Congregation Assignments and Transfer Approval Criteria

Note: For specific information about transfering to sites outside of the United States, please consult that site's webpage.

Some brethren have asked about the general transfer policy for the Feast of Tabernacles, 2023. All United States sites will be open for transfer. International sites open to transfer are noted as such on their individual page on this festival website. Transfer approvals are considered based on a number of criteria, as listed below.

Transfer Approval Criteria: The Church places a high priority on establishing Feast sites with one goal in mind—to serve the vast majority of our brethren by providing them with a site where they can worship God. All other factors, including making provisions for incoming transfers, is secondary to providing assigned brethren a place to go to the Feast within a reasonable distance. While the Feast is an excellent time to travel, see new sites and meet new brethren, the highest priority is just to be there to worship God and learn about His coming Kingdom.

Over time the value of going to one's home site (serving there, and spending time with brethren from one's own area, etc.) has been all‐too‐often overshadowed by the attraction of travel and the mobility of many of our members. This is especially true in the United States. However, it's important we reinforce the value of "staying local" to support the local Feast site, and build a culture which encourages that.

This does not mean all members must stay local every year. However, we would ask everyone to talk to your pastor before deciding to transfer, to see if there are local needs. And consider staying back once every two or three years, at least, to support those local needs.

• If you are wishing to transfer, consider that transfer requests are prioritized based on available space and/or our maximum set for the site. We ask brethren for understanding if we cannot accommodate your transfer request.
• If space is limited, transfer decisions are based on the first‐come, first‐served principle, also taking into account other factors, such as:
  • Service needs of the transfer site coordinator: For example, if a Coordinator needs a qualified First Aid volunteer and you have those qualifications, that definitely puts you in a higher priority list to transfer to that site.
  • Special needs of the transferee: For example, if the only ride a widow has is with someone going to that transfer site, that would put her in a higher priority.
  • Family considerations: Not just "my family is going there," but rather more specific needs, such as "I have an aging parent in the area," or "my spouse is attending another COG nearby." Those things are taken into consideration.

If you are requesting to transfer to a site with limited capacity to accept transfers, please expect to be on a waiting list. As registration progresses, we will mention which sites still have ample room in the World Ahead.

Thank you for your support, as we strive to maintain the right focus of the Feast as a time to serve God's people and worship Him in anticipation of His marvelous Kingdom on earth.

Rod McNair, Festival Department