So a friend in a nearby hall told me their CO came through, and in a hellish week of long meetings and inquisition overhauled the BOE. Only one remains as elder, three were re-appointed as MS, and one, the COBE was deleted entirely.
Two new elders were brought in as new secretary and COBE / watchtower conductor, respectively, and introduced to the congregation from the platform on SUNDAY immediately following his second talk. He reminded everybody of the AUTHORITY he has and then named the new appointees. The sitting COBE had just conducted his last watchtower study and got to sit there and see his replacement welcomed. The CO then told everyone to be there on Wednesday for announcement of MORE CHANGES. My friend says it was the quietest his (large) congregation has ever been. Reportedly all elders disappeared into another long meeting shortly after concluding prayer.
This CO has a reputation that precedes him. A take no prisoners, hatchet-wielding badass who doesn't care whose feelings he steps on. In other words, the ideal WT company man.
None of the JW's I've discussed this with have ever heard of anything like it or have much positive to say about this CO. We've all heard of entire bodies being deleted, elders being DF'd, etc. but the combination of events has left many confused and ambivalent. Especially the public nature of it.
Is the "demotion" from elder to MS a new thing? What's up with letting the COBE conduct and minutes later announcing his replacement to a packed hall?