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Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is the formal name of the missionary school of Jehovah's Witnesses, typically referred to simply as Gilead or Gilead School.〔Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions (1999 edition), page 563〕 Gilead is the flagship school at the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, USA.〔''Our Kingdom Ministry'', December 1990, page 10〕〔''1993 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', page 25〕〔''The Watchtower'', November 15, 1999, pages 8-9〕 == History == Based on their interpretation of Revelation 17:8, Witnesses anticipated a period of peace after World War II, and saw an opportunity to expand their global preaching efforts.〔"Postwar Enlargement of the Theocratic Organization", ''The Watchtower'', July 15, 1950, page 219; "Despite wartime difficulties a New World Theocratic convention was held that following summer in Cleveland, Ohio, September 18-20 () ... Brother Knorr gave the address “Peace—Can It Last?” ... this public address showed a peace period would follow World War II ... In the mind of Brother Knorr the idea of a missionary-training school formed. ... The Watch Tower board of directors was enthusiastically in favor of it, and thus what was first called the Watchtower Bible College of Gilead was arranged for."〕 In 1942, at the height of the war, Nathan H. Knorr, then president of the Watchtower Society, proposed the establishment of Watchtower Bible School of Gilead.〔''The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 20'', ©2000 Grolier Incorporated, page 13, (As Retrieved 2009-08-24 ), "() established congregational Theocratic Ministry schools and the society's missionary college, the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead."〕 The first class began on February 1, 1943. No tuition was to be charged.〔“Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom” 1993, chap. 23 p. 522; “Missionaries Push Worldwide Expansion” © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania〕 Five months later, graduating students began to move out to their assignments in nine Latin-American countries, including Cuba. As early as 1956, graduates were serving "in about a hundred different lands".〔''Interpretation, Volume 10'', ©1956 Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, (As Retrieved 2009-08-24 ), page 329〕 Originally founded as a temporary program,〔''The Watchtower'', June 15, 2001, page 26〕 Gilead School has held classes at several of the facilities operated by the Watchtower Society: * ''Kingdom Farm'' in South Lansing, New York〔''Religion in the Twentieth Century'' by Vergilius Ture Anselm Ferm, ©1948, Philosophical Library, page 387, (As Retrieved 2009-08-24 )〕 from 1943 to 1960 * Watch Tower Society headquarters in Brooklyn, New York from 1961 to 1988 * ''Watchtower Farms'' in Wallkill, New York from 1988 to 1995;〔''The Watchtower'', December 1, 1995, page 24〕 and * ''Watchtower Educational Center'' in Patterson, New York since 1995. Gilead has trained 136 classes since 1943, its 136th class graduated March 8, 2014.〔(The Graduation of the 136th Class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead )〕 In 2008, Gilead School surpassed 8000 alumni.〔"Missionaries Encouraged to Be Like Jeremiah", ''The Watchtower'', (Graduation of the 136th Class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead February 15, 2009, page 22 )〕〔''The Watchtower'', (August 15, 2008, page 30 )〕〔''The Watchtower'', (November 1, 2001, page 23 )〕 Some Gilead graduates have remained in foreign missionary assignments for decades, others eventually served as traveling overseers, translators, or branch staff; some may be appointed as "special pioneers" if they serve in their home country.〔''2001 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', ©Watch Tower, (page 217 )〕〔''2005 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', ©Watch Tower, (page 160 )〕 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' notes that Gilead was intended to train "missionaries and leaders";〔Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/636742/Watch-Tower-Bible-School-of-Gilead〕 two current members of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses are Gilead graduates,〔"Gilead Graduates Go Forth as Zealous Harvest Workers!", ''The Watchtower'', (June 15, 2004, page 25 ), "Gerrit Lösch, a member of the Governing Body and a graduate of the 41st class of Gilead."〕〔"Motivated to Serve", ''The Watchtower'', (December 15, 2000, page 27 ), "David Splane, a former missionary and a graduate of the 42nd class of Gilead who is now serving as a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses."〕 as were four deceased members.〔"Graduating Students of the Word of God", ''The Watchtower'', June 1, 1997, page 30, "Lloyd Barry, also of the Governing Body, was a graduate of the 11th class of Gilead and served as a missionary in Japan for over 25 years."〕〔"New Members of the Governing Body", ''The Watchtower'', November 15, 1977, page 680, "The new members of the Governing Body () Martin Poetzinger of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... Martin Poetzinger entered the Kingdom service in 1926 and entered pioneer service in 1930. He is a graduate of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead."〕〔"Gilead Graduates Urged to Cultivate Good Communication Skills", ''The Watchtower'', June 1, 1990, page 26, "C. W. Barber, also a member of the Governing Body and himself a graduate of Gilead's 26th class, briefly discussed."〕〔"Gilead Graduates Go Forth as Zealous Harvest Workers!", ''The Watchtower'', (June 15, 2004, page 25 ), "Theodore Jaracz, a member of the Governing Body and a graduate of the seventh class of Gilead..."〕 The graduation of each semi-annual Gilead class is a significant event, which may be attended by much of the United States branch staff as well as invited guests from dozens of countries; audiences typically surpass 6000,〔"Gilead's 84th Class—Living Up To Expectations!", ''The Watchtower'', June 1, 1988, page 22〕〔"Missionaries Are Compared to Locusts", ''The Watchtower'', (August 15, 2008, page 30 ), "EVERY six months, the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead holds a graduation program to which the entire United States Bethel family is invited. On March 8, 2008, guests from more than 30 countries joined the Bethel family ... 6,411 in attendance"〕〔"They Made the Hearts of Their Parents Rejoice", ''The Watchtower'', (January 1, 2006, page 13 ), "On Saturday, September 10, 2005, an international group of 6,859 people attended the graduation of the 119th class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead."〕 with the graduation of the 136st class on March 8, 2014 totaling 11,548 attended the program, either in person at the educational center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Patterson, New York, or via video tie-in at locations in Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the United States. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Watchtower Bible School of Gilead」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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