I'm trying to find an old article I wrote connecting certain people and happenings with changes in DF policy.
I have been researching, using a lot of the old threads and I saved these comments of your's, Terry. I'm sorry I didn't note which thread they were on, but maybe they are the comments you are looking for?
*******************************************************************************************************************
In 1942, Rutherford was replaced by Nathan Knorr as the Society's leader.
According to Covington, it was himself who "had the votes" to become the President. But Knorr had "connived" him out of it.
An immediate clash of personalities resulted......at first UNKNOWN to Covington! Only gradually did the opposition become clear. In an interview years later, Covington refered to Knorr as "sneaky" and a "cobra" and called into question Knorr's courage because of witnessing him back down from altercations with Catholics in a public forum.
Knorr did not want Covington as his Vice-President. Rutherford insisted on his death bed that Covington be appointed. Knorr was poorly educated and Covington considered him ignorant.
Knor was rankled by Covington's superior education and attempts to influence Society policy through intimidation. Consequently, Knorr engineered a change in policy to exclude non-anointed person's (other sheep) from serving as a governing body member. By 1945, Covington was forced out.
A public relations spin was offered that Covington had "graciously declined to serve" in view of the new policy. Everyone who ever met Covington knew he NEVER backed down or withdrew!
Knorr's champion and fellow conscriptor, Fred Franz, created the new policy in order to install Franz in place of Covington.
Covington was retained as legal representative, however, attaining Supreme Court case wins in 80% of the lawsuits filed.
Knorr considered Covington's irrepressible ego to be a direct result of "higher education" and a superior attitude.
Knorr and Franz braced themselves.How could either one of them win a battle with Covington in the court of public opinion, in an actual lawsuit or otherwise? Covington ws brilliant!
Only one avenue of approach remained, where the "high ground" would be created to virtually demand all JW's worldwide to ostrasize Covington (or any other clever antagonists who challenged their authority) for Apostacy, if they could engineer grounds for disfellowshipping!
Consequently, the sudden stiffening of penalty and harshness of attitude immediately began to set the stage for an arsenal against any (even Covington) who dared take on the Governing Body!
In the above speculation, I am saying that the disfellowship policy was emboldened in reaction to percieved internal enemies, and once in place, grew stronger or weaker as threats came and went over the years.
An emerging through-line becomes apparent that tells us Politics of an Internal nature and NOT holy spirit, prayer or channelling were behind many of the most impactful policy changes affecting millions of faithful Witnesses around the world.
