Theology lecturer George D. Chryssideswrites that the initial Gilead syllabus was “described as the Advanced Course in Theocratic Ministry”; within months the program led to “similar training” in congregations as the Theocratic Ministry School.^[28] Female Witnesses could enroll in Gilead school and present talks since its inception in 1943, but could not enroll in congregation schools until 1959.^[29][30]

The school is held twice each year and lasts about five months.^[31] Students are selected by invitation, and are usually married couples in their thirties who have been involved in missionary work in their home countries for a number of years.^[32] After graduation, they are assigned mainly to Africa, South America, Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Gilead School’s main textbook is the Bible. Lectures and student presentations focus on a verse-by-verse study of each book of the Bible, alternating between the Old and New Testaments, which they refer to as the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. The curriculum is based on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, although other reference material, including other Bible translations are used.^[33][34] Students are also taught about changes in culture and language as well as techniques for conducting meetings and Bible classes. Some students receive additional practical training for translation and literature production.^[35]