Editing Two by Twos (section)

=== Ministry ===
The church holds that faith and salvation may only be obtained by hearing the preaching of its ministers (typically called ''workers''), and by observing their sacrificial lives.{{sfn|Impartial Reporter|25 August 1910|p=8}}{{sfn|Gründler|1961|p=411}} During the early years, this requirement was referred to as the "Living Witness Doctrine", though that term is no longer used. The minister must be heard and observed in person, rather than by broadcasts, recordings, books or tracts, or other indirect communication.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=554}}{{sfn|Anderson|20 August 1983|p=4a}} The church's ministerial structure is based on Jesus' instructions to his apostles found in [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] [[s:Bible (King James)/Matthew#Chapter 10|chapter 10, verses 8–16]] (with similar passages in [[s:Bible (King James)/Mark#Chapter 6|Mark]] and in [[s:Bible (King James)/Luke#Chapter 10|Luke]]). The church's view is that, following these Biblical examples, its ministers have no permanent dwelling places, minister in pairs, sell all and go out with only minimal worldly possessions, and rely only upon hospitality and generosity.{{sfn|Mann|1955|p=110}}{{sfn|Courier Mail|29 August 1936|p=22}} Most ministers receive their support and income directly from lay members, and have no fixed address except for mail collection.{{sfn|Wilson|1993}}

The option of entering the ministry is theoretically open to every baptized member, although it has been many decades since married people were accepted into the ministry. Female workers operate in the same manner as male workers. However, they cannot rise to the position of overseer, do not lead meetings when a male worker is present, and occupy a lower rank than male workers.{{sfn|Fortt|1994|pp=96, 117–118, 193}}

Workers do not engage in any formal religious training.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Bruce|1996|p=70}};
* {{harvnb|Chandler|13 September 1983|p=A2}};
* {{harvnb|Climenhaga|30 July 1994|p=E7}};
* {{harvnb|Mann|1955|p=29}};
* {{harvnb|Müller|1990}};
* {{harvnb|Parker|Parker|1982|p=104}}.</ref> Overseers pair new workers with senior companions until they are deemed ready to move beyond a junior position.{{sfn|Fortt|1994|pp=59, 236–237}} The workers are assigned new companions annually.{{sfn|Kalas|30 January 2010}} Workers organize and assign members to the home meetings, appoint elders, and decide controversies among members. Workers are not registered marriage celebrants, so members are married by secular functionaries (such as a [[justice of the peace]]). However, workers will give sermons and prayers at members' weddings if requested, and they officiate at the funerals of members.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Crow|1964|p=38}};
* {{harvnb|Nichols|2006|p=89}};
* {{harvnb|Robinson|2009}}.</ref>