How do they keep going? The early years of the society saw a series of strong possibly charismatic presidents. They were followed without question and their word was hung on as if it was directly inspired. The vulnerability of this situation was that if there was a scandal, one man could collapse the whole edifice. It was an exciting exhilarating ride, but a dangerous one.
The result of this? One defecting elder cannot sway a whole congregation and take it with him as the old cong servants could and did. The body simply deal with him and emasculate him.
How did it affect things at the top? One dissenting GB member can no longer affect the whole edifice as theoretically a rogue president could. Witness Ray France, his only option was to separate himself and work from outside.
The overall effect has been that in the BoE anyone who has doubts cannot afford to express them. If he does we know the result. So, too options – swallow it or slide.
In the GB if there are doubts – swallow it, don’t rock the boat. Every member polices the others. Who will blink first? Tow the party line!
All well and good but the boat slowly leaks. No charismatic leader, no strong direction, every one rows ineffectually whilst the boat goes round in circles.
Will the boat sink because of boredom, lack of direction a bunch of characterless suits all watching each other, too cowardly to talk honestly even to each other?
