nochoice - welcome to JWN.
While you're here and trying to sort things out, maybe you can answer a question I've had for some time:
In a typical Kingdom Hall congregation, how many elders and Ministerial Servants are there? Is there a minimum number? Is there a maximum number?
What are all of the "servants" positions called now?
When I was a JW (back when dinosaurs still lived among us) we had about 6-10 "servants" positions. There were no "ministerial servants."
Prior to 1953 there were the following positions in the Riverside, California Central Kingdom Hall:
"Company Servant" (changed to "Congregation Servant" early that year) - (typically a lifetime position as long as the fellow was effective, popular, and met service requirements). We had an excellent, dedicated, and loving brother in that position [Ted Rogers].
"Assistant Company/Congregation Servant" - typically hardworking and effective. Took total charge when Congregation Servant was ill, on vacation, or otherwise unable to attend a meeting or other gathering.
"Theocratic Ministry School Servant" - ran the Thursday night ministry school, made assignments, and typically did most of the critiques after student presentations.
"Literature Servant" - managed the storeroom where literature was kept. Opened the literature counter before and after meetings, collected 3 cents per magazine and 25/50 cents for books and ordered additional supplies as needed. Provided handbills (ours had the dates and times of public talks printed on them) and other specialty items. Would also supply Pioneers with left-over or out-dated literature at no cost for their field work. Was responsible for the accounts for literature.
"Accounting Servant" (this was often a double-duty job for the CS or ACS). This was sometimes assigned to a brother with no particular skills, but married to a sister who was good at accounting and keeping the books. My mother was acting "accounts servant' when my father was assigned this position for a few months.
"Territory Servant" - some Kingdom Halls had a separate position for this, but ours was handled by the "Literature Servant." Handed out and logged the territory maps to "pioneers" and ...
"Book Study Conductors / Servants" - This was my first "elder position" assigned to me when I was just 20 years old. Conducted the Tuesday night Book Study held in a private home. Eight to twenty JWs and their families would meet at a private home for an hour to study one of the more advanced books. Would lead prayer, assign a reader, and (typically during the summer) would assign local streets to those who showed up for pre-study field service. Was also responsible for Saturday and Sunday morning field service management if located away from the Kingdom Hall.
Some Kingdom Halls had "Building Maintenance Servants," but these were rare. Our janitorial duty assignments were handled by the Assistant Congregation Servant. He'd post a calendar with cleaning dates and times assigned to family heads.
---- Jump to the present ----
When I attended a Memorial Service two years ago, the local Kingdom Hall seemed to have an elder's position for just about every well-dressed older man. It seemed like at least eight elders were involved in the presentation. One opened the meeting, introduced the song, and then invited another brother to say the opening prayer. He then introduced the main speaker (I assumed to be the COBOE). Two younger brothers adjusted the microphones and also carried hand mikes up and down the aisles. I counted four brothers on each main aisle (total of 8) who stood at the front and back during talk and then passed the bread and wine when that process began. There were at least ten brothers acting as parking attendants before and after the meeting. I believe an ASL meeting was taking place behind me, but I couldn't tell for sure. At the end of the meeting, the main speaker turned it over to the first "host", who then led the closing song and called on another brother to say the closing prayer. Before everyone was released (the Spanish congregation was coming in behind us), he turned the meeting over to another brother who made some announcements about the special talk that was scheduled for the following Sunday. After the meeting was dismissed, a nice younger brother (in his 30s) introduced himself and his wife. He then pointed out his wife's father and uncle (not otherwisde involved in the meeting) and told me that both of them were elders. I'm guessing this congregation of about 125 must have had at least a dozen elders and maybe ten Ministerial Servants.
So - can anyone help me out here? What is the typical configuration for elders and MSes in an average KH now? I've looked through all of my current books and the WT CD, but I can't find anything definitive.
JV
