale returning back to the US Watch Tower corporation that was originally unable to finance its construction. This situation might not be near as bitter if it were not for the events that transpired in Spain that some feel to be the impetus behind this relocation.
In December 2007, after an investigation, the Social Security office of Spain issued a ruling that the Madrid Bethel was required to provide a pension for those who worked in its printing facilities. Historically, Bethel workers receive no such benefits. Upon joining the Bethel “family” they take a vow of poverty and are inducted into a religious order, not unlike a Catholic monastery. While at Bethel they receive a small monthly stipend for personal items in addition to room and board. Though they are working in a modern printing operation, they are viewed as religious volunteers and have no workers’ compensation benefits or pension to support them, if injury, health, age, or other circumstances should force them out of their Bethel “home”.
In recent years, the Watch Tower has seen a fair share of corporate downsizing. This has been particularly felt in the United States headquarters, which has experienced significant cutbacks within the New York Bethel family. Many men and women in their youth were encouraged to make service at Bethel a “life career”, at the expense of family, education, and a secular career. They entered Bethel with the idea that they would stay there for the rest of their life, making it their “home”. Now as older adults they are feeling the sting of cutbacks as they are asked to leave their Bethel home, starting all over again in the secular world without pensions or without having contributed toward retirement or Social Security. This is the current situation in Madrid, where it is estimated that up to 200 Bethel workers are being asked to leave without reassignment.
The Spanish Social Security office’s decision to hold the Madrid Bethel responsible for providing benefits for printing factory workers and other members of the order presents a considerable financial hit in a religious organization that has already experienced hardships in tough economic times. This has caused some Spanish Witnesses to believe that the decision to relocate printing operations to another country is specifically motivated by the fiscal implications of the Social Security office’s decision, despite what the Branch Office claims about the reorganization being motivated by other factors such as simplification.
The Spanish Witnesses who might normally completely trust the decisions made by the organization’s leadership have reason to be suspicious. After losing their petition against providing Social Security benefits to Bethel workers, the Spanish Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses sent a letter to the local congregations announcing the new provision. In the letter, Witness leadership implies that it was they who petitioned Social Security for entry into the system in order to provide benefits. The congregations were kept in the dark about the real reason that these contested benefits were being provided to those in the religious order.
A similar situation occurred in the United States in 1990. At the time, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries was in the US Supreme Court, challenging taxes assessed on publications sold by the popular televangelist. Unknown to US Witnesses, the Watch Tower, filed a “friend of the court” brief (amicus curiae) in the Swaggart Taxation case, because the ruling would open the door for taxing the Watch Tower, as Jehovah’s Witnesses went door to door selling their Watchtower magazine and associated literature. When Swaggart lost the case, the Watch Tower, quickly adopted a new “donation arrangement”, where the magzines and literature were offered without a specified cost, and a donation request was made.
In a letter sent to all US congregations the Watch Tower explained the new arrangement saying,
“By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah’s people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from those who commercialize religion.”
No mention was made of the connection between the new “donation arrangement” and the Jimmy Swaggart case, and to this day, this is relatively unknown among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Similar to the way the Spanish branch handled the Social Security ruling, the US branch office spun the “donation arrangement” as a way of simplification without revealing the real reasons.
The Spanish Witnesses feel slighted that the religious organization they gave their life and finances to is now treating them so carelessly. Equally they are hurt by the lack of candor and honesty coming from headquarters about the current situation. Currently the discontent among the religion are organizing and making their case that any funds coming from the sale of the Bethel facility should be go back to the ones that financed it the first place. They suggest that such money could be used in a charitable way, such as providing a retirement facility for those in their ranks that are now aging, without provision, having giving their life in service of the religion. Ironically, they are vying to provide the very care that Witness leadership itself is reluctant to give.
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Source Documentation
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Spain), October 2, 2007 Investigation Report
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Spain), December 22, 2007 Ruling
Christian Jehovah’s Witnesses, September 7, 2008 Letter to Congregations
Christian Jehovah’s Witnesses, April 1, 2009 Letter to Congregations



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Thanks for keeping the wider JW and exJW commumity abreast of what is happening in Spain. This is just another example of the duplicitous nature of the Organization and the devious spin it puts on its activities to portray themselves as godly. My heart goes out to the dismissed bethelites and those that donated so much hard earned cash to this facility, only to see the Corporation attempt to swipe the liquidated funds back to Brooklyn with very little regard for their responsibilities to the brothers in Spain.
Lets hope that the voices protesting this move will be heard across the globe, especially by the information-starved congregations.
Also little known to JW’s is the fact that whenever a local Congregation wishes to build a new Kingdom Hall, and borrows the money from the Watchtower, the Society retains ownership of the property, in perpetuity, even after the loan has been repaid “in full”.
Imagine buying a home or a car, faithfully making the payments over many years, and when finally the loan is “paid in full”, the bank or dealer which provided the original loan, retains ownership of the home or car. In other words, upon fully meeting the obligations under the terms of the loan, ownership of the property is not conveyed to the “buyer”.
This is precisely the same situation with the Spanish Branch’s properties though, in this particular case, financing was not provided by the Society, but was wholly paid for by the Spanish brothers & sisters. Nevertheless, it remains property of the WTBTS.
I would hope that the Spanish brothers and sisters vigorously complain but, that is not likely given the “herd mentality” prevalent amongst JW’s. Sad indeed!
Sharon & Brice,
Thank you for visiting my blog and submitting your thoughts.
Thank you very much for your information! It’s very exactly and well documented. In Spain, to sell Bethel facilities will be a tragedy, not only bethelites, too: District and Circuit Overseers and Special Pioneers will be affected.
We are making an special campaign signing of petitions, to tray to stop the Governing Body objective. Anyone is invited!
http://www.efirmas.com/846244/index.html
Hi Friend.
I write from Spain.
Your information is very good. It is really so.
Thanks.
WOW It’s great to see a reader from Spain commenting on this great write-up about Spain. the world is definitely getting smaller and closer!
Thank you Anthony for that information, I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. They have gone in the way of all other religions. They have become greedy, self serving Pharisees, and have forgotten the wightier matters of the law. Woe to them when Christ arrives. I’m enjoying your site very much, and can see you have been blessed.
Agape to you and your family,
Grateful
Hi all
I,m as well from Spain. I’d like to add to all the above info which is very accurate, that two former Bethelite were to the local authorities. As a result, they imposed the taxation over social security.
Thank you for this useful article.
More people need to see the deceit and lack of candor of the WTBTS and it’s sharp practices. The holier than thou reasons given for various WT actions are quite nausiating when the real motives become apparent.
Please post a link to this article on any popular JW or ex JW forums that you might post to.
From a soft pedeling JW in Greece
My first visit here, found the blog accidentally really, and I just wanted to say I’ve enjoyed my visit and had some good reads while here
Juan
There is a Bible Principle that states if one does not look after members of ones household then they are worse than those without faith. When those of the household have contibuted to the establishment and running costs of the household,they need to be considered. Their personal well being is important,be it a pension or workers compensation. A worker is worthy of his or her wages. If an organization is avoiding these principles then they may find they themselves are pulling out an important foundation stone of their structure and could contrbute to its collapse finding it very difficult to reestablish again.
Well researched and informative.
Still cant figure out how to get the tunnel visioned JWs to read it though…as to them it is of course satanic and apostate material.
But I guess if just one would take the blinkers off it’s worth it.
A very informative article. thank you. Not enough follow the money investigation is done on the witnesses. Shame on them for the spin they try and put on everything!
This brought tears to my eyes.
I would love to share this with a few friends but the question always remain ( Can you prove it?)
Otherwise it’s just dismissed as wicked speculation.
Any suggestions for verifying the article would be a great help.
Any ideas on how to find the info?
Anyone.…
Stunned,
I tried to document this to the best of my ability which was limited by the fact that I don’t understand Spanish. Where possible I included links to the actual documents for review below the article. The commentary is of course my own. I’m sorry that I can’t offer more.
–Anthony
This is so very sad and heartwrenchingly typical. The leadership doesn’t serve.
I teared up when I heard how many who had dedicated their lives to work at Bethal for little if any wage, who were sent away to live with JW publishers.(strangers) No pension, no money, no health insurance. Who is expected to pay their doctor bills? Those accepting the responsibility? It should be the responsibility of the WT organizers!
They were shipped away after seeing that the ‘new Order’ has not arrived as prophesied by the Gov. body. So sad, yes…so very sad.
Thank you for the information affecting Spain. It hurts me to hear of their disappointment. But, perhaps all this will help them see the importance of not putting too much trust in men.
God bless all believers in Christ!
Thank you Tony for all the work you are doing. It is truly a pleasure reading your information.
Thank you, Anthony, for the information documented. A call for transparency is essential to put Watchtower GB operatives to shame, that is, if they have a conscience, on this, and other matters.
From Los Angeles, CA.
I finally received insight from all of these comments, in all matters that have concerned me for years, those that were asked to leave their living and working assignments at the WTS. That does not give a good witiness for them, because they shut the door on them and turned their backs on them. Judgmental and self serving organization. They also do that at local kingdom halls. Who then is the real beast?
I don’t see why anyone should be surprised or shocked. The WBTS has been doing this sort of thing for decades. They are a parasite. They will suck all they can get out of you and then discard the carcus. If you object or tell others of their abuse of you, you are threatened with or actually disfellowshiped. There is no wonder, like the rest of Babylon the Great the waters are drying up and there is so many “mergers” between congregations. The truth is this evil is now suffering from a lack of support from those who have walked away from the abuse. The problem is not we all just walked away. We took our wallets/purses/checkbooks/insurance policies/donations with us. So the society simply can’t afford business as usual. I am sad this happened. I had bethel aspirations and worked for years to qualify and was denied because the Society had a ban on NYC brothers at the time and didn’t tell anyone. That was over 20 years ago. Why should they change their ways when their ways are profitable and work for them? What did Jesus say “you will know them by their works”. So I guess we all know the WTBS now.
Spain economy has collapsed and most of Europe too. Maybe it was the right time for the branch to move somwhere else. Now they talking about an uprisisng in that region.
Hey you forgot to mention who exactly is benefitting from whatever you claim the Witnesses are doing. And make sure you provide proof of your answer. People will always look for flaws. The same thing was done in the first century. A spiritual person who loves Jehovah can easily see through this accusation and slander. Now pay attention and see Jah’s hand in matters.
Hill,
There is a 2003 documentary called “The Corporation” which I found interesting. I can’t go in depth about the documentary but it showed how Corporations by their nature seek to survive and will take whatever steps necessary to ensure survival, often with human “casualties” along the way. You asked who exactly is beneffiting from the changes in Spain. I would answer the Corporation commonly known as the Watchtower along with all her sister corporations. From a business standpoint the Watchtower is doing what any number of large multi-national entities are doing in times of recession to ensure survival. One way this is done is by trimming their labor force and moving operations to other countries where labor and other costs are lighter. Spain is not the only branch to see this. In the USA many long time Bethlites have been down-sized and asked to leave Bethel. Similar trends are happening in Mexico and Japan. So directly the Corporation benefits as it is able to weather the financial downturn and continue to survive.
I can also say who is not benefitting — those individuals who gave their youth to Kingdom Service by serving at Bethel believing they would live out their days there, only to be turned out when they are a financial burden. How often were these young men told at Conventions or in the literature to make bethel service their career. Did they expect to be cast off when they were no longer useful? Yes this is how worldy Corporations routinely treat their workers but it is not wrong to expect more from an organization that claims Jesus as their leader. Some of the brothers in Spain want nothing more than for the Spanish money that was used to build the Bethel be used to provide a retirement home to care for the needs of aging Spanish former-bethelites and circuit overseers. Ask yourself why no such provision is in place to care for the needs of such ones are unable to continue in the work.
As for looking for flaws — there are going to be flaws in any organization. There were flaws in the first century as the Greek widows were being neglected in the food distribution in the Jerusalem congregation. Adjustments were made and these widows received their daily bread. I think the brothers in Spain would ask Watchtower leadership simply not to deny the needs of those who they have acted against and make a provision for them in a similar fashion.
You said that a “spiritual person who loves Jehovah can easily see through this accusation and slander”. If anyone is slandering, it is those who would look at this situation and claim that Almighty God is behind the callous, wordly business decisions of Corporate management. I researched and prepared this information in sincerity. If it turns out to be slander then I would much rather be in a position of slandering a human organization than God himself. Please give consideration to this yourself.
I welcome each and every attempt to expose the singular evils, financial, personal, family, doctrinal and political of this fouls organisation, whose ridiculous and cruell doctrines overshadowed my childhood and have wrecked thousands of lives. The Madrid Bethelites are just some of countless victims. Let us hope it opens their eyes to the fact that the WBTS is a foul and fraudulent cult.
The only heartening aspect of this tale is that it shows the WBTS is having severe financial difficulties. May it swiftly go the way of Lehman Bros.
Thanks for throwing more light on the truth.I am an ex-jehovah’s witness. The religion is one of misery and deceit. The WBTS uses the technique of mind-control on the witnesses and this is why the average witness cannot find out for themselves and see the truth about their religion.I honestly advice that people beware of the JWs.
Another day in paradise?