Branch Offices
Jehovah's Witnesses operate 98 branch offices worldwide, grouped into thirty global "zones", each under the oversight of 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 5000, 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
- Assembly Hall Committee
- District Convention Committee
- Disaster Relief Committee
Read more about this topic: Organizational Structure Of Jehovah's Witnesses
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)