PUBLIC SPEAKERS
1. Qualifications: It is essential that only qualified elders and ministerial servants who are approved by the body of elders be assigned to give public talks. A qualified public speaker teaches ef- fectively from the Scriptures, makes the practical value of the material clear, and reaches the heart of his listeners. (Neh. 8:8; Luke 24:32) The body of elders may decide that an elder who cares for assignments on the midweek meeting does not qualify to give public talks. In some cases, an elder with limited abilities may be approved to give public talks in his congregation, but he would not qualify to be a visiting speaker. In such cases, he would modestly decline personal invitations to give talks in other congregations. The body of elders should use balance and good judgment as they prayerfully consider the abilities of each brother. All elders, including those who presently do not qualify for certain teaching privileges, should take the initiative to approach the auxiliary counselor for suggestions as well as make good use of the Ministry School book, the Teaching brochure, and Reminders for Those Assigned Public Talks (S-141) to improve their teaching skills.—1 Tim. 4:15, 16.
2. Assignments: It is preferable that visiting speakers be elders. However, well-qualified ministerial servants may also be assigned. (See 1:2.9.) Generally, requests for speakers should be through the public talk coordinator. (See 1:2.7; 3:3.18.) A list of approved speakers and the talks they have prepared should be provided to other congregations. (The use of such lists should comply with applicable data protection laws.) Speakers and talks should be chosen from this list. Since the number of approved speakers varies from congregation to congregation, it is not always necessary that an equal number of speakers be exchanged.
3. At times, the body of elders may feel that a local speaker should be assigned an outline on a particular subject in view ofthe needs of the congregation. Otherwise, speakers may choose which outlines they wish to prepare. (See Public Talk Titles [S-99] and Public Talk Titles-Listed by Subject [S-99a].) It is preferred that speakers not be assigned to be away from their own congregation more than once a month.
4. Symposiums: The body of elders determines whether it would be beneficial for an inexperienced public speaker to be assigned the first 15 minutes of a talk and for a more experienced speak- er to be assigned the remaining 15 minutes.
5. Hospitality and Travel Expenses: The body of elders should take the lead in extending hospitality to visiting speakers by asking to cover their travel expenses and by offering them a meal. (Rom. 12:13) Since circumstances vary widely, it is up to the body of el- ders to decide how this should be handled locally. Congregation funds may be used to cover travel expenses for visiting speak- ers. (See Instructions for Congregation Accounting [S-27].) How- ever, congregation funds should not be used to cover expenses for other forms of hospitality, such as entertaining or providing meals.
MEMORIAL AND SPECIAL TALK
6. Selecting a Memorial Speaker: The body of elders should care- fully select a speaker who can present the information in a way that will be clear and understandable to all in attendance, including those who may be present for the first time. The elders should not simply take turns giving this talk each year. A capable anointed elder should be considered if he is not limited by age, health, or other factors. However, it is not necessary for him to be chosen every year. In this way, the audience can benefit from the good teaching of other capable brothers. The primary concern of the elders when selecting a speaker should be the quality of the talk.
7. Selecting Brothers to Offer Prayers at the Memorial: The body of elders should select qualified brothers to offer brief but meaningful prayers over the emblems. Those who represent the congregation in prayer should be mature baptized Christians who are known as good examples and who have the respect of the congregation. A capable, qualified, anointed brother should be considered for this privilege if he is not limited by age, health, or other factors. However, the body of elders may have reason to select other qualified brothers to offer the prayers. If an anointed brother gives the talk, it is not necessary for him to offer the prayers over the bread and wine, but he may be asked to offer the final prayer.
8. Memorial Meeting Times: The body of elders decides when the Memorial talk should begin. If more than one congregation will be using a facility, the bodies of elders should cooperate in de- termining the start time. Although the Memorial talk may begin before sundown, the emblems should not be passed until after sundown. If more than one observance will be held at the same facility, at least 40 minutes between the programs, where possible, should be allotted for those attending to enter and leave. Keep in mind that the overall program is about an hour, including the songs, the prayers, the passing of the emblems, and the chairman’s comments.
9. Congregation Meetings the Week of the Memorial: When the Memorial falls on a weekday, no midweek meeting will be scheduled. When the Memorial falls on a weekend, no weekend meeting will be scheduled.
10. Recordings on JW Stream: About one month before the Memo- rial, a prerecorded Memorial talk will be made available on JW Stream for the benefit of those congregations, groups, and pregroups that have very few qualified speakers. The section of the outline entitled “Observing the Memorial of Christ’s Death Tonight” will be omitted from the recording. The local chairman or another brother should handle this section of the talk, during which 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 will be read, the prayers will be of- fered, and the emblems will be passed. Thereafter, the audience should watch the concluding section of the recording. About one month prior to the special talk, a prerecorded special talk will also be made available on JW Stream. If possible, backup speak- ers should be assigned in case of technical problems with the recordings of the Memorial and the special talk.
11. Inactive Ones: For direction regarding assisting inactive ones during the Memorial season, see Chapter 25, paragraph 15.
12. Chairman and Announcements: See Special Talk Chairman (S-125) and Memorial Chairman (S-126).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
13. The coordinator of the body of elders reviews and approves all announcements made to the congregation.—See Instructions for Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting (S-38).
LOCAL NEEDS PARTS
14. The body of elders decides the subjects of local needs parts, the elders who will present them, and when they will be presented. The subjects considered may include areas in which the congregation as a whole needs encouragement, commendation, or counsel. (Prov. 27:23) The part should provide sound and loving Scriptural instruction.—See 20:16-17.
15. The body of elders should not invite Hospital Liaison Committee members or medical professionals to present or to share in a lo- cal needs part, such as regarding filling out the durable power of attorney (DPA) card or some related matter. Likewise, they should not arrange for such individuals to present special talks or programs at Kingdom Halls or other locations for this purpose.
ASSEMBLIES
16. Two to three months prior to each assembly, the elders should
begin reminding the congregation of the upcoming assembly. The week before the assembly, the Life and Ministry Meeting chair- man should briefly highlight the theme of the assembly and key talks while displaying the program on the video monitors. All in the congregation should be encouraged to download the program from jw.org and to bring the appropriate copy of The Watch- tower to the assembly. Additionally, all should be encouraged to arrive on time and to be in their seats when the musical prelude begins. The elders may decide whether to use a local needs part a month or two following the assembly to review the program by means of an audience discussion, highlighting points that relate to the ministry.
CONVENTIONS
17. Two to three months prior to the convention, the elders should begin reminding the congregation of the upcoming convention. During a local needs part prior to the start of the congregation’s convention invitation campaign, the Convention Reminders video should be played. Thereafter, local arrangements for the campaign, which starts three weeks before the convention, should be outlined. The theme of the convention and key talks should be highlighted while the program is displayed on the video monitors. All in the congregation should be encouraged to download the program from jw.org and to bring the appropriate copy of The Watchtower to the convention. During a local needs part a month or two following the convention, the convention excerpts video, which will be available to elders on jw.org, should be played. By means of an audience discussion, highlights of the program should be reviewed, particularly those that relate to the ministry.
WATCHTOWER STUDY
18. See Chapter 6.
CONGREGATION BIBLE STUDY
19. The guidelines in Chapter 6 regarding conducting the Watchtower Study also apply to conducting the Congregation Bible Study.
—See also Instructions for Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting (S-38).
VISUAL AIDS
20. At congregation meetings, speakers should not project any moving video footage on screens or monitors unless directed to do so by the organization. (As an exception, speakers at sign-language meetings may show videos of scriptures and make judicious use of other videos from our organization as a visual teaching aid for the special needs of deaf audiences.) However, speakers may display still pictures, graphics, or artwork. When a speaker displays an image, he should refer to it and use it to teach. Images should not be displayed merely to add visual interest. (th study 9) Speakers should not contact the branch office to request pictures, graphics, or artwork for use in their presentations. Speak- ers may show the text of selected scriptures on the monitors if this is done sparingly. However, it would not be appropriate to display the text of each scripture used.
SONGS AND VIDEOS
21. It is recommended that video files be downloaded to JW Library for playback rather than being streamed from jw.org. (See Media Playback Using JW Library [S-144].) The body of elders should assign a brother the responsibility of downloading any videos that are to be viewed during the meeting each week.
22. Kingdom songs from the “Sing Out Joyfully”—Meetings series should be played before and after congregation meetings. Such music should not be allowed to drown out or overshadow the in- terchange of encouragement that comes from Christian association and theocratic conversation. When songs are played for singing, they should not be played so softly that it is difficult to sing in a heartfelt manner or so loudly that they overpower the voices of those singing.
23. For direction regarding songs used by groups, see Chapter 24, paragraph 17.
BROADCASTING SYSTEMS
24. Congregations may use broadcasting systems to benefit isolated or homebound publishers and interested persons and those who otherwise are unable to attend local congregation meetings in person. (The elders should use good judgment in determining whether to permit a disfellowshipped or disassociated person to connect to the meetings.) The body of elders decides what technology the congregation will use, such as a telephone tie-line or video streaming. However, they should not use a service that stores the audio or video files, that subjects users to commercial advertisements, or that allows users to post comments. If the technology will be shared by multiple congregations in the same facility, the decision will be made by the combined bodies of elders.
The arrangements should be in accord with the following guidelines:
(1) Congregations should transmit meetings live rather than record them for future distribution. (See 20:26.) However, individual publishers may record meetings for personal use if there are no legal concerns and if the recording device used is not connected to the facility’s audio or video system. Meetings should not be made available indiscriminately.