The primary purpose for the counselor system is so that devotees have trusting relationships with other devotees. The authority for one’s spiritual life cannot be established simply by designating somebody as an authority. Lord Caitanya’s movement is a voluntary movement, which means that we have to voluntarily give ourselves to an authority, on the basis of some substance of faith. When we voluntarily give ourselves to an authority, then we take greater responsibility for following their instructions, because we have faith that the instructions are beneficial for the objective we wish to achieve in Krishna consciousnes.
Lectures From a Disciple, Counselor System, Pg 399, 1st Paragraph