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I have studied your argument against the Watchtower regarding its owning stock in weapons companies, but one interesting detail did come up.

In the SEC's documentation, on page 27, paragraph 2, it is mentioned that the Watchtowers stock in this company was donated to it, by James McCann, but he did withold voting proxy. Which means that while the Watchtower owns the stock, James McCann is the actual person who has voting rights.

Mr. McCann is also responsible for donating the other shares, all the while witholding voting proxy for himself.

So, wouldn't it be more logical and loving to first see

1) How stock donations are handled by the Society?

2) if your research shows they do not do the proper amount of research regarding the stock's donated, why not attempt to inform them of an error?

The research shows that the Watchtower has no voting power, and therefore no true way of knowing what business decisions are made. Being an organization dedicated to religious instruction, they may not have looked into the full scope of the stock they recieved. So wouldn't it be reasonable to check into the matter a little further before pointing fingers?

Hi Frameofmind:

From a congregational point of view, we believe a religious organization should not hold stock in corporations, especially those that have to do with the production of WAR WEAPONS. We believe this to be totally out of character with the example that Jesus left his christian followers.

We believe, the appropriate thing to do, if stocks and shares of corporations are donated to a religious organization, that these should be LIQUIDATED and turned into something the congregation can use, without bringing undue reproach upon God's Great Name. Clearly, this situation has blown up in the Watchtower Society's face, due their great greed.

We are aware that many religious organizations today own stocks and shares within big businesses who themselves, are a part of WallStreet. However, even though such practices are common among religions of our day, the YORWW Congregation does not feel such a stand is in harmony with Paul's words at 2 Timothy 2:4 which says:

"No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OF LIFE, in order that he may gain the approval of the one who enrolled him [Christ] as a soldier."

Therefore, unlike the Watchtower Society, Inc. the YORWW Congregation does not believe it should participate nor engage in "commercial business" activity "of this life" or engage in business practices where inadvertently, we could be put in such arkward situations, where our financial interests would become somehow, a part of WallStreet Corporate-Thinking. We think it best for the congregation of God, to refrain from such like activities.

Hope this helps,

Mary