What is the administrational structure of the Jehovah's Witness religion?

Answer 1

First, there is no paid clergy.

In the congregation, we have a body of elders who serve as shepherds for the congregation. They are appointed older men who have proven themselves faithful for a number of years. To assist them, we have ministerial servants (deacons).

We have traveling overseers who are called Circuit Overseers, placed over a circuit of 20 or so congregations. They visit each congregation two times a year, making sure all the congregations continue to serve in harmony and unity. Circuit Overseers are not paid for their services. The organization supplies them with a car, and pays expenses they incur such as travel. They and their wives generally do not own their own homes, but rather they will stay in the homes of members of the congregations that they visit for the week that they are there, or in some cases, the Kingdom Hall they are serving may have a small apartment attached for them to stay in.

Over several Circuit Overseers, will be a District Overseer, also an unpaid servant. His arrangements are similar to that of the Circuit Overseer.

District Overseers report to their particular branch office, and Zone Overseers serve in the branch Office, and report back to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses who serve at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. Sometimes actual members of the Governing Body have served as Zone Overseers.

The Governing Body is the main teaching arm of Jehovah's Witnesses, and is a group of dedicated annointed men. Currently,as of January 2010, there are 7 members of the Governing Body, but there have been more at different times.

This organizational structure allows JW's to continue without divisions or sects in the religion.