Ok, I know I'm gonna get burned on this one.......BUT.........
What authority does WatchTower have over Gerrit? ZERO!! He's a grown man. He could pack his stuff up, and move on out any time he wants! No one in WT HQ is forcing him to remain there. Now, I'm not saying HE doesn't have authority there (he obviously does), but I don't see the issue with the statement he signed. In his mind, he only answers to (2) higher powers: 1.) Jesus 2.) Jehovah God That's it! An earthly organization is just that, and he doesn't answer to them. Pretty hypocritical that the rest of JW's are to respect the WT Org as divine authority though, wouldn't you say?