Going back to "R.F." original post.
I could see a very similar description to what has happened in my old congregation here in Britain.
When I stopped attending in 1996 it was still the strong congregation I had always known it as. A disfellowshipping or someone disassociating was a rare event in the 25 years I was there. It was noted within the circuit as being a very strong well run congregation. We built a new KH in the late 1980's, to seat nearly 300, because we were growing that much, we had already split into two congregations.
Then it the last 5 years or so it seems to have fallen apart. People leaving, being DF'd. Elders resigning, if anymore resign there will only be the Presiding Overseer left. Numbers falling. Average Public talk attendance when I was there was about 130 , last I heard it was 90-100 and 85 of them are the JW publishers. The sister congregation that shares the same hall is also having problems. It was always the bigger of the two, attendance about 150 for public talks. My non-JW daughter went with her JW sister one Sunday about 6 months ago, she said there was only about 20-30 people there. The book study which is held in the house of my wife used to get average 20-25, now its 8-12.
We can see why in the conventions this year the WT has come down on the internet, "fasle teachers", apostates etc, warning JW's not to speak to those who may lead them away. Especially among the young ones.
Watchtower crumbling? Maybe, but bits are certainly flaking off. There will always be a hardcore who will carry on no matter what.
