Loosing and Binding

When you see the two scriptures where binding is mentioned, you will find they are very, very different indeed:

Matt 16:19 And I will give unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever thou
shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.

Notice, the one above is addressed to "THEE" and "THOU" (singular) - not "ye" or "you" (plural). So what is being said is specifically referring to Peter - as the chief apostle - and absolutely not to the other apostles or the ministry at large. This aspect, that Peter was the chief apostle, only comes out in Mr Armstrong's later understanding, but not in his former. This section of scripture is to do with leading the entire Church - such as setting doctrine in the Church. It is very, very different from the next quote....

Matt 18:18 Verily I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever ye shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Here it is addressed to "YOU" and "YE" (plural) - so it is said to all the apostles and by inference the entire Church leadership. But notice that the subject matter is also very different indeed to Matt 16:19, and is about disfellowshipping. That specific role is given to all the ministry to collectively administer after going through a specific procedure found in the preceding verses. It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with setting doctrine in the Church. That (from Matt 16:19) is entirely entrusted to the chief apostle - not the rank and file ministry at all.