On September 7, 1977, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to the decision to invite three anointed brothers to join with them in service at Brooklyn. The new members of the Governing Body are Carey W. Barber of the United States, John E. Barr of London, England, and 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. His full-time service was interrupted temporarily when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp during the Nazi years of persecution.