Thanks for the update. Sounds like you did great.
Keep up the charade but maybe skip a few more meetings in the next 2-3 weeks. Let them see that their effort to 'encourage' you has exactly the opposite effect.
When they push, you recede further.
It will help to condition the new COBE to *not* push you or make you feel more guilty. Let him clearly see that you are not someone he can rely on to help with KH or FS matters.
Let their shepherding call backfire on them by taking your fade to the next level.
A suggestion of somethings to do on meeting nights is see a movie by yourself, work overtime, go to your local library. Or just go to bed early.