Legal instruments of Jehovah's Witnesses
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Template:Jehovah's Witnesses A number of corporations are in use by Jehovah's Witnesses. They deal with legal issues and represent the interests of the religious organization.
Contents |
Main corporations
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
- founded by Charles Taze Russell and his friends in 1881,
Known As:
- Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society
- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
- Watchtower Society
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
- founded 1909
- based in Brooklyn, New York
- not-for-profit corporation
- acts as a legal representative and agent for Jehovah's Witnesses.
- People's Pulpit Association (1909-1939)
- Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. (1939- 1956)
- Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc (WTB&TS) (since 1956).
- Note: Watch Tower in Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is two words, while Watchtower in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York is one word.
International Bible Students Association
Other corporations
According to the "Our Kingdom Ministry" (brochure distributed by Watchtower only to active Jehovah's Witnesses) of January 2002, page 7, the Governing Body has approved the formation of:
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
- Incorporated 2000
- President William L. Van De Wall
- Vice Presidents Charles I. Woody, Leon Weaver, Jr.
- Secretary/Treasurer William H. Nonkes
- Directors Harold K. Jackson, Merton V. Campbell, Stanley F. Weigel
Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses
- Incorporated 2000
- President Patrick J. LaFranca
- Vice Presidents Peter D. Molchan, Ralph E. Walls
- Secretary/Treasurer Joseph D. Mercante
- Directors Marvin G. Smalley, Kenneth J. Pulcifer, Eugene D. Rosam, Jr.
Kingdom Support Services, Inc.
- Incorporated 2000
- President Harold L. Corkern
- Vice Presidents Alan D. Janzen, Robert L. Butler
- Secretary/Treasurer Alexander W. Reinmueller
- Directors James F. Mantz, Jr., Thomas Kalimeris, Alan G. Browning
- Note: These are in addition to the Pennsylvania and New York corporations.
Aside from all of these, many other legal entities are used throughout the world to further the interests of Jehovah's Witnesses. For example, Wachtturm-Gesellschaft, Selters/Taunus to produce literature using the German branch office (which supplies a large portion of the world) or Jehovas vittnen - Bibelsällskapet Vakttornet to promote the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sweden.
See also:
- Organizational Structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
- Practices of Jehovah's Witnesses
- List of Watchtower publications
External links
- Jehovah's Witnesses: Watchtower Society Official Web Site
- Jehovah's Witnesses: Authorized Site of the Office of Public Informationde:Wachtturm-Gesellschaft
el:Νομικά όργανα των Μαρτύρων του Ιεχωβά ja:ものみの塔聖書冊子協会 nl:Wachttorengenootschap