wearing a beard can b be met with a loss of privileges.
The Governing Body are such hypocrites as is evidenced by this fiasco. First of all, a beard is nothing to do with conscience at all: it's a natural part of being a male adult. It would be equally absurd to start arguing about whether going to the loo was for christians or not: it's a point of nature, end of.
Plus, their tactic of saying one thing to the public (and in this case the congregation) but doing another only goes to further highlight their hypocrisy. If, according to them, beards are OK in the country and area where they live, then why don't they allow brothers in Bethel to have them or have parts on the assembly with them? Oh look, double standards...again!