{"id":35830,"date":"2025-05-12T13:04:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T13:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=35830"},"modified":"2025-05-12T13:04:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T13:04:32","slug":"jehovahs-witnesses-paid-pastors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/jehovahs-witnesses-paid-pastors\/","title":{"rendered":"Les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah sont-ils r\u00e9mun\u00e9r\u00e9s pour leur minist\u00e8re ?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cet article est la partie 27 sur 38 de la s\u00e9rie Comprendre les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah sont-ils r\u00e9mun\u00e9r\u00e9s comme les pasteurs d'autres \u00e9glises ?<\/h2>\n

One of the first things people often ask is, \"Do the leaders in Jehovah's Witness congregations get paid?\" The simple answer is no, they don\u2019t.\u00b9 It's different from many other Christian churches where pastors or ministers receive a salary for leading the flock. Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses have a unique approach.\u00b9 The dedicated men who serve as elders and ministerial servants, the ones guiding the teaching, caring for the congregation, and organizing activities, do it all as volunteers.\u00b3 They don\u2019t get a salary or any payment for these important roles.<\/p>\n

Why do they do this? They believe it\u2019s what the Bible teaches, especially remembering Jesus\u2019 words to his followers: \"You received free, give free\".\u00b3 They see ministry as a precious service to God and the community, not a job to make money from. It\u2019s considered a personal blessing and responsibility for the qualified men in the congregation.<\/p>\n

Cet esprit de b\u00e9n\u00e9volat impr\u00e8gne toute l\u2019organisation ! Presque tous les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah partagent leur foi \u2014 en allant de porte en porte, en dirigeant des \u00e9tudes bibliques, en assistant aux r\u00e9unions \u2014 sans attendre aucune r\u00e9mun\u00e9ration.\u00e2 \u00b4 Comment vivent-ils ? Ils ont un emploi r\u00e9gulier pour subvenir \u00e0 leurs besoins et \u00e0 ceux de leur famille, int\u00e9grant leur minist\u00e8re b\u00e9n\u00e9vole dans leur vie bien remplie. Il s\u2019agit de trouver un \u00e9quilibre entre la foi et la vie quotidienne.<\/p>\n

This is different from many other Christian traditions where clergy often receive salaries. Sometimes these salaries are quite generous, depending on things like how big the church is, how much money it has, the minister's background, and where they live.\u2076 But for Jehovah's Witnesses, the elders leading the local congregations do so from the heart, without pay. But what about those who dedicate their enti\u00e8re<\/em> vie \u00e0 des r\u00f4les minist\u00e9riels sp\u00e9ciaux ? Comment sont-ils soutenus ? C\u2019est une excellente question, et nous l\u2019explorerons ensuite !<\/p>\n

S'ils ne sont pas r\u00e9mun\u00e9r\u00e9s, comment l'organisation finance-t-elle son \u0153uvre mondiale ?<\/h2>\n

So, if the local leaders aren't paid and most of the ministry is done by volunteers, how does such a huge, worldwide organization pay for everything\u2014like printing books, building places to meet, and running offices all over the globe? The answer is simple but powerful: les dons volontaires<\/strong>.\u00b3 Chaque partie de leur \u0153uvre est financ\u00e9e par l\u2019argent que les gens choisissent de donner volontairement.\u00b3 Ils croient que c\u2019est un syst\u00e8me fond\u00e9 sur une g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 pure et sur la confiance que Dieu pourvoira \u00e0 ce qui est n\u00e9cessaire.<\/p>\n

Voici un point important : ils ne pratiquent pas la d\u00eeme<\/strong>.\u00b3 Jehovah's Witnesses teach that giving exactly 10% (a tithe) was part of the special Law God gave to the nation of Israel long ago through Moses.\u00b9\u00b2 They believe that Law, including the rule about collecting tithes, was completed and ended when Jesus gave his life for us.\u00b9\u00e2\u0081\u00b0 Yes, some faithful people like Abraham gave a tenth before that Law they see those as special, voluntary gifts, not a rule for all Christians forever.\u00b9\u00b2<\/p>\n

Because of this belief, Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses have always stayed away from many common ways churches raise money. Way back in their early days (even in 1879 and 1894!), they decided not to pass collection plates during their meetings.\u00b3 You won\u2019t see baskets going around or donation envelopes handed out during their services. They also don\u2019t charge money for their books and magazines or to attend their meetings and big conventions. You might even see signs saying \"Seats Free. No Collections\".\u2075 Plus, their congregations don\u2019t hold events like bingo nights, raffles, or bake sales to raise money, and they don\u2019t send letters asking members for funds.\u2075 Instead, you\u2019ll usually find simple contribution boxes placed quietly in their Kingdom Halls (their places of worship), where anyone can give privately if they feel moved to do so.\u00b3<\/p>\n

What scripture guides their giving? They often point to the New Testament idea of giving happily and freely. A favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 9:7, which says: \"Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver\".\u00b3 Giving is seen as a wonderful chance to show love for God and support the work He\u2019s doing, coming from a happy heart, not because a certain amount is required.\u2079<\/p>\n

And they keep up with the times! Although the traditional contribution boxes are still there, they also make it easy to donate in other ways, like through secure websites (such as donate.jw.org), bank transfers, and other electronic methods.\u00b9\u2074 This lets people all around the world support the work in whatever way feels right for them and fits their situation. Isn't that something? A global work fueled by cheerful hearts!<\/p>\n

Que signifie r\u00e9ellement \u00ab don volontaire \u00bb pour les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah ?<\/h2>\n

The idea that giving should be \"voluntary,\" totally free from pressure, is a cornerstone of how Jehovah's Witnesses view finances. They base this on beautiful scriptures like 2 Corinthians 9:7, which reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver.\u00b3 They emphasize that unlike the old rule of tithing under the Law of Moses, Christian giving should spring from a decision made right in your own heart.<\/p>\n

But let's look a little closer at how this works in practice. While it's voluntary, their teachings and writings often talk about giving in very meaningful ways. It's not just seen as a nice thing to do if you feel like it; donating is often described as \"une partie importante de notre culte<\/strong>\".\u00b9\u00b9 Giving money is presented as a way members can actively \"montrer que nous appr\u00e9cions et soutenons l\u2019\u0153uvre de l\u2019organisation de J\u00e9hovah<\/strong>\".\u00b9\u00b9<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the idea of what God might hope for comes into the picture. Their publications might ask, \"Pourquoi J\u00e9hovah s\u2019attend-il \u00e0 ce que nous utilisions nos choses pr\u00e9cieuses pour lui donner en retour ?<\/strong>\".\u00b9\u00b9 Since Jehovah's Witnesses believe their organization is the main way God is working today, giving to the organization is seen as giving directly to Jehovah.\u00b9\u00b9 This makes donating feel very major, more than just supporting a group\u2014it becomes an act toward God Himself, maybe even connected to receiving His blessings.\u00b9\u00b9 There can also be gentle reminders that not giving generously might mean missing out on blessings or not fully honoring God.\u00b9\u00b9<\/p>\n

The organization also encourages people to be thoughtful and plan their giving. Members are reminded of the idea in 1 Corinthians 16:2 about regularly setting something aside.\u2079 You might hear talk about \"bonne planification<\/strong>\" for cheerful giving, suggesting people consciously decide to put funds aside for \"Jehovah's Organization<\/strong>\".\u00b9\u00b9 They share inspiring stories, like the poor widow who gave her last two small coins 9 or the Macedonians who were poor but begged for the chance to give generously 11, to show that it\u2019s the esprit<\/em> l\u2019esprit du don qui compte le plus, quel que soit le montant. Cela encourage tout le monde, m\u00eame ceux qui ont tr\u00e8s peu, \u00e0 sentir qu\u2019ils peuvent participer.<\/p>\n

So, while they firmly say giving isn't required like a tithe, the constant encouragement, linking donations to worship and God's approval, and the focus on planned giving can create a strong feeling among members that giving is expected. It\u2019s a subtle shift\u2014not saying 'you devez<\/em> to give,' but fostering a culture where giving is seen as a really important way to show faith and commitment.<\/p>\n

Adding to this picture, there are sometimes structured ways to help with donations. For example, some outside reports mention that local elders might do an annual \"financial survey.\" It's presented as anonymous and meant to help plan it asks about how much members might be able to donate each month.\u00b9\u00b9 Practices like this suggest the organization does take an interest in regular support, perhaps a bit beyond just spontaneous giving.<\/p>\n

Du point de vue de l\u2019organisation et de nombreux membres, tout cet encouragement vient probablement d\u2019une intention sinc\u00e8re. Ils veulent que chacun participe au soutien de l\u2019\u0153uvre mondiale et fasse l\u2019exp\u00e9rience de la joie que la Bible dit provenir du don.\u00b9\u00b3 Ils voient cela comme la culture d\u2019un esprit g\u00e9n\u00e9reux qui pla\u00eet \u00e0 Dieu, tout en restant fid\u00e8les \u00e0 la conviction que le choix et le montant sont toujours personnels et volontaires. Il s\u2019agit de trouver cet \u00e9quilibre entre encourager la g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 et respecter le choix individuel.<\/p>\n

O\u00f9 va concr\u00e8tement tout l\u2019argent donn\u00e9 ?<\/h2>\n

When people generously give, where does that money go? Jehovah's Witnesses are clear that all the money donated voluntarily goes to support their religious work and helping people all around the world.\u00b9 Their main goal, their passion, is to share what they believe is the \"good news\" about God's Kingdom and help people become followers of Jesus Christ.\u00b9 They emphasize that none of the money makes individuals rich \u2013 remember, their elders are unpaid, and most of their workers are volunteers.\u00b9<\/p>\n

Ainsi, les fonds donn\u00e9s sont canalis\u00e9s vers plusieurs domaines importants :<\/p>\n

Production et diffusion de livres et de Bibles :<\/h4>\n

Une grande partie des ressources est consacr\u00e9e \u00e0 la production et \u00e0 l\u2019envoi d\u2019\u00e9normes quantit\u00e9s de Bibles et de documents bas\u00e9s sur la Bible. Cela inclut des magazines comme La Tour de Garde<\/em> et R\u00e9veillez-vous !<\/em>, des livres, des brochures, des tracts, et maintenant beaucoup de contenu num\u00e9rique et de vid\u00e9os sur leur site web, jw.org, et leurs applications.\u00b9 Ce mat\u00e9riel est traduit en des centaines et des centaines de langues et distribu\u00e9 dans le monde entier, g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement gratuitement.\u00b3 Pensez \u00e0 la port\u00e9e !<\/p>\n

Construction et entretien des lieux :<\/h4>\n

L\u2019argent est utilis\u00e9 pour construire, r\u00e9nover et entretenir leurs lieux de r\u00e9union (Salles du Royaume), des Salles d\u2019assembl\u00e9es plus grandes pour les rassemblements plus importants, des filiales, des bureaux de traduction et les foyers B\u00e9thel o\u00f9 vivent et travaillent des b\u00e9n\u00e9voles \u00e0 plein temps.\u00b9 Ils utilisent souvent des b\u00e9n\u00e9voles pour les travaux de construction et d\u2019entretien afin de r\u00e9duire les co\u00fbts et de faire en sorte que l\u2019argent donn\u00e9 aille plus loin.\u00b9 C\u2019est une bonne gestion !<\/p>\n

Aide aux ministres \u00e0 plein temps :<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Les dons couvrent les modestes indemnit\u00e9s accord\u00e9es \u00e0 ceux qui sont dans un service sp\u00e9cial \u00e0 plein temps et qui n\u2019ont pas d\u2019autres moyens de subvenir \u00e0 leurs besoins. Cela inclut les pionniers sp\u00e9ciaux, les membres de la famille du B\u00e9thel, les missionnaires servant loin de chez eux et les surveillants itin\u00e9rants (surveillants de circonscription) qui visitent et encouragent les congr\u00e9gations.\u00b9<\/p>\n

Aide en cas de catastrophe :<\/h4>\n

L\u2019organisation met de c\u00f4t\u00e9 des fonds pour aider les personnes touch\u00e9es par des catastrophes naturelles (comme les tremblements de terre, les ouragans, les inondations) et d\u2019autres crises.\u00b9 Cette aide comprend g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement des produits de base comme de la nourriture, de l\u2019eau, des v\u00eatements, un abri et des soins m\u00e9dicaux, ainsi qu\u2019une aide \u00e0 la reconstruction des maisons et des Salles du Royaume endommag\u00e9es.\u00b3 Et cette aide n\u2019est pas r\u00e9serv\u00e9e aux T\u00e9moins ; ils l\u2019offrent aussi aux autres membres de la communaut\u00e9.\u00b9 C\u2019est l\u2019amour en action !<\/p>\n

Fonctionnement de l\u2019organisation : <\/h4>\n

L\u2019argent donn\u00e9 paie les co\u00fbts quotidiens du fonctionnement d\u2019une organisation mondiale. Cela inclut les d\u00e9penses pour le si\u00e8ge mondial, les nombreuses filiales, le travail de traduction, l\u2019organisation de grandes conventions et de plus petites assembl\u00e9es, ainsi que la production de programmes audio et vid\u00e9o pour leur site web et leur diffusion.\u00b9<\/p>\n

Enseignement et formation :<\/strong> Les fonds sont \u00e9galement utilis\u00e9s pour des \u00e9coles qui forment les anciens, les pionniers, les missionnaires et d\u2019autres b\u00e9n\u00e9voles afin qu\u2019ils soient plus efficaces dans leurs missions et responsabilit\u00e9s.\u00b9<\/p>\n

Whenever they talk about finances, Jehovah's Witnesses stress being efficient and careful with donated money. They often highlight how much they rely on volunteer help to stretch every dollar and achieve their global goals.\u00b9 The clear message is that every contribution directly supports their spiritual work and efforts to help people around the world. It's all about furthering the mission!<\/p>\n

Comment le mod\u00e8le des T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah se compare-t-il \u00e0 celui d'autres \u00e9glises chr\u00e9tiennes ?<\/h2>\n

Sometimes understanding something becomes easier when you compare it to what you already know. Let's look at how the financial ways of Jehovah's Witnesses stack up against common practices in other Christian churches. There are some key differences that really stand out:<\/p>\n

R\u00e9mun\u00e9ration du pasteur :<\/h4>\n

As we've talked about, Jehovah's Witnesses don't have paid local leaders; their elders serve as volunteers.\u00b9 This is quite different from many Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches, where pastors, priests, or ministers usually receive a salary.\u2076 How much they get paid can vary a lot, depending on things like the church's size, where it is, its budget, and the minister's education and experience. Often, salaries might be around $50,000-$60,000 a year they can be lower in small churches or for part-time ministers, and much higher (sometimes over $100,000 or even $150,000!) for senior pastors in very large churches or megachurches.\u2076 Some denominations even have guidelines for salaries.\u2077<\/p>\n

D'o\u00f9 vient l'argent et la d\u00eeme :<\/h4>\n

Jehovah's Witnesses rely completely on voluntary donations and clearly teach against tithing (giving 10%) as a rule for Christians.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4 In contrast, many other Christian churches, especially Protestant ones, teach or encourage tithing.\u00b3\u00b3 Surveys show most Protestants believe tithing is biblical the number who actually give 10% or more is much lower \u2013 maybe somewhere between 13% and 40%, depending on the survey.\u00b3\u00b3 How strongly this is taught and practiced can differ between denominations; Baptists and Evangelicals often emphasize it more than Lutherans or Methodists.\u00b3\u00b3 These churches get most of their money from these tithes and other offerings, though some might also have income from savings or investments.<\/p>\n

Soutien aux travailleurs \u00e0 plein temps :<\/h4>\n

Alors que les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah fournissent une allocation simple et les besoins de base (comme le logement et la nourriture pour ceux au B\u00e9thel) \u00e0 certains b\u00e9n\u00e9voles essentiels \u00e0 plein temps\u00b9\u2078, d'autres confessions offrent g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement des salaires et des avantages sociaux (comme une aide pour les frais de logement, une assurance maladie, des plans de retraite) \u00e0 leur clerg\u00e9, leurs missionnaires et leur personnel travaillant \u00e0 plein temps pour la confession.\u2076<\/p>\n

Comment se d\u00e9roulent les collectes :<\/h4>\n

Jehovah's Witnesses use quiet contribution boxes and online ways to donate, and they don't take collections during their services.\u00b3 Passing a collection plate or basket during the worship service is very common in many other churches, although online and electronic giving is becoming more popular everywhere.\u00b3\u2075<\/p>\n

Voici un petit tableau pour aider \u00e0 voir les diff\u00e9rences c\u00f4te \u00e0 c\u00f4te :<\/p>\n

Comparing Financial Practices: Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Common Christian Models<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tCaract\u00e9ristique\n\t\t\t<\/th>\n\n\t\t\t\tJehovah's Witnesses\n\t\t\t<\/th>\n\n\t\t\t\tPratiques chr\u00e9tiennes courantes (exemples)\n\t\t\t<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n\t\t\t\tR\u00e9mun\u00e9ration du clerg\u00e9 local (anciens\/pasteurs)<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tB\u00e9n\u00e9voles non r\u00e9mun\u00e9r\u00e9s\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tSouvent salari\u00e9s ; le montant varie selon la taille de l'\u00e9glise, l'emplacement, l'exp\u00e9rience, les directives de la confession 6\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\t\t\t\tSource de financement principale<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tDons volontaires uniquement 3\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tD\u00eemes, offrandes, parfois dotations\/investissements 33\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\t\t\t\tPratique de la d\u00eeme<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tNon pratiqu\u00e9e ; consid\u00e9r\u00e9e comme faisant partie de la Loi mosa\u00efque abolie 10\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tSouvent enseign\u00e9e comme norme biblique de 10% ; l'adh\u00e9sion varie selon la confession et l'individu 33\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\t\t\t\tSoutien aux r\u00f4les \u00e0 plein temps (si\u00e8ge, missionnaires)<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tAllocation\/indemnit\u00e9 modeste, logement et nourriture (B\u00e9thel) 18\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tSouvent salari\u00e9s avec avantages sociaux (logement, assurance, retraite) 6\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\t\t\t\tM\u00e9thodes de collecte<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tBo\u00eetes de contribution discr\u00e8tes, dons en ligne 9\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n\n\t\t\t\tPlateaux\/paniers de collecte courants pendant les offices, plus options en ligne\/\u00e9lectroniques 35\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This table really shows the unique financial philosophy and way of operating that Jehovah's Witnesses have compared to many other Christian groups. The approaches are definitely different many Christian communities share the same heart \u2013 using their resources to support their ministry and share their faith based on how they understand God's Word. It\u2019s all about serving Him in the way they believe is right.<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019enseignaient les premiers P\u00e8res de l\u2019\u00c9glise au sujet de l\u2019argent, du minist\u00e8re et des dons ?<\/h2>\n

Looking back at how the very first Christians handled money and ministry gives us such valuable insight! The writings of the early Church leaders (from the first few centuries after Christ) and historical records show us a system that had some things in common with today also some big differences, including compared to Jehovah's Witnesses.<\/p>\n

Une chose qui ressort vraiment de l'\u00c9glise primitive \u00e9tait leur incroyable insistance sur le don volontaire et le partage de tout ensemble (ils appelaient cela koinonia<\/em>)<\/strong>.\u00e2 \u00b4\u00b2 Wow ! Inspir\u00e9s par J\u00e9sus et les ap\u00f4tres, ces premiers croyants donnaient g\u00e9n\u00e9reusement, faisant souvent de vrais sacrifices, pour prendre soin de chacun dans leur communaut\u00e9. Vers le milieu du deuxi\u00e8me si\u00e8cle, faire des offrandes r\u00e9guli\u00e8res pour ceux dans le besoin \u00e9tait une partie normale de leurs offices du dimanche. Des \u00e9crivains comme Justin Martyr \u00e0 Rome et Tertullien \u00e0 Carthage nous en parlent.\u00e2 \u00b4\u00b2<\/p>\n

O\u00f9 allaient ces contributions ? Dans un \"common chest\"<\/strong>.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00b2 This was like a central fund for the probably an idea they adapted from Jewish traditions that Jesus himself followed. From this shared treasury, the church community cared for so many people who needed help: the poor, widows, orphans, those put in prison for their faith, the sick, elderly slaves, sailors who had been shipwrecked, and others facing hard times<\/a>.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00b2 Giving to the poor became a beautiful way to show Christian love.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00b2<\/p>\n

Maintenant, voici un point important : ces fonds communs \u00e9taient \u00e9galement utilis\u00e9s pour soutenir le clerg\u00e9<\/strong> \u2013 the church leaders. By the mid-third century, churches were becoming more organized under bishops. We have records, like from Bishop Cornelius of Rome around 250 AD, showing that the church in Rome was supporting a large number of clergy (154 of them!) as well as many poor people and widows (1,500!) from these shared resources.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00b2 This practice of supporting full-time ministers from the community's funds is different from the Jehovah's Witness model of unpaid local elders. But it does sound a bit like how JWs provide support for their full-time workers, like those at Bethel and the special pioneers.<\/p>\n

Qu'enseignaient les P\u00e8res de l'\u00c9glise sur la richesse<\/strong> itself? It was balanced. They didn't say having wealth or private property was automatically bad they stressed being bons intendants<\/strong> plut\u00f4t que de penser que vous la poss\u00e9diez absolument.\u00e2 \u00b4\u00e2 \u00b4 La richesse \u00e9tait consid\u00e9r\u00e9e comme un don de Dieu, donn\u00e9 aux gens non seulement pour leur propre plaisir, mais pour aider toute la communaut\u00e9, en particulier les pauvres.\u00e2 \u00b4\u00e2 \u00b4 Des dirigeants comme saint Basile soutenaient fermement que les riches avaient le devoir de partager g\u00e9n\u00e9reusement. Il a m\u00eame dit que pas<\/em> sharing was like stealing, because God meant the earth's good things for everyone!44 Generally, they thought private property was okay, as long as it was used responsibly and with charity. Some Fathers felt it was a step down from God's original ideal where everything was shared.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00e2\u0081\u00b4 Their main worry was greed and ignoring the needy. They urged Christians to use what they had to serve God and help others.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00e2\u0081\u00b4<\/p>\n

Qu'en est-il de la d\u00eeme la d\u00eeme<\/strong>? Bien que l'Ancien Testament ait la r\u00e8gle des 10% 45, l'\u00c9glise primitive apr\u00e8s les ap\u00f4tres a surtout mis l'accent sur un don g\u00e9n\u00e9reux et volontaire venant directement du c\u0153ur. Souvent, ce don \u00e9tait plus<\/em> than 10%! They didn't focus on a strict 10% rule based on the Law of Moses.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u00b2 The idea of a systematic tithe became more common in Christianity much later.<\/p>\n

Comparing this history to Jehovah's Witnesses today shows interesting connections. The early Church's focus on voluntary, heartfelt giving and using money to care for the needy really echoes the principles JWs talk about.\u00b9\u00e2\u0081\u00b0 But the early Church's clear practice of supporting clergy from the common fund is different from the unpaid JW elders, though maybe similar in spirit to how JWs support their full-time ministers.\u00b9\u2078 History gives us such wonderful perspective, doesn't it?<\/p>\n

La Watch Tower Society est-elle plus qu\u2019une simple \u00c9glise \u2013 est-ce une entreprise ?<\/h2>\n

When you see an organization operating on such a massive global scale, publishing so much material, and owning major property, it's natural to wonder: Is the Watch Tower Society just a religious group, or does it operate like a big business?<\/p>\n

Jehovah's Witnesses carry out their worldwide work using a network of soci\u00e9t\u00e9s juridiques \u00e0 but non lucratif<\/strong>.\u00b2\u2074 La plus ancienne et la plus connue est la Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania<\/strong>, which was set up way back in 1884.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u2076 They also use other corporations, like the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. (often handling things like administration and publishing in the U.S.) and the International Bible Students Association (used more historically, especially in Britain).\u00b2 What's the purpose of these corporations? Their official documents say it's all religious and charitable: to spread Bible truths, publish literature, support ministers, and help people grow mentally, morally, and spiritually.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u2076 These corporations provide the legal structure that supports the religious work directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, which oversees everything through branch offices, circuits, and local congregations.\u00b2\u2074<\/p>\n

La somme d'argent impliqu\u00e9e dans ces op\u00e9rations est assez importante. Financ\u00e9es enti\u00e8rement par des dons volontaires, ces soci\u00e9t\u00e9s g\u00e8rent des actifs majeurs.\u00b2\u2077 Cela inclut la possession et la gestion de beaucoup de biens immobiliers<\/strong> partout dans le monde \u2013 Salles du Royaume, Salles d'assembl\u00e9es, filiales et installations du B\u00e9thel. Vous avez peut-\u00eatre entendu parler de la vente de certaines propri\u00e9t\u00e9s tr\u00e8s pr\u00e9cieuses, en particulier leurs anciens b\u00e2timents du si\u00e8ge \u00e0 Brooklyn, New York, qui ont rapport\u00e9 beaucoup d'argent.\u2075\u00b9 En plus de cela, l'organisation utilise des investissements financiers<\/strong> pour g\u00e9rer ses actifs et potentiellement les faire fructifier, le tout pour soutenir sa mission \u00e0 long terme.\u00b2\u2077 Les rapports financiers des pays o\u00f9 ils sont tenus de divulguer ces informations (comme le Royaume-Uni, le Canada et l'Australie) montrent des revenus et des d\u00e9penses se chiffrant souvent en dizaines ou centaines de millions de dollars (ou de livres, etc.) chaque ann\u00e9e, en plus d'importants fonds de r\u00e9serve ou investissements.\u00b2\u2077<\/p>\n

Certains rapports, souvent \u00e9voqu\u00e9s par d'anciens membres ou observ\u00e9s dans des documents relatifs \u00e0 des fonds fiduciaires (comme le Henrietta M. Riley Trust, qui b\u00e9n\u00e9ficie \u00e0 la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9), sugg\u00e8rent que certains de ces investissements auraient pu inclure des participations dans des secteurs jug\u00e9s controvers\u00e9s par certains, comme des entreprises impliqu\u00e9es dans la d\u00e9fense ou le tabac. Ces participations pourraient \u00eatre d\u00e9tenues indirectement par le biais de grands fonds d'investissement.\u2075\u00b3 Plus r\u00e9cemment, des rapports indiquent que l'organisation a mis en place des soci\u00e9t\u00e9s financi\u00e8res sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9es, telles que des soci\u00e9t\u00e9s de gestion d'actifs, peut-\u00eatre dans des pays comme l'Irlande, ce qui sugg\u00e8re qu'elle utilise des m\u00e9thodes de plus en plus sophistiqu\u00e9es pour g\u00e9rer ses finances.\u2075\u00b9<\/p>\n

So, you have this complex corporate structure, large-scale financial activity with real estate and investments, and the fact that not all financial details are made public everywhere. This leads some people to ask if the organization seems \"business-like.\"56 Although the Watch Tower Society and its related groups handle large amounts of money and use modern management methods you'd see in business, their legal status is still that of organisations religieuses \u00e0 but non lucratif<\/strong>.\u00b2\u2077 This means, by law and by their stated goal, any extra money they have is supposed to go back into supporting their religious and charitable work, not paid out as profit to owners or individuals.\u00e2\u0081\u00b4\u2076 It doesn't seem that the leaders are getting personally wealthy in the way you sometimes see with leaders of other large religious or business groups.\u2075\u2076<\/p>\n

(Just a quick note: sometimes public records, like SEC filings 57, mention a company called \"Watchtower, Inc.\" This seems to be a completely separate company based in Nevada, involved in the energy business, and has nothing to do with the religious organizations used by Jehovah's Witnesses).<\/em><\/p>\n

Basically, like many large international religious groups, Jehovah's Witnesses use established legal and financial systems to manage the resources given to them through donations. The scale might look complex the organization maintains that the ultimate goal is always focused on supporting their worldwide ministry and helping people.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cet article est la partie 27 sur 38 de la s\u00e9rie Comprendre les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

D\u00e9couvrez en quoi les T\u00e9moins de J\u00e9hovah diff\u00e8rent des autres \u00e9glises en ce qui concerne la r\u00e9mun\u00e9ration des dirigeants, le financement et l'importance des dons volontaires.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"series":[531],"class_list":["post-35830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-education","series-understanding-jehovahs-witnesses"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35829,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/how-to-become-jehovahs-witness\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":0},"title":"How Do You Become a Jehovah’s Witness?","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"mai 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover how to become one of Jehovah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Witnesses through learning, dedication, and baptism in this friendly, informative guide.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Education"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Education","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/christian-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-31.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-31.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-31.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-31.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-31.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3273,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/jehovahs-witnesses-vs-protestant\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":1},"title":"Jehovah’s Witnesses vs Protestant: The Definitive Comparison","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"mai 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover the key distinctions between Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants. Uncover the truth behind their beliefs and practices in this intriguing comparison.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Education"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Education","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/christian-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/65a425db59168a5739f8ae42_Jehovahs-Witness-vs-Protestant-Where-Do-They-Differ-1920.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/65a425db59168a5739f8ae42_Jehovahs-Witness-vs-Protestant-Where-Do-They-Differ-1920.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/65a425db59168a5739f8ae42_Jehovahs-Witness-vs-Protestant-Where-Do-They-Differ-1920.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/65a425db59168a5739f8ae42_Jehovahs-Witness-vs-Protestant-Where-Do-They-Differ-1920.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/65a425db59168a5739f8ae42_Jehovahs-Witness-vs-Protestant-Where-Do-They-Differ-1920.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35844,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/baptism-jehovahs-witnesses\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":2},"title":"Do Jehovah’s Witnesses get Baptized?","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"mai 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover why baptism is essential for Jehovah's Witnesses, symbolizing dedication and commitment to God through personal faith and action.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Education"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Education","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/christian-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38201,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/christian-readers-guide-jehovahs-witnesses\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":3},"title":"A Christian guide to understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"mai 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Explore a Christian guide to understanding Jehovah's Witnesses, their beliefs, practices, and how they differ from mainstream Christianity.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Education"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Education","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/christian-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-68.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-68.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-68.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-68.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-68.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35820,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/jehovahs-witnesses-alcohol-guide\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":4},"title":"Can Jehovah’s Witnesses Enjoy Alcohol Responsibly?","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"mai 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover Jehovah's Witnesses' views on alcohol use, emphasizing moderation and the consequences of drunkenness based on biblical teachings.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Education"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Education","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/christian-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53977,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/jehovahs-witnesses-statistics\/","url_meta":{"origin":35830,"position":5},"title":"How Many Jehovah’s Witnesses Are There? 2025 Statistics","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"juillet 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover the latest statistics on Jehovah's Witnesses in 2025. Learn about their numbers and growth around the world today.","rel":"","context":"Dans "Christian Facts & Stats"","block_context":{"text":"Christian Facts & Stats","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/learn\/category\/facts-stats\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/render-177.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/render-177.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/render-177.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/render-177.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/render-177.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/render-32.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","mfb_rest_fields":["title","jetpack_publicize_connections","jetpack-related-posts","jetpack_sharing_enabled","jetpack_featured_media_url"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35830\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35830"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=35830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}