I have been in a few different congregations and what I noticed is there is always one strong family that controls things. They would promote their own relatives to ms or elders. That way, they kept control of things.
It's hard to be an outsider and break through into their little group. I saw many elders come to "help out where the great were needed" and they have been sent packing if they disturbed the balance of power.
Not really that much different than in the corporate world. I used to look for that one controlling family when we moved and it wasn't hard to find them.