The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is a body of elders who oversee all the activities of the denomination. This group is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "Watchtower Society"; however, that term actually refers to one or more of the legal instruments of Jehovah's Witnesses supervised by these elders. Jehovahs Witnesses have produced a large amount of literature. ... The Watchtower is an illustrated religious magazine printed and published by Jehovahs Witnesses via their Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York and branch offices around the world. ... Cover of Awake! magazine Awake! is a general-interest magazine published by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a modern-language translation of the Bible published by the Jehovahs Witnesses, specifically Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. ... Aid to Bible Understanding (1969) was the first doctrinal and biblical encyclopedia of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Throughout the history of Jehovahs Witnesses, their history, their beliefs, doctrines and practices have met controversy and opposition from the local governments, communities, or religious groups. ... Jehovahs Witnesses have beliefs and practices that are commonly regarded as controversial; by mainstream Christians for their doctrines that differ from mainstream Christianity; by governments for their refusal to participate in patriotic activities; and by the general public for their beliefs about blood transfusions and their treatment of members... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... William Miller William Miller (1782 - 1849) was an American Baptist preacher, whose followers have been termed Millerites. ... Nelson H. Barbour, (1824-1905) a Millerite Adventist (see Millerites) born in Throopsville (misspelled Toupsville in a newspaper profile), a village near Auburn, New York. ... Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) was the person who succeded Frederick W. Franz as the president of Watchtower Society. ... Don A. Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Society, the most important of the Legal instruments of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Hayden C. Covington (January 19, 1911 - November 19, 1978) was legal counsel for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society during one of its most difficult periods in the mid-20th century. ... Alexander Hugh Macmillan (June 2 1877-August 26, 1966), also referred to as A. H. Macmillan, was an important member of the Bible Students, later known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... James Penton, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta; Canada. ... Letter from Olin R. Moyle sent to J.F. Rutherford OLIN R. MOYLE Counselor 117 Adams Street. ... Elder (religious) redirects here. ... A number of corporations are in use by Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Scope and membership

The members are a group of men serving at the international headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York, known as "Bethel". They are all elders that profess to be of the heavenly, or "anointed", class of Jehovah's Witnesses. The number of elders sitting on the Governing Body has varied over time. The Governing Body does not have a permanent head; the position of chairman is passed on each year to the next member, alphabetically. Before the 1970s, the responsibilities of the Governing Body were filled by the board of directors of the Watchtower Society.

The Governing Body is administrative and executive in its powers. It elucidates and promulgates the 'present understanding' of the Bible for its membership and interested persons, and clarifies its teachings by means of its publications in many languages and conventions in many countries, as it sees the need. It also appoints members to important positions of oversight. The Governing Body may be contacted by local congregations or servants to obtain advice. Members of the Governing Body also confirm everything that is written in the literature before publishing.

The Governing Body is said to act as a representative of the 'faithful and discreet slave class' which has the responsibility for giving direction and impetus to the work of proclaiming the "good news of God's kingdom" (Matt. 24:45). While it delegates certain details or responsibilities to committees made up of its own members, or committees made up of other dedicated servants, or to instruments such as corporations and legal agencies, it always takes the lead for the smooth functioning of the organization and the unity of Jehovah's Witnesses. As the Governing Body, it has the prerogative to use its discretion and look into any matters it deems necessary to examine with regard to the preaching work. The Governing Body gives direction to the congregations throughout the world by means of such publications as The Watchtower and Awake! magazines, Our Kingdom Ministry, publications outlining organizational arrangements, as well as various responding letters to all branches and to individual branches. In addition, the booklet Dwelling Together In Unity has been provided, which gives basic guidelines for Bethel family arrangements, and the booklet, Missionary Counsel Booklet, which outlines the basic arrangements for missionaries serving throughout the world under the direction of the Governing Body. The Watchtower is an illustrated religious magazine printed and published by Jehovahs Witnesses via their Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York and branch offices around the world. ... Cover of Awake! magazine Awake! is a general-interest magazine published by Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Background

The Watchtower Society was incorporated as Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1884. Its directors served as the central Governing Body overseeing the global preaching of God’s Kingdom.^[1] This initial Governing Body was comprised of five men and two women.^[2] As of 1971 the Governing Body consisted of the Board of Directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, a body of seven men, and the agenda of the Governing Body was set by the President of the Watch Tower Society, who was also a member. The Governing Body was enlarged by Nathan H. Knorr to include other members of the Society in 1971, and its membership rose to eleven men. In that year, the chairmanship of the group began to rotate annually. ^{[3] [4]} In relation to a company, a director is an officer (that is, someone who works for the company) charged with the conduct and management of its affairs. ... WT-Logo The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, headquartered in New York City, is the corporate entity of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ...

Since January 1, 1976, all the activities of the Watchtower Society and of the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide have been brought under the supervision of the Governing Body ^[5], which formed six committees to oversee the various administrative requirements of the organization's worldwide activities. Prior to that, nearly all administrative reaponsibilities had been vested in the office of the president. Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The membership of the Governing Body continued to include the directors of the Watch Tower Society until the year 2000. Since that time, the Governing Body has delegated the responsibility of directors of the various corporations that are used by Jehovah's Witnesses to members outside the board. Hence, the current president of the Watch Tower Society, Don A. Adams, is not a member of the Governing Body. A number of corporations are in use by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Don A. Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Society, the most important of the Legal instruments of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

The number of elders sitting on the Governing Body varies over time but its size hovers in the lower teens. The number have altered from only seven in the very beginning, to eighteen in the later 70s (its highest-ever number), to around twelve more recently. As of April 2007 there were nine members. J. Barr and T. Jaracz are the only members left who were serving on the Body before 1994.

The members of the Governing Body have come from various national backgrounds.

Committees

The work of the Governing Body is undertaken by six standing committees. Each committee oversees a corresponding administrative department that implements the committee's or Body's decision ^{[citation needed]}. Today, these Governing Body Committees are composed of Governing Body members who recommend policies, appointments and other organizational changes to the full Body ^{[citation needed]}. The committees will in many cases interact with the Branch Committees in the Branch Offices over the world ^{[citation needed]}.

Personnel Committee - arranges for volunteers to serve in the organization's headquarters and branch offices. This committee takes oversight of the arrangements made for the personal and spiritual assistance of members of the Bethel families. The Personnel Committee oversees the selection and invitation of new members of the Bethel and Farm families around the world, and handles questions concerning their staying in Bethel service. It should be practical to handle most personal problems locally in the branch, but major questions and problems can be taken up with the Personnel Committee. Copies of Bethel volunteer lists should be sent in with the annual reports for review by the Personnel Committee ^{[citation needed]}.

Publishing Committee - handles publishing the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses and other legal matters involved in printing, such as obtaining property for printing facilities. This committee supervises the printing, publishing and shipping of literature throughout the world. The committee takes responsibility for the oversight of the factories and properties owned and operated by various corporations used by Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the world, as well as the financial operations of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and other legal agencies used by Jehovah’s Witnesses at the present time. The various legal agencies holding the funds may use this money for payment of invoices, reimbursements, as well as other necessary expenditures. Should conditions in a country change and legal agencies are no longer available to be used, other appropriate arrangements will be made according to the conditions at that time for handling financial operations. Requisitions for normal printing equipment, vehicles, typewriters and other equipment for publishing factories and branches worldwide are approved by members of the Publishing Committee or their helpers after checking. Proposals for major acquisitions of machinery and other expensive equipment are to be submitted to the Governing Body with this committee’s recommendations for approving the purchases. Direction for the operations of all publishing factories and maintenance of properties is given by the Publishing Committee with routine matters being handled by the helpers who should keep the committee informed. The Publishing Committee also approves requests for quantities of literature or videos and where they will be produced for the branches throughout the world, taking into consideration production and shipping costs. This committee also supervises the approval of Branch Orders for literature. Branch inventories may be reviewed by this committee. Questions from branch offices relative to publishing, shipping, financial, tax and property matters are given to the Publishing Committee for handling ^{[citation needed]}. Jehovahs Witnesses publish books, brochures, magazines and tracts both for their public ministry and for members. ...

Service Committee - supervises traveling overseers, pioneers, and the activities of congregation publishers and other matters specific to the evangelical activity of Jehovah's Witnesses. The committee is not to be confused with the service committees formed by elders at each congregation. This committee also oversees communication to and from the international headquarters, the branch offices, and congregations of the organization. This committee supervises all areas of the evangelizing work, including service matters affecting congregation organization, shepherding activity of elders and traveling representatives who are caring for the spiritual welfare of God’s people around the earth, also all pioneer activity. Annual reports from the branches dealing with the field activity worldwide are examined and acknowledged by this committee. The Service Committee supervises preparation of copy for Our Kingdom Ministry and cooperates with the Writing Committee in getting final copy approved. The Service Committee is responsible for calling in Gilead School students and students for the Ministerial Training and Traveling Overseers’ Schools. This committee is also responsible for making assignments of students to their places of postgraduate service in the field. All correspondence with missionaries regarding their service is handled by this committee. Zone visits by members of the Governing Body, or by others who are qualified, are arranged by the Service Committee ^{[citation needed]}. Look up evangelist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Teaching Committee - arranges congregation meetings, special assembly days, circuit assemblies, and district and international conventions as well as various schools for elders, ministerial servants, pioneers, missionaries, such as Gilead school. This committee’s responsibility is to supervise schools, assemblies and Bethel family instruction for the spiritual education of Jehovah’s people. The Committee supervises outlining the material to be used in teaching and takes oversight of the various departments that are now responsible for this education. It handles oversight of the Audio/Video Services Department and development of all new audio and video programs. The committee is responsible to see that there is a proper arrangement and time allotment for each of the congregational meetings. This committee works in close cooperation with the Service and Writing Committees. The Teaching Committee endeavors always to provide the necessary instruction and arrangements for building up spiritually the elders, publishers, Bethel families, newly interested persons and others, encouraging all to ‘pay constant attention to themselves and to their teaching.’—1 Tim. 4:16. Branch Committees should make their own local organizational arrangements for their circuit assemblies, special assembly days and district conventions. Fields of instruction handled by this committee include the following: Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is the name given to the missionary school of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

1. Watchtower Bible School of Gilead;
2. Kingdom Ministry School;
3. Theocratic Ministry School;
4. Bethel Entrants’ School;
5. Program at Bethel table;
6. Bethel Family meetings;
7. International Conventions;
8. District Conventions;
9. Circuit Assemblies;
10. Special Assembly Days;
11. Radio and TV programs;
12. Pioneer Service Schools;
13. Literacy classes;
14. News Service;
15. Ministerial Training School;
16. Traveling Overseers’ School;
17. Branch School;
18. All audio and video programs.

^{[citation needed]}

Writing Committee - supervises the writing and translation of all works published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This committee supervises putting the spiritual food into written form for publication and distribution to our brothers and the public in general. The publications that this committee supervises include the Watchtower and Awake! magazines, all bound books, booklets, pamphlets, tracts, final copy for Our Kingdom Ministry, handbills, Bibles, or any revisions of these. It responds to questions about the meaning of certain scriptures and points presented in the publications, also questions about doctrines or morals that do not deal with or related to specific problems in the congregations, or the standing of persons in the congregations. It approves the scripts for dramas, and talk outlines and manuscripts. This includes unique branch materials such as tour brochures, public relations brochures and tracts, and dedication brochures. The Writing Committee supervises the translation work done throughout the earth. This includes giving approval for the translation of audio and video programs into additional languages. ^{[citation needed]} The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is the main corporation representing the Jehovahs Witnesses, and publishes The Watchtower. ...

Chairman's Committee - cares for emergencies, disaster relief and other urgent matters, such as investigations. This committee is made up of the coordinator or a representative from each of the five Governing Body committees. It serves to enhance coordination between the Governing Body committees and helps to expedite the flow of work. The members of the Chairman’s Committee will serve as chairmen of the entire Governing Body on a rotational basis. The Chairman’s Committee of the Governing Body should be alert to see that the Governing Body operates smoothly and efficiently and that there is no unnecessary overlapping of work of the various committees. Reports on major emergencies, disasters or persecutions and any other urgent matters affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses will come immediately to this committee and will be taken up with the Governing Body. ^{[citation needed]}

A number of non-members of the Governing Body, serve on some of these committees as assistants, such as in secretarial positions. They can be from the 'great crowd' (meaning they are not of those with a heavenly hope), and their work is sometimes compared with that of the Nethinim in ancient Israel. ^{[citation needed]} Nethinim, the name given to the Temple assistants in ancient Jerusalem. ...

Members

Current (year appointed)

As of April 2007, the current members of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, in alphabetical order, are: Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

• John E. Barr (1977)
• Samuel Herd (1999)
• Geoffrey Jackson (2005)
• Theodore Jaracz (1974)
• Stephen Lett (1999)
• Gerrit Lösch (1994)
• Anthony Morris (2005)
• Guy Pierce (1999)
• David Splane (1999)

Former (deceased)

• Carey W. Barber (1977-2007)
• W. Lloyd Barry (1974-1999)
• John C. Booth (1974-1996)
• Charles J. Fekel (1974-1977)
• Frederick William Franz (1971-1992) — 4th president of Watchtower society
• George D. Gangas (1971-1994)
• John O. Groh (1971-1975)
• Milton George Henschel (1971-2003) — 5th president of Watchtower society
• William K. Jackson (1971-1981)
• Karl F. Klein (1974-2001)
• Nathan Homer Knorr (1942-1977) — 3rd president of Watchtower society
• Martin Pötzinger (1977-1988)
• Albert D. Schroeder (1974-2006)
• Grant Suiter (1971-1983)
• Thomas J. Sullivan (1971-1974)
• Lyman Alexander Swingle (1971-2001)
• Daniel Sydlik (1974-2006)

Carey W. Barber (1905-2007) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1977 until his death. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) was the person who succeded Frederick W. Franz as the president of Watchtower Society. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... Martin Pötzinger (25. ...

Resigned / Removed

• Ewart Chitty (1974-1978)
• Raymond Franz (1971-1980)
• Leo K. Greenlees (1971-1984)

Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ...

References

The Watchtower is an illustrated religious magazine printed and published by Jehovahs Witnesses via their Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York and branch offices around the world. ...

External links

• Picture of Governing Body Members

See also

• Organizational Structure of Jehovah's Witnesses