Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have pastors or ministers in the traditional sense. They are led and taught by elders, who are appointed based on their spiritual qualifications and ability to teach.
What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Call Their Leaders?
Instead of pastors or ministers, Jehovah’s Witnesses have:
- Elders – Elders provide spiritual guidance and teaching for local congregations. They are always male.
- Ministerial Servants – Ministerial servants assist elders with practical needs in the congregation. They can be male or female.
- Circuit Overseers – Circuit overseers travel to visit and audit congregations in their assigned circuit (group of congregations). They provide training for elders and ministerial servants.
- Governing Body – The Governing Body is a group of elders who provide overall leadership for Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. They are based at the world headquarters in New York.
The Role of Elders
Elders serve many important functions in local Jehovah’s Witness congregations:
- Teaching and Preaching – Elders regularly give public talks and conduct Bible studies.
- Shepherding – Elders provide spiritual and emotional support to congregation members.
- Discipline – Elders investigate and decide disciplinary action for members who commit serious sins.
- Administration – Elders oversee administrative aspects of running the congregation.
- Appointing Ministerial Servants – Elders appoint qualified men as ministerial servants.
Elders do not receive a salary; they volunteer their time and are supported by other members of the congregation.
Becoming an Elder
To qualify as an elder, a Jehovah’s Witness male must:
- Be baptized for at least 1 year
- Meet biblical qualifications for overseers (such as found at 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
- Be exemplary in Christian conduct and teaching ability
- If married, have a wife who supports his appointment as elder
- Be appointed by the circuit overseer and local body of elders
Elders Compared to Clergy in Other Faiths
There are some notable differences between Jehovah’s Witness elders and pastors, priests, or ministers in other Christian faiths:
| Jehovah’s Witness Elders | Clergy in Other Faiths |
|---|---|
| Unpaid and volunteer their time | Often paid and employed by the church |
| No special title or clothes | Special clerical titles like “Pastor” or “Father” |
| Do not conduct special ceremonies like weddings, funerals, etc. | Lead religious ceremonies and rituals |
| Leadership structure with Governing Body at top | Varies – may have bishops, priests, etc. |
So while elders fill some similar roles, there are distinctive differences that separate them from religious leaders in many other faiths.
Conclusion
Jehovah’s Witnesses address their leaders as elders rather than pastors, ministers, or clergy. Elders are spiritually mature men who voluntarily lead and teach local congregations. Along with ministerial servants, circuit overseers, and the Governing Body, elders provide spiritual guidance for Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.