Branch Offices of Jehovah's Witnesses

[The Librarian]

Jehovah's Witnesses operate 96 branch offices worldwide,grouped into thirty global "zones", each under the oversight of a headquarter's representative (previously known as a zone overseer) who visits each of his assigned branches every few years, auditing operations, counseling branch committeemen, department heads, and missionaries, and reporting back to the Governing Body. Each branch office is referred to as Bethel. The United States branch office, spread across three New York State locations with a staff of more than 4000, also serves as the international headquarters.
Branch offices, operated by Witness volunteers known as Bethel families, produce and distribute Bible-based literature and communicate with congregations within their jurisdiction. Full-time staff at branch offices take a vow of poverty and are considered members of a religious order. Each branch is overseen by a committee of three or more elders, which is appointed by the Governing Body. A Service Department in each branch corresponds with congregations and supervises the work of traveling overseers. Branch offices may also have printing, translation, legal and Hospital Information Services departments.Each branch office appoints various committees in its jurisdiction's communities, with local elders as members. Committees may include:

• Hospital Liaison Committee
• Patient Visitation Group
• Regional Building Committee (Now referred to as 'Kingdom HallConstruction Groups' (per Lesson 25 - Who is Doing God's Will Today?)
• Assembly Hall Committee
• District Convention Committee (Now "Regional Convention Committee")
• Disaster Relief Committee

Country offices working like branches, report to a nearby larger branches instead of to World Headquarters. These do such things as take in mail of interested ones and translate into local languages.

Uses:

Dance Halls and Parties

Party at the Branch Office in South Africa

Music Festival at the Branch Office in Japan

List of Branch Offices of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide

See also: School for Branch Committee Members and their Wives

Branch office staff Publications:

• Branch Organization (revised 2003), for branch overseers
• "Dwelling Together in Unity" (1952, revised 1974, 1982, 1989, 1996, 2004)
• Standards Manual (2005), for proofreaders
• Writing for Our Journals, for writers

See also: Lesson 22 - Who is Doing God's Will Today?