Kingdom Hall

The term was first suggested in 1935 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, for a building in Hawaii.

An annual yeartext, or "theme scripture", which is the same for all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide, is prominently displayed inside each Kingdom Hall.

[6] A Kingdom Hall typically has a library, contribution boxes,[7] and a literature counter, where publications are displayed, stored and dispensed.

[21] 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.

[22] Depending on family preference and local custom, a Kingdom Hall funeral may or may not have the casketed deceased present.

[33][34] In areas of repeated or reputed vandalism, particularly in cities, some Kingdom Halls are built without windows to reduce the risk of property damage.

to elders in the United States that new Kingdom Halls worldwide would use standardized designs and materials, suited to local circumstances.

[36] Jehovah's Witnesses' branch offices formerly appointed local Regional Building Committees (RBC) to oversee the construction and maintenance of their places of worship.

Such committees - which usually consisted of five to seven persons, often with experience in construction trades - aimed to coordinate the efforts of those involved so as to provide attractive and functional facilities that are financially viable.

Committees helped in assessing the suitability of a possible construction-site, purchasing the land and materials and coordinating the efforts of volunteers from the wider area.

that Regional Building Committees would be replaced by Local Design/Construction Department of the branch office, but with a more defined organizational structure.

[44] The congregation repaid the loan to the Watch Tower Society, in addition to its continued contributions to the Kingdom Hall Fund.