The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the main legal organization used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to direct, administer and disseminate doctrines for the group. It is often referred to as “The Watchtower Society” or simply “The Society.”
The Watchtower Society was founded in 1881 by Charles Taze Russell as Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. Russell and his associates were Bible Students who focused on Bible prophecy and the second coming of Christ. In 1909, the Society was officially renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. After Russell’s death in 1916, Joseph Franklin Rutherford took over as president and the group became known as Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1931.
The Watchtower Society is headquartered in Warwick, New York. It oversees the production of Bible-based publications and books that Witnesses use for ministry and Bible studies. These include The Watchtower and Awake! magazines, as well as various books, brochures and leaflets. The Society also provides direction and administration for Jehovah’s Witness congregations worldwide.
Organizational Structure
The Watchtower Society operates as a hierarchical organization led by the Governing Body. This group of elders serves at the highest level and is responsible for overseeing doctrinal matters and producing spiritual food used by Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. There are currently eight members of the Governing Body.
Under the Governing Body is the World Headquarters Management Committee, which coordinates the day-to-day operations of the organization. There are also Branch Committees that oversee Witness activities in lands outside of the United States. Additionally, each congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide is supervised by a body of elders.
Major Activities and Services
The Watchtower Society engages in the following major activities and services:
- Produces literature, magazines, books, brochures, comics, videos and other media for use by Jehovah’s Witnesses in their ministry and for Bible studies.
- Oversees kingdom halls (places of worship) and Assembly Halls used by local congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Organizes large conventions for Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.
- Operates Bible schools to train members to become ministers.
- Directs preaching activities and oversees the disciple-making work of Jehovah’s Witnesses locally and globally.
- Provides financial support for the worldwide activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Maintains translation offices to produce Bible-based literature in over 300 languages.
Key Beliefs and Practices
As Jehovah’s Witnesses, those associated with the Watchtower Society adhere to key biblical beliefs including:
- God’s name is Jehovah (Psalm 83:18).
- Jesus is God’s son, the Messiah and ransom sacrifice for salvation (John 3:16).
- The Holy Spirit is God’s active force, not a person (Genesis 1:2).
- The Bible is God’s inspired Word and infallible guide for life (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
- The human soul is mortal; the dead are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6).
- Salvation comes through faith in Christ and obedience to God (Hebrews 5:9).
- Christ’s thousand-year reign will bring peace and justice to the earth (Revelation 20:6).
- Satan misleads and rules the present world order (2 Corinthians 4:4).
- The earth will remain forever and be turned into a paradise (Psalm 37:29).
- The 144,000 chosen ones rule with Christ in heaven; others will enjoy eternal life on a paradise earth.
Key practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses directed by the Watchtower Society include:
- Proclaiming the “good news of the Kingdom” around the world as commissioned by Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:14).
- Meeting together for Bible study, worship and spiritual education (Hebrews 10:24, 25).
- Maintaining political neutrality and not participating in war (John 18:36).
- Refraining from blood transfusions (Acts 15:28, 29).
- Maintaining modesty in dress, grooming, speech and conduct (1 Timothy 2:9, 10).
- Upholding strict moral standards including no gambling, drug abuse, tobacco use, pornography or sexual immorality (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
- Promoting family life and children (Ephesians 5:22-6:4).
- Engaging in disaster relief work (James 1:27).
Controversies and Criticisms
Throughout its history, the Watchtower Society has faced controversies and criticisms from both inside and outside the organization, including:
- Failed predictions – dates such as 1914, 1925 and 1975 were claimed as having special Biblical significance or indicating the start of Christ’s millennial reign. When such dates passed without the expected events, trust and credibility suffered.
- Handling of child sexual abuse – the two witness rule and purported mishandling of abuse allegations has led to accusations of improperly protecting accused molesters.
- Stance on blood transfusions – the Society’s prohibition against blood transfusions, even when life-threatening, is deemed extreme or harmful by many outsiders.
- Shunning of former members – strict shunning, including by family members, for those who leave or are expelled from the religion has been labeled cruel.
- View of higher education – discouragement against pursuing university education is seen by many as anti-intellectual and limiting.
- Authoritarian leadership structure – concentration of power and authority in the Governing Body with little accountability has led to charges of being dictatorial.
In addition, some former members have accused the Watchtower Society of being a cult or high-control sect that uses mind control techniques to retain members. The group’s recruitment methods, information control, emotional prohibitions, isolation and us vs them mentality have come under scrutiny. However, sociologists differ greatly in determining what constitutes a cult.
Jehovah’s Witnesses counter that theirs is a religion of love that promotes family values and provides meaning in life. They view many criticisms as based on misunderstanding and feel they are unfairly persecuted for upholding Bible standards. They point to their relief work as evidence of true Christian love in practice.
Significance and Impact
The influence of the Watchtower Society has been considerable, with Jehovah’s Witnesses now numbering over 8 million worldwide. Here are some key markers of the group’s significance and global impact:
- Most active preachers of any religion with their public ministry resulting in over 260,000 new baptized members annually.
- Expanded from 50,000 members in 1921 to over 8 million currently.
- Print more literature by volume than any other publisher with peak of 5 billion magazines in 2011.
- Translate publications into over 950 languages, more than any other religious group.
- Maintains branch offices in over 100 countries coordinating activity of 119,954 congregations.
- Over 22 million attend annual Memorial observance commemorating Christ’s death.
- Own one of the largest television studios and production facilities in New York used to create videos, films and TV shows.
- Constructed high-tech new headquarters in Warwick, NY with 472 rooms for workers and volunteers.
- Do not solicit donations or tithing, funding operations from voluntary contributions only.
While controversial in some aspects, the Watchtower Society has helped anchor Jehovah’s Witnesses as one of the most well-organized and fastest growing religions in the world. Their impact is amplified by loyalty to leadership direction and emphasis on spreading their beliefs globally.
Conclusion
For over 140 years, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has directed and guided the religious activities, doctrinal positions and public ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Serving as the Witnesses’ administrative and spiritual head, the Society has spearheaded the production of Bible-based literature, organized international conventions, trained missionaries and overseen evangelism efforts worldwide. With headquarters in New York, branch offices globally and adherents in nearly every nation, the Watchtower Society has been the driving force behind the growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses into one of the most geographically diverse and well-known faith groups in modern times.