📖 EXJW Wiki

The Current Governing Body Members (as of 2026)

As of early 2026, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses consists of eleven men, making it the largest the body has been since its 1971 formalization. Three members -- Geoffrey Jackson, Gerrit Losch, and the recently removed Anthony Morris III -- are profiled in dedicated articles elsewhere in this wiki. This article covers the remaining nine members: Samuel F. Herd, M. Stephen Lett, David H. Splane, Mark Sanderson, Kenneth Cook Jr., Gage Fleegle, Jeffrey Winder, Jody Jedele, and Jacob Rumph. In the span of just two years (2023-2024), the organization appointed five new members -- an unprecedented expansion.

The 1999 Class: The Last of the Old Guard

Samuel F. Herd (Born 1935; Appointed 1999)

Samuel Frederick Herd was born in April 1935 in Liberty, Indiana, the son of a poor farmer. He was the first African American appointed to the Governing Body -- a milestone the organization has not publicly emphasized.^[1]

Herd's mother took him to a Baptist church every Sunday as a child. In June 1956, he encountered Jehovah's Witnesses, and only nine months later, in March 1957, he was baptized. He began pioneering in 1958 and entered the circuit and district work in 1965, serving as a traveling overseer for an extraordinary 32 years -- one of the longest tenures in the circuit work of any Governing Body member.^[2]

In 1997, Herd and his wife, Gloria, were invited to serve at the United States Bethel headquarters in Brooklyn, where he was assigned to the Service Department. Just two years later, on October 2, 1999, he was appointed to the Governing Body.^[3]

At approximately 91 years old in 2026, Herd is the oldest current member of the Governing Body by a considerable margin. His life story, published in the May 2018 Watchtower under the title "A Poor Start -- A Rich Ending," follows the typical Witness autobiographical format: humble origins, discovery of "the truth," decades of faithful service, and divine blessing.^[4]

The 1971 Cranial Capacity Talk. Herd is remembered in ex-Witness circles for a 1971 talk delivered in Oakland, California, titled "The Value of Our Theocratic Sisters." In this address, Herd cited scientists who allegedly said that women's cranial capacity is 10 percent smaller than men's, and argued that this showed women are "just not equipped for the role of headship" and that "her role is one of subjection to the man." The talk's claims about cranial capacity and intelligence have been contradicted by modern neuroscience.^[5]

On JW Broadcasting, Herd projects a grandfatherly warmth. His presentations tend toward the devotional rather than the doctrinal, and he often draws on his decades of circuit work for illustrative anecdotes.

M. Stephen Lett (Born 1949; Appointed 1999)

Mark Stephen Lett was born in 1949 in Alabama. He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1966 at the age of seventeen and began full-time pioneering ministry that same year. From 1967 to 1971, he served at Bethel in the United States. In October 1971, he married his wife, Susan, and entered the special pioneer service. From 1979 to 1998, he served as a circuit overseer.^[6]

In April 1998, Lett was appointed as a helper to the Teaching Committee before his elevation to the Governing Body on October 2, 1999.^[7]

The Most Recognizable Face of the Organization. Of all current Governing Body members, Lett is by far the most visually recognizable. His presentation style on JW Broadcasting is characterized by extremely animated facial expressions, exaggerated vocal inflections, and theatrical gestures. Wikipedia describes him as "recognized for his distinctive animated and expressive style."^[8]

Lett has made several statements on JW Broadcasting that drew particular criticism. He has described reports of child abuse within the organization as "apostate-driven lies and dishonesties" -- a claim that the Australian Royal Commission, the Pennsylvania Grand Jury investigation, and numerous court cases have contradicted with extensive documentation.^[9]

In September 2025, Lett's wife Susan passed away after more than 58 years of shared full-time service. The couple had no children, having devoted their entire adult lives to organizational work. Susan Lett's death was announced to the worldwide brotherhood and prompted an outpouring of condolences from active Witnesses.^[10]

David H. Splane (Born 1944; Appointed 1999)

David H. Splane was born in 1944 in Canada. He began pioneering in September 1963 and graduated from the 42nd class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, the organization's missionary training school. He and his wife, Linda, were sent as missionaries to Senegal, West Africa, before returning to Canada, where Splane served for 19 years in circuit work. In 1990, the Splanes were invited to Bethel in the United States, where David worked in the Service Department and later the Writing Department. He was appointed to the Governing Body on October 2, 1999.^[11]

The Overlapping Generations Chart. Splane is indelibly associated with one of the most criticized doctrinal presentations in the organization's modern history. In September 2015, on JW Broadcasting, Splane stood before a large chart and attempted to explain the "overlapping generations" teaching -- the organization's revised interpretation of Jesus' words at Matthew 24:34 ("This generation will not pass away until all these things take place").^[12]

The original teaching held that the "generation" of 1914 -- people alive when Christ supposedly began his invisible reign -- would not die out before Armageddon arrived. As that generation aged and died, the doctrine became untenable. In the April 15, 2010 Watchtower, the organization introduced the concept of an "overlapping generation": two groups of anointed Christians whose lifespans overlap, effectively doubling the available time. Splane used the example of Frederick W. Franz (born 1893, baptized before 1914) to anchor one group, and argued that anyone whose life overlapped with Franz's could constitute part of the same "generation."^[13]

The presentation was notable for its reliance on speculative language -- phrases like "we just don't know," "let's suppose," and "for argument's sake" -- while offering no scriptural support for the overlapping concept itself. No biblical use of "generation" carries the meaning of two groups whose lifespans overlap.^[14]

On JW Broadcasting, Splane tends toward the cerebral and professorial. He frequently addresses doctrinal topics and has presented extended segments on identifying "apostates" and avoiding critical information about the organization.

The 2012 Appointment: Mark Sanderson

Mark Sanderson (Born ~1965; Appointed 2012)

Mark Sanderson was raised in San Diego, California, by his parents Doug and Grace Sanderson. His father was described as a kind elder, and his mother -- a Canadian -- had pioneered in Quebec during the 1950s, a period when Jehovah's Witnesses faced severe persecution in that province. Sanderson was baptized on February 9, 1975.^[15]

He began regular pioneering in Saskatchewan, Canada, in September 1983, and in December 1990 graduated from the seventh class of the Ministerial Training School (now called the Bible School for Single Brothers) in the United States. He was appointed as a special pioneer on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, in April 1991, and later served as a substitute circuit overseer.^[16]

In February 1997, Sanderson was invited to the Canada Bethel family, and in November 2000 he transferred to the United States branch, where he worked in Hospital Information Services and later the Service Department. In September 2008, he attended the School for Branch Committee Members and was appointed to the Philippines Branch Committee, where he served until his Governing Body appointment.^[17]

Effective September 1, 2012, Sanderson began serving on the Governing Body -- at approximately 47 years old, the youngest person appointed to the body in its modern history at that time. He is notably the only unmarried member of the current Governing Body, a detail that has attracted comment given the organization's strong emphasis on marriage as a normative life path for adult men in leadership.^[18]

On JW Broadcasting, Sanderson is an energetic and frequent presenter who often addresses international growth, disaster relief, and organizational updates.

The 2018 Appointment: Kenneth Cook Jr.

Kenneth Cook Jr. (Appointed January 2018)

Kenneth Eugene Cook Jr. was born and raised in south-central Pennsylvania. Unlike many Governing Body members who were raised in the faith, Cook learned the truth from a high school classmate shortly before graduation -- making him a convert rather than a born-in. He was baptized on June 7, 1980, and began regular pioneering on September 1, 1982.^[19]

Cook began his Bethel service at Wallkill, New York, on October 12, 1984. For the next 25 years, he served in various assignments in both the Printery and the Bethel Office. He married his wife, Jamie, in 1996, and she joined him in Bethel service. In December 2009, the Cooks were transferred to the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, where Kenneth was assigned to the Writing Correspondence Department. In January 2017, he was appointed as a helper to the Writing Committee.^[20]

On the morning of January 24, 2018, it was announced to the United States and Canada Bethel families that Cook had been appointed to the Governing Body -- the first new member in nearly six years.^[21]

Cook's background in the Writing Department distinguishes him from most other recent appointees, who have come through the Service Department pipeline. On JW Broadcasting, he has emerged as one of the more polished and frequent presenters, often delivering segments on biblical topics and organizational updates. His relatively young age at appointment and his writing background may indicate the organization views him as a long-term figure in shaping published doctrine.

The January 2023 Appointments: Fleegle and Winder

The appointment of two new Governing Body members on January 18, 2023 -- announced on jw.org -- came just weeks before the quiet removal of Anthony Morris III in February 2023. Whether the two events were connected has never been confirmed by the organization.

Gage Fleegle (Appointed January 2023)

Gage Fleegle was raised in western Pennsylvania by parents he describes as "God-fearing." When he was a teenager, his family moved to a small rural town "where the need was greater" -- standard Witness terminology for relocating to an area with a small or struggling congregation. He was baptized on November 20, 1988, and began regular pioneering on September 1, 1989.^[22]

Two years after baptism, Fleegle began serving at Bethel in Brooklyn. He worked in the Bindery for eight years before being assigned to the Service Department. He also served in a Russian-language congregation for a period. In 2006, he married his wife, Nadia, who joined him in Bethel service. Together they served in the Portuguese field and then for over ten years in the Spanish field. In March 2022, he was appointed as a helper to the Service Committee -- a position that lasted less than a year before his elevation to the Governing Body.^[23]

Fleegle's multilingual service background (Russian, Portuguese, Spanish) is unusual for a Governing Body member and reflects the organization's increasing emphasis on non-English growth markets. His relatively low profile prior to appointment -- he had no published life story and virtually no public presence -- is consistent with the pattern of recent appointees being drawn from the ranks of behind-the-scenes Bethel administrators rather than high-profile speakers.

Jeffrey Winder (Appointed January 2023)

Jeffrey Winder grew up in Murrieta, California, and was raised in the faith. He had two older brothers who served at Wallkill before him. He was baptized in March 1986 and started auxiliary pioneering the following month, transitioning to regular pioneering in October 1986.^[24]

In 1990, Winder began serving at the Bethel facility in Wallkill, New York. His first assignment was in the Cleaning Department -- a detail consistent with the fact that most new Bethelites begin with manual labor assignments. He subsequently worked in the Farm Department and the Bethel Office. In 1997, he married his wife, Angela, and they have served together at Bethel ever since.^[25]

In 2014, the Winders transferred to Warwick, New York, where Jeffrey assisted with the construction of the new world headquarters -- a massive building project that the organization has treated as a signature achievement. In 2016, they moved to the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, where Winder worked in Audio/Video Services. Four years later, they returned to Warwick, and Winder was assigned to the Personnel Committee Office. In March 2022, he was appointed as a helper to the Personnel Committee before his Governing Body appointment in January 2023.^[26]

Winder's career trajectory -- construction, audio/video production, personnel management -- represents a distinctly modern path to the Governing Body, one rooted in institutional administration rather than traditional field ministry or doctrinal scholarship.

The October 2024 Appointments: Jedele and Rumph

At the 2024 Annual Meeting on October 5, 2024, two more men were added to the Governing Body -- bringing the total to eleven, matching the number at the body's 1971 founding.

Jody Jedele (Appointed October 2024)

Jody Jedele was born in Missouri and was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was baptized in his early teens on October 15, 1983. After high school, he began regular pioneering in September 1989. His parents regularly took him and his sister to visit Bethel during their youth -- visits that, according to the official narrative, motivated both children to set the goal of Bethel service, a goal they both achieved.^[27]

Jedele began Bethel service in 1990. In 2013, he and his wife (whose name has not been published in official sources) were invited back to Bethel specifically for the Warwick construction project. Since then, they have served at Patterson and Wallkill as well. Jedele's departmental assignments have included the Local Design/Construction Department and Hospital Information Services -- the latter being the organization's network for managing situations where Witnesses face medical decisions involving blood transfusions. In March 2023, he was appointed as a helper to the Service Committee.^[28]

Jedele's involvement with Hospital Information Services is notable. This department manages the organization's Hospital Liaison Committees, which dispatch representatives to hospitals when Witness patients (including children) face medical emergencies involving potential blood transfusions.^[29]

Jacob Rumph (Appointed October 2024)

Jacob Rumph was born in California. His path to the faith was less direct than many Governing Body members: his mother was inactive (a Witness term for someone who has stopped regular participation) but still taught him Bible truths at home. Each year, he visited his grandmother, a faithful Witness who helped cultivate his interest. At age 13, Rumph asked for a Bible study -- a detail the organization has highlighted as evidence of personal spiritual initiative. He was baptized on September 27, 1992, while still in his teens.^[30]

After completing high school, Rumph began pioneering in September 1995. In 2000, he moved to Ecuador to serve where the need was greater -- a move that would define most of his subsequent career. He eventually married, and the couple served in Ecuador for over two decades. Rumph rose through the organization's hierarchy in the country, ultimately being appointed to the Ecuador Branch Committee, which oversees all Witness operations in the country.^[31]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rumphs returned to the United States and were invited to Wallkill Bethel, where Jacob received training in the Service Department. They were subsequently assigned back to Ecuador before transferring permanently to Warwick in 2023. In January 2024, Rumph was appointed as a helper to the Service Committee -- and just nine months later, at the October 2024 annual meeting, he was elevated to the Governing Body itself.^[32]

Rumph's appointment is significant for several reasons. His international missionary background -- over two decades in Latin America -- reflects the organization's demographic reality: growth is now concentrated almost entirely in the Global South, while membership stagnates or declines in the traditional strongholds of North America and Europe. His relatively rapid promotion from helper to full member (nine months) was also the fastest such transition in recent memory.

Patterns and Analysis

The Acceleration of Appointments

The Governing Body operated with eight members from 2018 until early 2023. In the space of twenty-one months (January 2023 to October 2024), five new members were added -- after the removal of Anthony Morris III in February 2023 -- bringing the total to eleven. This represents the most rapid expansion of the body since its 1971 founding and stands in contrast to the long gaps that previously characterized appointments (six years between Sanderson and Cook, thirteen years between the 1999 class and Sanderson).^[33]

The Service Department Pipeline

Of the five most recent appointees (Fleegle, Winder, Jedele, Rumph, and Cook), four came through Service Department or related administrative roles. This contrasts with earlier members who often had backgrounds in circuit/district work, missionary service, or the Writing Department. This pattern suggests the organization may increasingly value institutional management experience over field ministry credentials.

Declining Age at Appointment

The trend toward younger appointments is unmistakable. The 1999 appointees (Herd, Lett, Splane) were all in their fifties or sixties. Sanderson was approximately 47 in 2012. The 2023-2024 appointees are believed to be in their forties to fifties.^[34]

The Role of JW Broadcasting

Since its launch in 2014, JW Broadcasting has transformed the Governing Body from a faceless administrative council into a cast of recognizable personalities. Each member now appears regularly on camera, delivering monthly updates, convention talks, and instructional segments. This visibility has had unintended consequences: it has made individual members subject to public scrutiny, parody, and criticism in ways that would have been impossible when the Governing Body operated in relative anonymity.^[35]