The Bible Students are an independent, non-denominational Christian fellowship, similar in organization to the Church during the lives of the Apostles. Each local congregation is totally independent, there being no central headquarters, and no central authority except for that of our Lord Jesus and the Apostles.
Congregations of Bible Students may be found throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, and are bound together based on the Lord’s Law of Love, without the need of an earthly organization.
The servants or ministers are chosen by each individual congregation to serve the needs of that congregation. These servants are selected on an annual basis, based on the scriptural qualifications provided by the Apostles (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Servants selected serve on the basis of love for the brethren, and do not receive monetary compensation for their services. (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)
The individual congregations of Bible Students do not take collections. All expenses of each congregation are met by unsolicited voluntary contributions, as was the custom in the early Church. We trust in the Lord that if funds are required, then they will be provided through His providence.
The congregations of the Bible Students traditionally meet in private homes, as was the custom of the early Church. Larger congregations of Bible Students often rent facilities for meeting together, rather than spend the Lord’s money on earthly edifices.