A Kingdom Hall is a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses. The term was first suggested in 1935 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, for a building in Hawaii. Rutherford's reasoning was that these buildings would be used for preaching the "good news of the Kingdom." Jehovah's Witnesses use Kingdom Halls for the majority of their worship and Bible instruction.
Term
Witnesses prefer the term "Kingdom Hall" over "church", noting that the term often translated "church" in the Bible refers to the congregation of people rather than a structure.
Location and presentation
Kingdom Halls are typically modest, functional structures with practicality in mind. As Witnesses do not use religious symbols, such are not displayed on or in Kingdom Halls. An annual yeartext, or "theme scripture", which is the same for all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide, is prominently displayed in each Kingdom Hall. This text can be displayed in several languages if the Hall is used by foreign language congregations. A Kingdom Hall typically has a library, contribution boxes, and a literature counter, where publications are displayed, stored and dispensed.
Some Kingdom Halls have multiple auditoriums to allow more than one congregation to simultaneously conduct meetings. Where there is more than one auditorium, each auditorium or the entire structure may both be referred to as "a Kingdom Hall". Larger Assembly Halls or Convention Centers of Jehovah's Witnesses , or any rented arena or stadium used for larger gatherings of Jehovah's Witnesses are also regarded 'as a large Kingdom Hall'; casual clothing and undignified behavior are considered inappropriate during their religious events, even if the facility is an entertainment venue.
Uses
Meetings for worship
Main article: Beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses#WorshipCongregations typically meet in their Kingdom Halls two days each week for meetings for worship. Meetings usually open and close with song and prayer. Meetings held in the Kingdom Hall include Bible readings, public talks on matters such as the Bible, family life, Christian qualities and prophecy, as well as discussion of specially-prepared study articles in The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses. Witnesses also meet in Kingdom Halls for preparation and prayer before engaging in their door-to-door ministry.
Schools
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses teaching programsAmong its meetings for worship, each congregation conducts a weekly Theocratic Ministry School with a common global curriculum (exceptions are made for the availability of study materials). Kingdom Halls may also be used for any of several occasionally scheduled schools, such as sign- or foreign-language classes. Kingdom Halls may also be used for schools especially developed for particular ranks, such as the Pioneer Service School for full-time preachers, and the Kingdom Ministry School for elders and ministerial servants.
Individual Witnesses may receive permission to use the Hall to conduct personal Bible studies with their students. In areas where the literacy rate is low, congregations may also arrange to use Kingdom Halls to conduct literacy or reading classes, which non-Witnesses may also attend.
See also: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses#StudentsWeddings
Kingdom Halls may be used for wedding ceremonies of Witness-baptized couples, or of an unbaptized bride and groom simultaneously approaching baptism as Jehovah's Witnesses. A couple sends a request in writing to the congregation's "service committee", which assesses whether the couple is "in good standing, living in harmony with Bible principles and Jehovah’s righteous standards" and that they also approve of the members of the couple's wedding party (that is, groomsmen and bridesmaids).
Jehovah's Witnesses attach no special significance to a Kingdom Hall wedding over a secular service, and Witness couples may choose to be married elsewhere for personal or practical reasons. Kingdom Halls are not used for wedding receptions or other social events.
Funerals
Funeral services may be held in a Kingdom Hall if the body of elders considers that "the deceased had a clean reputation and was a member of the congregation or the minor child of a member". The family of the deceased may ask any respected male member of the congregation to conduct the service, which involves a simple Bible-based discourse. Depending on family preference and local custom, a Kingdom Hall funeral may or may not have the casketed deceased present.
Disaster relief
Disaster relief efforts of Jehovah's Witnesses are typically channeled through branch offices, and are staged at Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls as close as practical to the disaster area. Major disaster relief efforts include:
- War : During the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, a Kingdom Hall property in Goma (then Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo) housed 1600 Witness and non-Witness refugees. In July 1994, relief workers set up a 60-bed relief hospital at the Kingdom Hall, as well as a water treatment system.
- Earthquake : Following the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, six Kingdom Halls in Kobe, Japan were used as relief centers and supply depots.
- Storm : In the ten months following Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, seven Kingdom Halls were used as relief centers to dispatch volunteer crews and to store tools and materials while they organized 11,700 volunteers to repair or rebuild 723 homes.
- Volcano : On January 18, 2002, the day after the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, six Kingdom Halls in the vicinity received three tons of basic necessities and housed 1800 refugees. One week later, these relief centers were providing daily rations to 5000 people.
Construction
The construction crews of Kingdom Halls and larger Assembly Halls consist of volunteering Jehovah's Witnesses, sometimes from other countries, who have been pre-approved for work on construction sites.
In many countries, a number of standard designs of construction are used that can be built in just a few days. The act of constructing a Kingdom Hall in this manner is called a quick-build , although typically the preparation work involving the structural foundation and surrounding surface may take several weeks prior to the scheduled build. For various reasons, not all Kingdom Halls are constructed as quick-builds or using the standard designs. There is however, a noticeably dominant architectural style of the Kingdom Hall which is often used based on standardized design concepts and models, depending on needs.
A Kingdom Hall or Assembly Hall may be created by renovating an existing structure, such as a theater or non-Witness house of worship. In areas of repeated or reputed vandalism, particularly in cities, some Kingdom Hall are built without windows to reduce the risk of property damage.
Regional Building Committee
Jehovah's Witnesses' branch offices appoint local Regional Building Committees (RBC) to oversee the construction and maintenance of their places of worship. The objective of such committees, which usually consist of five to seven persons, often with experience in the construction trades, is to coordinate the efforts of those involved so as to provide attractive and functional facilities that are financially viable.
RBCs cooperate with local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses seeking to build or renovate a place of worship, under the direction of the local branch office. Committees help in assessing the suitability of a possible construction site, purchasing the land and materials and coordinating the efforts of volunteers from the wider area. The work of the Regional Building Committees has made it possible for Jehovah's Witnesses to build or renovate Kingdom Halls in a very short time, sometimes as little as two days, although typically the preparation work involving the structural foundation and surrounding surface may take several weeks prior to the scheduled build. Members of a Regional Building Committee work voluntarily and receive no remuneration for their work.
Funding
In 1983, an arrangement was instituted whereby Kingdom Halls are financed by loans from the Watch Tower Society. In addition to contribution boxes for local congregation expenses and "the worldwide work", each congregation has a contribution box specifically for voluntary donations toward Kingdom Hall construction. These donations are pooled by the Watch Tower Society into the Society Kingdom Hall Fund , which is used for financing the construction of Kingdom Halls worldwide, particularly in developing lands. When a congregation receives local approval to build a new Kingdom Hall, the congregation may apply for a loan from the Society Kingdom Hall Fund. The congregation repays the loan to the Watch Tower Society with nominal interest, in addition to its continued contributions to the Kingdom Hall Fund.
Maintenance
Routine maintenance of Kingdom Halls is performed by the members of the congregations that use them, typically according to
Groomsmen Gifts - Engraved Flasks
Engraved flasks are perfect groomsmen gifts and make unique gifts for groomsmen. These personalized engraved flasks are designed to ride discretely in a jacket or trouser pocket.
Executive Gift Shoppe - Perfect Gifts for Business or Pleasure!
Specializing in personalized executive and groomsmen gifts.
Groomsmen Gifts - Unique Groomsmen Gift Ideas
What’s left is finding the perfect set of groomsmen gifts for your closest friends. Tradition dictates you present them with a gift that will mark your special occasion and often ...
GROOMSMEN GIFTS BLOG » golf
In the spirit of golf, a perfect groomsmen gift would be the golf clubs and ball cufflinks in support of all our golf heroes! I have a pair of golf bag cufflinks myself that I wear ...
Groomsmen gifts and personalized gifts for the wedding party ...
If you are looking for the perfect Groomsmen Gifts and gifts for the wedding party? Personalized engraved gifts are the way to go. They show that you care about your wedding ushers ...
Groomsmen Gifts - Engraved Pocket Knives - Great Christmas Gift Ideas
Hunting for the perfect groomsmen gifts? Count on the leader in engraved pocket knives. Sarco Pocket Knives has created a special item for just this occasion.
Groomsmen Gifts - Best Man Gift - Money Clips
Groomsmen Gifts Money Clips Whether you have one groomsman or a dozen, You're in the right place. You have plenty of other things to worry about. The
Groomsmen Gifts, Wedding Gift Ideas For Groomsman
Crystal*ize offers personalized, high quality crystal barware that is hand crafted for you to give as the perfect groomsmen gift. Personalized beer glasses make perfect groomsmen ...
Groomsmen gifts, engraved groomsmen gifts at perfectgroomsmengifts.com
Having trouble finding that unique groomsmen gift of a flask or beer glass or a golfing gift? Need personalized beer glasses or a money clip fast for your wedding groomsmen gifts?
Perfect Groomsmen Gifts from VIPGroomsmenGifts.com
Is it groomsmen gifts or groomsman gifts? No worries! Find the perfect gift for your best man, groomsmen, usher, and father of the bride all on one place!