IS there a priest in the Jehovah's Witnesses Church?

Answer 1

In the Jehovah's Witness religion there is no clergy laity division. All dedicated, baptized members, both male and female, are viewed as "ministers," and all engage in the public preaching of the gospel. Only male members take the lead in their meetings (worship services) but all members of the congregation participate and/or have parts in the program.

Certain experienced ministers are given the responsibility of organizing and overseeing the programs; these ones are referred to as "elders" but the term is not used by the Witnesses as a title. They refer to each other uniquely as "brothers" and "sisters".

The only "priest" we have is our leader, King, and High Priest in heaven, Jesus Christ.

Answer2: There is no class distinction among Jehovah's Witnesses. Jesus issued these instructions at Matthew 10:8 You received free, give free." Sadly to say many religious leaders instruct for a hefty price and have become rich with money they have collected from the flock. However, Jehovah's Witnesses endeavor to imitate Jesus and his early disciples. They have no paid clergy. The work of Jehovah's Witnesses is funded by voluntary donations as mentioned above, and they NEVER solicit money. As true ministers of God, they are not peddlers God's word. (2 Corinthians 2:17)

Answer 2

Answer 1: No, Jehovah's Witnesses do not have pastors or any paid clergy class. The have a "body of elders" within each congregation that take the lead and organize the congregation based on uniform protocols. However, these individuals are volunteers and receive no financial compensation.

Another Answer from a Contributor with More Detail:

To be a true witness of Jehovah God one first needs to gain the "knowledge that leads to everlasting life" (John 17:3) by studying The Bible with a current member of the worldwide congregation. Bible history, scriptural laws and principles, and how the united body of Jehovah's Witnesses is organized, are some of the things one will learn.

After taking in knowledge, applying it in your life, repenting and turning around from past wrongful behavior, and attending meeting for a period of time, one may chose to join in the witnessing work as an unbaptized publisher (Matthew 24:14), and later may decide to become a member of this faith. Then one will make a personal prayer of dedication, becoming a servant of the true God, Jehovah, and a footstep follower of Jesus Christ by being baptized.

All dedicated and baptized members of Jehovah's Witnesses are ministers and spend their own personal time, money and energy to share the good news of God's Kingdom with others, just as Jesus instructed all Christians to do at Matthew 28:19,20.

However, only males who are good teachers and have proven themselves faithful for some time may become public teachers (pastors) at their Kingdom Halls, although these ones are not considered "clergy" and are simply referred to as elders or overseers. The scriptural qualifications for being appointed as one of such congregation shepherds may be found in the Bible at 1 Timothy 3:1-8.

So, no, we don't have typical pastors as such are known in most of Christendom's churches. What we have is a group of "fellow workers" called "elders" (in the Bible - "older men") who oversee the congregation. This body of elders is comprised only of dedicated, baptized, and faithful qualified males from within each congregation.

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses do not scribe to a clergy-laity policy.

The brothers who serve as shepherds in the congregation are called elders and they are assisted by ministerial servants.