A New Administration

For Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, the year 1976 saw a significant change in the branch-organization structure. On February 1 of that year, the arrangement of Branch Committees became effective. Instead of one overseer, a committee of spiritually mature brothers representing the Governing Body was assigned to supervise the work in each country. All of these are spiritually older men, shepherds of the flock of God.

In Brazil, the committee was composed initially of seven members: Massasue Kikuta, John Kushnir, Augusto Machado, Karl Rietz, Amaro Santos, Heinrich Selbert, and Fred Wilson. In the years that followed, Brother Selbert had to leave Brazil because of family responsibilities, and Brother Kushnir passed away in 1988. The others continue to serve on the committee, and in 1995, Östen Gustavsson was appointed to be a sixth committee member. Toward the end of 1976, some members of the Brazil Branch Committee, along with other branch representatives from around the world, shared in meetings held in New York by the Governing Body. The meetings served to acquaint the committee members more fully with their responsibilities, with the members of the Governing Body, and with the world headquarters.

[Picture on page 145]

Branch Committee (left to right): Massasue Kikuta, Karl Rietz, Amaro Santos, Östen Gustavsson, Augusto Machado, Fred Wilson