How much money to join the jehovahs witesses?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses are not focused on amassing wealth and property for the sake of having wealth and property. The most we would know about is our local arrangement.

As an example: In my town, we have one Kingdom Hall. That's all we have in the way of property & buildings. We are our own independent corporation, which files for religious tax exempt status each year. No branch personnel is involved in the local corporations. There is no secrecy about how the funds are used. A monthly collections & expenses is posted on the board. On rare occasions when something arises beyond the normal operating expenses; there is a brief discussion of the need, with a resolution adopted. The whole congregation is party to the process.

The real estate empire assesses the value of property. The county assesses the value of building.

I would say that the value, IF we wanted to sell; might bring $300 thousand on the Real Estate market. Our congregation has perhaps $25 thousand in a bank account as an operating and maintenance buffer. (We may be needing a new roof soon.)

But this amount of $325 thousand means nothing to us. For us, it's a 'hype' number. We are never going to collect on it. The building is used for educational purposes; and is a religious community center. (If we did sell, the funds would be used to build another Kingdom Hall.)

Our congregation, as all 100,000+ congregations, do not use any funds to invest; nor to buy stocks or bonds. So we have no value, other that the 'fake' value placed on it by the Real Estate empire.

There are approx 100,000 congregations in the world. But many congregations use the same building (at different times) (sometimes as many as 4 or more congregations use the same Hall.) So perhaps there are 40,000 or so Kingdom Halls in the world. The Kingdom Halls are not luxury building; but simple, due to the nature of what they're used for. Some Kingdom Halls in third world countries are so basic (with open air windows), they might be worth $5 thousand dollars or less.

I cannot speak for our factories and Branch offices. But when some building is sold; the monies are not invested in any financial empires. No individual receives a percentage. The funds turned right around, and are used to expand our preaching activities. Funds are used to rent convention centers. Attendance is free at all our conventions, assemblies, and local Kingdom Halls.

There are never any funds solicited in our history. No plates passed; no tithing; no envelopes sent out. We never collect anything for weddings, funerals, or counseling sessions. Our elders, writers, and factory workers do not receive wages; nor a retirement package (they only receive a small stipend to defray some personal expenses.

Any monies collected in our inconspicuous collection boxes; is used for upkeep; and for expanding our preaching activities. Paper, ink, and binding for our magazines & books costs money. Yet we do not ask for money in our house-to-house ministry. More often than not, we send from our own funds, to pay for this.

This is the true and accurate picture of our worth. We are patterned after the same principles as the Branch offices and the Factory. We are like every other person in the community, and if we felt that we had a money making arrangement, with personnel benefiting from it, we would be pretty upset. But even the governing body members die without a penny in their pockets to leave behind as an inheritance to anyone.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses don't have to pay their church anything. They do not have a paid clergy class and all their services are conducted free of charge; including weddings, funerals, and Bible schools.

The cost of running their buildings (electricity, telephone, repair bills etc) is met by the members themselves on a strictly voluntary basis. No plates are passed; no envelopes sent out. No one really knows what another is contributing, or even if they're contributing at all.

Each individual Witness is free to pay as much or as little, or even nothing, on a voluntary basis. An announcement is made at every 2 day and 3 day convention, giving a basic 'accounts' report and a phrase such as ''we leave that with you brothers''.

Answer 3

It does not cost any money to join Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses meetings are free and open to the public (no collection is ever taken)

There are no salaries for anyone who has positions of responsibility within the congregation.

There are no fees, dues or any monies required for being one of Jehovah's Witnesses.