Re: Witnessing in Public Places
February 26, 2017
Page 2
4. Site Permission and Insurance
Coverage: In some public locations, permission may be needed from a manager or secular
authority before setting up a literature display. The service overseer or someone else designated
by the body of elders should determine what may be legally required, if anything, in the way of
permissions, permits, and insurance coverage. Any application to use a mobile cart or to set
up a table or kiosk to display literature must be filled out in the name of an individual
publisher, not in the name of the congregation, any corporation used by the organization, or
“Jehovah’s Witnesses.” If a small administrative fee is needed in order to acquire space in a public
area, it is to be paid by the individual publisher, not the congregation. Publishers should
carefully review any such applications to see what responsibility they are taking upon themselves with
respect to liability and possible proof of insurance coverage. Publishers who apply to
distribute literature at these areas are doing so on their own initiative as part of their personal
ministry.
5. At times, administrators or managers
have waived insurance requirements when the voluntary and non-commercial nature of
our Bible educational work was explained to them. Any meeting that is held with a
location’s manager should be informal, such as one between neighbors in a community, and not a
discussion of legal rights. If this meeting is unsuccessful or an excessive fee is required, the body
of elders should identify other public areas within their congregation’s territory where public
witnessing equipment could be used effectively
