When I was growing up, my dad had an especial feud with another elder, kind of a rivalry. They both drew their own following in the congregation. Everyone saw it. The factions clustered after the meetings to chat, but avoided one another. I remember a vote about purchasing new carpet, when somehow it came out that elder TH has already picked out the carpet color and pile, and brought it prior to the vote! A disgruntled brother called out, "Then, why are we even voting, if you already bought it? That was an ugly evening.
The rift extended to elder TH's wife, when she played the piano. They used to bang out the songs on the Hall's piano. My mom, an elderette, would kick my dad and snicker about how badly elderette AH was missing the keys. My dad's faction wouldn't sing. The same thing would happen when my mom played.
The elders were mortified when their daughters (me and little sister SH) became best friends. That was awkward.
Then there was the jockeying to take the CO out to dinner first, and the meanness around that. Each elder would look for an opening to tell the CO negative things about the others. There was constantly drama, plotting and hurt feelings.
That was a huge factor in me seeing it wasn't the truth. Children see through petty, spiteful, un Christian behavior like that.
