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00:00:02 During the 2015 annual meeting, 00:00:05 an announcement was given that would affect 00:00:07 Bethels around the world. 00:00:10 The Governing Body has directed 00:00:12 that a number of our branch 00:00:15 and Assembly Hall construction projects worldwide 00:00:19 be delayed, reduced in scope, 00:00:23 or in some cases cancelled. 00:00:26 The Governing Body 00:00:28 had two clear objectives 00:00:29 in mind with these changes: 00:00:31 Firstly, that of making the best use 00:00:34 of dedicated funds 00:00:36 but ultimately giving even greater emphasis 00:00:39 to the preaching and the teaching work. 00:00:41 In fact, here in Britain, 00:00:43 we were on the brink 00:00:44 of starting construction 00:00:46 on a new branch office, 00:00:47 and we really wondered 00:00:49 how these simplifications 00:00:50 would affect the construction project. 00:00:53 To understand why these changes were important, 00:00:55 we first need to take a look at how Bethels function. 00:00:59 The field ministry is a fundamental part 00:01:02 of our worship to Jehovah. 00:01:05 Bethels are there to support that work. 00:01:07 Bethels’ key departments 00:01:09 provide tools and training needed 00:01:11 to carry out the preaching work 00:01:13 and support and defend our rights to do so. 00:01:16 Some of these departments 00:01:17 are Service, Audio/Video, 00:01:20 Local/Design Construction, 00:01:22 Translation, and Legal, 00:01:24 to mention a few. 00:01:26 In turn, none of these could function 00:01:28 without the support of departments 00:01:30 such as Purchasing, Accounting, 00:01:33 Computers, Maintenance, and Kitchen 00:01:36 and Home Departments, which care for the welfare 00:01:39 of the many volunteers working at Bethel. 00:01:42 So any simplification made to Bethel 00:01:45 would ultimately benefit the activity in the field. 00:01:50 Branch Committees around the world 00:01:53 were asked to reduce the size 00:01:55 of their Bethel families. 00:01:57 Now, this required us to rethink 00:01:59 the way we work and the way we live at Bethel. 00:02:03 Simplified meal arrangements has meant that Bethelites 00:02:06 now prepare some of their own meals. 00:02:09 Likewise, in many branches they are responsible 00:02:12 for caring for their own laundry. 00:02:14 They now also look after their own housekeeping. 00:02:19 Many more commuters and remote volunteers 00:02:23 are being used to carry out work 00:02:24 that previously would have required a permanent Bethelite. 00:02:27 These and other changes 00:02:29 have resulted in making better use of donated funds 00:02:32 but are ultimately benefiting the preaching work. 00:02:36 The Bethel family has really responded very well 00:02:39 to these changes, 00:02:40 and we can see how the direction given to us 00:02:42 from the Governing Body 00:02:44 is really benefiting our brothers and sisters in the field. 00:02:48 And those who’ve been reassigned to the field 00:02:50 are doing really well in their assignments. 00:02:53 So how did this announcement 00:02:55 affect the branch relocation project underway in Britain? 00:02:59 When the announcement was made in 2015, 00:03:01 plans were very well advanced. 00:03:03 This meant that we needed 00:03:05 to put the project on hold 00:03:07 while new requirements for Bethel were evaluated. 00:03:10 This effectively led to a redesign 00:03:12 and a reduction in the scope of the project. 00:03:15 For example, 00:03:16 the Bethel kitchen and dining spaces 00:03:18 became more compact, 00:03:20 as they were now largely preparing food 00:03:22 for only one meal a day rather than three. 00:03:25 There was no need for a central laundry, 00:03:27 as this would be cared for by the individuals 00:03:29 in their own private accommodations. 00:03:33 Rather than a large dining room that’s only used for one hour a day 00:03:36 or an auditorium only used one hour a week, 00:03:39 now a large multipurpose event space 00:03:42 was planned which could be flexibly reconfigured 00:03:47 for various uses. 00:03:49 Offices could also be reconfigured, 00:03:52 either as private offices 00:03:54 or as large open work spaces 00:03:57 with relatively little reconstruction required. 00:04:01 The Governing Body was very clear 00:04:03 that as adaptive needs of the organization came about, 00:04:06 they wanted to make these changes quickly. 00:04:09 We trust that the lessons learned 00:04:12 from our project may aid 00:04:14 in other branch projects to follow. 00:04:17 In summary, we can see that Bethels around the world 00:04:21 support the preaching and teaching work, 00:04:23 and these changes are evidence of that. 00:04:28 Well, at Philippians 1:10, we’re told 00:04:33 to “make sure of the more important things.” 00:04:36 We desire to give priority to those activities 00:04:39 that contribute the most 00:04:42 to the spiritual welfare of God’s people 00:04:45 and the advancement of the global preaching work.
00:00:02 During the 2015 annual meeting, 00:00:05 an announcement was given that would affect 00:00:07 Bethels around the world. 00:00:10 The Governing Body has directed 00:00:12 that a number of our branch 00:00:15 and Assembly Hall construction projects worldwide 00:00:19 be delayed, reduced in scope, 00:00:23 or in some cases cancelled. 00:00:26 The Governing Body 00:00:28 had two clear objectives 00:00:29 in mind with these changes: 00:00:31 Firstly, that of making the best use 00:00:34 of dedicated funds 00:00:36 but ultimately giving even greater emphasis 00:00:39 to the preaching and the teaching work. 00:00:41 In fact, here in Britain, 00:00:43 we were on the brink 00:00:44 of starting construction 00:00:46 on a new branch office, 00:00:47 and we really wondered 00:00:49 how these simplifications 00:00:50 would affect the construction project. 00:00:53 To understand why these changes were important, 00:00:55 we first need to take a look at how Bethels function. 00:00:59 The field ministry is a fundamental part 00:01:02 of our worship to Jehovah. 00:01:05 Bethels are there to support that work. 00:01:07 Bethels’ key departments 00:01:09 provide tools and training needed 00:01:11 to carry out the preaching work 00:01:13 and support and defend our rights to do so. 00:01:16 Some of these departments 00:01:17 are Service, Audio/Video, 00:01:20 Local/Design Construction, 00:01:22 Translation, and Legal, 00:01:24 to mention a few. 00:01:26 In turn, none of these could function 00:01:28 without the support of departments 00:01:30 such as Purchasing, Accounting, 00:01:33 Computers, Maintenance, and Kitchen 00:01:36 and Home Departments, which care for the welfare 00:01:39 of the many volunteers working at Bethel. 00:01:42 So any simplification made to Bethel 00:01:45 would ultimately benefit the activity in the field. 00:01:50 Branch Committees around the world 00:01:53 were asked to reduce the size 00:01:55 of their Bethel families. 00:01:57 Now, this required us to rethink 00:01:59 the way we work and the way we live at Bethel. 00:02:03 Simplified meal arrangements has meant that Bethelites 00:02:06 now prepare some of their own meals. 00:02:09 Likewise, in many branches they are responsible 00:02:12 for caring for their own laundry. 00:02:14 They now also look after their own housekeeping. 00:02:19 Many more commuters and remote volunteers 00:02:23 are being used to carry out work 00:02:24 that previously would have required a permanent Bethelite. 00:02:27 These and other changes 00:02:29 have resulted in making better use of donated funds 00:02:32 but are ultimately benefiting the preaching work. 00:02:36 The Bethel family has really responded very well 00:02:39 to these changes, 00:02:40 and we can see how the direction given to us 00:02:42 from the Governing Body 00:02:44 is really benefiting our brothers and sisters in the field. 00:02:48 And those who’ve been reassigned to the field 00:02:50 are doing really well in their assignments. 00:02:53 So how did this announcement 00:02:55 affect the branch relocation project underway in Britain? 00:02:59 When the announcement was made in 2015, 00:03:01 plans were very well advanced. 00:03:03 This meant that we needed 00:03:05 to put the project on hold 00:03:07 while new requirements for Bethel were evaluated. 00:03:10 This effectively led to a redesign 00:03:12 and a reduction in the scope of the project. 00:03:15 For example, 00:03:16 the Bethel kitchen and dining spaces 00:03:18 became more compact, 00:03:20 as they were now largely preparing food 00:03:22 for only one meal a day rather than three. 00:03:25 There was no need for a central laundry, 00:03:27 as this would be cared for by the individuals 00:03:29 in their own private accommodations. 00:03:33 Rather than a large dining room that’s only used for one hour a day 00:03:36 or an auditorium only used one hour a week, 00:03:39 now a large multipurpose event space 00:03:42 was planned which could be flexibly reconfigured 00:03:47 for various uses. 00:03:49 Offices could also be reconfigured, 00:03:52 either as private offices 00:03:54 or as large open work spaces 00:03:57 with relatively little reconstruction required. 00:04:01 The Governing Body was very clear 00:04:03 that as adaptive needs of the organization came about, 00:04:06 they wanted to make these changes quickly. 00:04:09 We trust that the lessons learned 00:04:12 from our project may aid 00:04:14 in other branch projects to follow. 00:04:17 In summary, we can see that Bethels around the world 00:04:21 support the preaching and teaching work, 00:04:23 and these changes are evidence of that. 00:04:28 Well, at Philippians 1:10, we’re told 00:04:33 to “make sure of the more important things.” 00:04:36 We desire to give priority to those activities 00:04:39 that contribute the most 00:04:42 to the spiritual welfare of God’s people 00:04:45 and the advancement of the global preaching work.
