This is similar to talks and a study article some time ago that said we should refer to the Bible as the source of our beliefs and stop saying the "society says"
As an attorney I can appreciate that such a trend could help with liability issues.
As for why there might be such a trend, we must consider the unique period in the org's history that we are in. For the first time in the org's history the faithful don't have either a concrete date or a ticking "biological clock" like the Generation Doctrine to look forward to. (This isn't quite true because there is still the occasional reference to the belief that the anointed will be alive when Armageddon comes--this is the last such "biological deadline" still within the organization.)
We are approaching a full century after 1914. And while there are wars and other global problems and these make all persons concerned, the foretold calamities have not occurred according to past Watchtower claims. Wisely, the Society has shifted away from making any more prophetic claims. Therefore the result is that the whole organization is in a period of stagnation and drift.
The Internet has had a profound effect on access to information. (This is the subject of a book I am working on.) This has opened the eyes of the younger witnesses, combined the relaxation towards pursuing higher education, all of which points towards a desperate future for the organization and retaining its membership since these two things alone make for a more critical or should be say "observant" (in the positive sense of the word) member of the flock.
the FDS doctrine is the last major doctrine which allows the leadership to claim control as the only source of divine communication among the world today. The belief that this org is directly inspired and led by God and Jesus via the implement of the FDS is what keeps many persons in the org. It is an open question as to how many would leave or not be attracted to the org without this doctrine.
Yet make no bones friends,the doctrine of the FDS is a dying doctrine. By its very terms, the FDS consists of persons claiming to be of the anointed. By current teaching these anointed were sealed as a class in 1935. (And there are only very conservative procedures for so called replacements of the number of anointed.) That means that within the next 30 years the entire generation of remaining anointed will be dead--sooner or later.
Just ask yourself what will happen when all of the "anointed" are dead. Where will the FDS slave be then and what will that mean for the claim that divine truths are coming from FDS ON EARTH.
No, the doctrine is dead and it is only a matter of time before it will be revised or dropped entirely.
Then will come a major change in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.
So it is very strange that there should be any movement towards vesting authority in the FDS when the FDS will eventually die. If anything, there should be a trend away from vesting the authority for the teachings in the hands of the FDS. (Which in any case we know to be a popular fallicy since the vast majority of persons that make up the FDS,i.e. of the anointed, have absolutely nothing to do with creating/providing the "food". Not too mention that the very doctrine is a gross error anyway.)
If this is a true trend and official position it is going to come around to bite the org in the behind. Again this is because the FDS doctrine is destined for MAJOR revision if not complete abandonment!
-Eduardo
