Using the word disciples left Jackson off the hook quite a bit.
The scriptures Jackson used to explain the GB's role of Guardians Of Doctrine (G.O.D.) clearly made the connection of the GB being equal to the 12 apostles, not just any disciples of Jesus two thousand years ago.
This is something that they haven't made so obvious in print, yet there you have it, the GB and the Apostles are the same class in Jackson's mind.
That certainly would seem very presumptuous and makes them similar to the mormon's who do call their own leadership "apostles".