Liam: take it from the members onboard who are older and more experienced.
In no way would Serena be condoned for her actions. you, being in your 20's have indeed dodged a bullet. Years ago, it was mandatory for a man to wear a suit and tie with a white shirt only. No sports jackets, no color shirts. Women to dress modestly. If one was rumored to be having an affair, elders or certain ones in the congregation took to peeping in windows to try and catch them. Large gathering of kids not allowed. Hard to even have a party for kids and young adults- many were cancelled when found out. Meetings three times a week, children and wife in subjection- study for meetings took time and effort. NO such thing as a computer to check things out- everything by the book- their book. Service mandatory. Comments were listened to closely and if you gave an answer that could be taken as a slur against the org. you could be hauled up by a committee of three men. Raked over the coals, and told not to do so again. Total subjection to a massive org that behind closed doors were gaining power and real estate at the expense of the congregations. At the same time, child abuse was going on while org burned all other religions for doing the same thing and that the org was the only true religion. It is a bait and switch program- study and learn about God then obey the organization as God speaks only to the GB. So there is a lot more but gives you an idea of the great time you missed.