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"It's a round circle scheme - they are using their businesses to pay 'donations' back to their own church and then they are claiming that back as a tax deductible expense.". A shell company of that name has already been set up here, reportedly to help the church hire its own without relying on "worldly people" This is quite different from mainstream Christian belief, which says that Jesus was always fully God and fully man. The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. For members of the Exclusive Brethren, a strict religious sect, constraints such as these are normal. Ship visits to New Zealand became increasingly frequent in the 1860s, and Exclusives back in the British Isles began to hear reports that the New Zealand Brethren were deviating from accepted norms. When a member falls out of line, or is perceived to fall out of line, the first step in the process is for that person to be 'shut up'. "We don't want anybody to get into jail. Even their churches are typically windowless. Liberal, Green and gay communities worry about yet another attack on gains in social policy over recent years, while mainstream Christian churches swing towards moral conservatism. New Zealand's Exclusive Brethren, who number fewer than 2000, operate about 800 small businesses, according to a political pamphlet they released in 2002. It was an ill-advised attempt at escape. And what if another family member leaves the sect? ", Doug Watt, a spokesman for the church, said:"The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church considers this to be a private matter and have no further comment to make.". Another ex-member, whom RNZ has agreed not to name, said he managed to hold onto his position in the family business, despite huge pressure from church leaders - but said many others were not so fortunate. They believe the rules have been relaxed since their time in the fold. We went to work in businesses owned by Brethren; we socialised with Brethren; saw them at church every night, and enjoyed the benefits of a life fully provided. If they leave the church, they lose their livelihoods - many former Brethren claim they were forced to sign over their own companies to relatives. Brethren run at least 12 firms in. I don't know, we have enough friends of our own." Former members of the Exclusive Brethren allege the secretive sect is breaking up families, putting members in isolation and attacking their livelihoods in order to maintain control. New rules came thick and fast from the 1960s, when the world leader of the time James Taylor Jnr, an alcoholic businessman from Brooklyn, New York enforced the principle of "separation". Diana: "I had a great family life, I loved Mum and Dad and my brothers." They keep themselves separated from other people (including other Christians), because they believe the world is sinful. Bulk purchasing power is smart business - but according to former members, Brethren were not really "free to choose". "They tend to spend their lives trying to get around rules while trying to keep their noses clean." I was told I was rebellious and had a problem with authority. The expectation was that you would buy a house, marry a Brethren girl, settle down and raise a Brethren family, and the cycle would rinse and repeat. Remembers Adrian: "Once you were out, you started to question it." Yesterday RNZ revealed the unusual structure of this charity, which is wholly controlled by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church but with no formal constitutional link to it. The truth always does." "So let's say their profit was $200,000 and they decided to donate $50,000. Initially, they saw no need for any but the simplest pattern of organization, and their separation from all existing churches was not conceived as a negative decision, but rather as the only basis on which the unity of true Christians could be established. There's also been plenty of the lighthearted and bizarre. There was no television, no radio, no access to modern technology, and we went to church every day. Every Monday, employees at Brethren companies nationwide religiously watch the latest Silver Bulletin, a short online video interspersing business advice with the latest exclusive offers to members. At one church service it was said the spirit of God departed from us if we ever crossed the threshold of a cinema the next time I was at the movies I stepped backwards and forwards through the doorway to see whether it felt any different (it didn't). Says one happy Anglican employee of a Brethren business: "They've got their beliefs, that's fine. Rob McLean, who was excommunicated from the church over a decade ago, said for many older Brethren, the commercial control of the church was history repeating itself. You'll find most of them are really happy in their role." In another case, Nelson man Clive Petrie was "withdrawn from" by the church after he was convicted of thehistoric sexual abuse of three young girlsin 2009, according to the former member. They ban technology. Here is how the money-go-round works: large New Zealand retail businesses get guaranteed customers (the Brethren who are directed to purchase their goods and services) in return for rebates, which go to UBT. The couple maintain a faith in God but don't go to any church. They're all free, just like you". In reality, this extremist movement is a cult or sect of the Plymouth Brethren. He settled in Motueka which is still the religion's New Zealand stronghold. Transcript Includes the following: Exclusive Brethren news tracker & news archive. Bruce Hales was a paunchy office furniture salesman from Sydney. But there were no "worldly" friends over to play, no going to the worldly kids' parties, no overnight school camps, no inter-school sports. Two months ago that name did not exist. Brethren women are distinguished by their white or blue headscarves and long hair -- which must never be cut. This final stage of excommunication is when the sect gives up all hope of recovery and washes its hands of you. I held my grandma close dear, sweet Grandma, who always kept a stiff upper lip, but not today and we wept in each other's arms for half an hour. This Sydney-based "global consultancy group" claims to provide "services and advice" to about 3000 Brethren-owned businesses in 19 countries, with a combined revenue of more than $12.6 billion NZD. The list appears to have been compiled originally by a member of that fellowship at some time after 1970. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Exclusive Brethren movement is an extremist branch or sect of the Plymouth Brethren. However, he baulked at paying hundreds of dollars a month to join UBT for "business advice" he did not have time to read or services he did not need. [7] Unlike Darby, he did not believe in maintaining insularity from non-Brethren Christians, and preached in churches of many denominations. This leader is given titles such as The Man of God or The Elect Vessel. Long before Exclusive Brethren men hired a private investigator to dig dirt on the Prime Minister and other Labour politicians, before Brethren tried to pressure several political parties into a National-led coalition, before the so-called "Secret Seven" Brethren businessmen put almost $1 million into anti-Labour and anti-Green pamphlet campaigns at last year's election, members of this fundamental Christian fellowship have been part of the commercial fabric of this town, and the wider Kaipara district. I went undercover for 60 Minutes to help expose an international fraudster wanted by the FBI, gaining his trust while wired with a hidden camera. The early Brethren believed that, by separating from what they regarded as the unwarranted and unlegitimated system that was represented by the organization of churches, they possessed an adequate basis for the unity of all properly motivated Christians. "Bible Chapels" include both conservative and progressive assemblies, while "Community Churches" (often similar to the Brethren-affiliated "Evangelical Churches" of the United Kingdom) tend to be at the progressive end of the spectrum, often with salaried pastors, women taking an audible part in worship and sometimes in leadership, and varying degrees of openness to the Charismatic movement. BORN into the controversial Exclusive Brethren cult that outlaws birthdays, pop music and women wearing trousers or make-up, Jessie Shedden, 34, needed every ounce of courage to plan her escapeR It was one of the worst cases of neglect to come before a racing authority. Most work in Exclusive Brethren businesses, so leaving means losing their job. Senior executives from a range of leading brands, including Air New Zealand, Office Max and Freightways, make cameo appearances thanking the flock for their business and offering details on new deals. The web site appears to be an attempt to counter the flow of negative publicity surrounding the Exclusive Brethren (example: The Brethren sent us to Hell), Members are not allowed to have televisions or radios and they are forbidden from using the internet, because the book of Revelation tells them that the devil is the prince with the power of the air. According to the Evangelical publication, Operation World, there are 202 Brethren congregations in New Zealand[2] with 16,164 in regular attendance (including children). I watched TV news in wonder, and laughed as a current affairs reporter challenged a scam artist he claimed to be calling from England, but was unable to name any of the Queen's four children. I squirmed with embarrassment watching his fresh inexperience, realising how I myself must have seemed equally wet behind the ears. It was too much to bear, and a few days later I packed a bag and ran away. [], Members of the Exclusive Brethren are very limited in their contact with outsiders. [5], The history of the Brethren movement in New Zealand is unusual in that the schism between the Exclusive Brethren and the Open Brethren effectively occurred much later than elsewhere. The sites objectives are stated as follows: My Brethren deals mainly but not exclusively with the history and ministry of JND, JBS, FER, CAC, JT, GRC. But by the time this final step was taken, on October 31 2009, I faced more pressing issues. It was the first time I'd seen two men so openly showing public affection. By the time I was born, in the late autumn of 1989, the Exclusive Brethren had morphed into an oppressive sect that tightly managed every aspect of its members' lives. Promising to provide an Open documentary of their life and faith, this site claims to be the only site endorsed by the Exclusive Brethren. One of your four brothers gets married, but of course you're not invited to the wedding. N.B. Such clandestine adventures frequently led to feelings of guilt and shame, and I regularly confessed my so-called sins to the Brethren "priests" as a teenager. The movement split in the 1840s on this question of the closed table, and Darbys party became known as exclusive in contrast to those Brethren who imposed no such test for admission to the communion table, thereafter known as Open Brethren. Families do not have televisions, radios or computers, or go to the cinema or theatre. After some initial hesitation, I agreed. Some Brethren sources claim this number to be an underestimate, with internal surveys indicating as many as 38,000 adults and children attending Brethren assemblies almost one percent of New Zealand's population. Thompson laments a love betrayed: At the end of the song, Mum stopped to answer my questions about blackboards. A flowchart illustrates how the Exclusive Brethren - or Plymouth Brethren Christian Church - money-go-round works. Until then my transgressions had been minor offences that could be excused away; forgiven, with a warning not to repeat my mistakes. 30, 2006. Like many other movements that came to be regarded as sectarian, the Brethren began with a profound and deeply anti-sectarian sentiment, and they still reject the designation sect. Then they can claim that as a deduction in their accounts and reduce their tax liability at the end of the day. Brethren families as well as businesses are also encouraged to buy goods and services from companies which give cash back to UBT and the National Assistance Fund, including petrol and groceries. "The thing I find disturbing is these are businesses, so their insurance premiums are tax deductible and on top of that they also claim back the GST - so I view it almost like a legalised form of money laundering. A measure of their influence - and the working tolerance they've won - is the wariness locals show about saying anything bad of them. The Exclusive Brethren - now rebranded the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church - says it does not own, operate or hold any commercial business interests itself, but members run their own "family businesses". It's the same in 40 towns around the country, from Gisborne to Cust. 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I saw a GP for a second opinion; a white-haired doctor who brusquely imparted there was nothing wrong with me, and "your emotions are a completely normal response to an extreme situation". Last July, lawyers and private investigators arrived at his Mngere Bridge home before dawn to carry out a private search warrant of the house and all devices. It expressly denies being either a union or an advocacy group; its stated aim is to give pastors a forum for mutual support and encouragement. I feel sorry for my kids and my parents. ", Rob McLean, who was excommunicated from the church over a decade ago, said for many older Brethren, the commercial control of the church was history repeating itself. It has two parts: Members of the Exclusive Brethren do not make friends, or even eat with people outside their church. I wrote "I'm gay" on a piece of paper and pushed it across the table to the priest. The Stewards Trust and Stewards Foundation are two separate, but closely related, organizations with identical membership. A recent relationship breakup felt similarly traumatic but through it all I repeated my mantra: "I survived leaving the Brethren, I can survive this, too." [24] The Stewards' trust was established in 1919 to provide financial support to Brethren assemblies, and currently owns around 150 of the 200-odd Brethren assembly properties in New Zealand. These people, like his father, still retain a hope of getting back into the Brethren, so they are quiet and careful to keep the rules. Contra Peebs.net (Contra) This web site deals with the Exclusive Brethren from a critical perspective. Pro/Contra My Brethren (Pro and Contra) History and Ministry of the Exclusive Brethren (so-called). Foster Crane, a missionary to Fiji, closed ranks to oppose what they stood for. The worldwide leader of the Exclusive Brethren, having ruled since his father John Hales died in January 2002, he had a penchant for good food and an even greater penchant for good whisky. Exclusive Brethren meeting halls exclude the world to the extent of having no windows. We don't look down on other Christians because they don't live like us. [8], The slow pace of communication between the British Isles and the far-flung colony of New Zealand allowed Deck to operate more or less independently. Our social lives were bound up with other sect members and, by the time I reached my teens, my peers and I were well and truly enmeshed. And all the old people in the Exclusive Brethren now, they're all depressed, because they know it's all wrong. Brethren leaders throughout New Zealand unanimously rejected the Charismatic movement in 1964, and decided that the assembly at Te Papapa, Mangere, which had endorsed the view that all spiritual gifts were operating today, would no longer be "recognized" as a Brethren assembly. Open Brethren do not have the restrictions Exclusive Brethren face. This examination delves deeper into the groups past, revealing the Brethrens 19th-century origins in the United Kingdom, their fractious history, their extraordinary use of scripture to control members and dissidents, and their lucrative business and financial arrangements. Instead I felt condemned to struggle against the essence of who I was. It's understood he was allowed back into the church after his sentence finished. Tears. Later, when I called in to pick up some extra things, I saw my 9-year-old sister. The Exclusive Brethren practice the doctrine of separation: they eat, sleep and live apart from the world, except when doing business with 'worldly' people. Although widely welcomed at first, both found themselves increasingly isolated as their Charismatic sympathies became known and Brethren leaders like Robert Laidlaw, William H. Pettit, Enoch Coppin, Colin Graham, and Ces Hilton, along with J. All members must follow the rigid code of behaviour and rules that govern the contact. "A lot of guys, they've got a perception out here it's just one big orgy. Perhaps the best-known Pastorlink was established by and for Brethren pastors. Source: Paul Flynn, MP Exclusive brethren the whole truth? Rob McLean said he believed making money should not be the primary goal of an organisation calling itself a church. I think there's a little bit of scaremongering going on. The beliefs of the Exclusive Brethren have much in common with most those of most evangelical Christian groups: However some of their beliefs are heretical by other Christian standards. With no TV or stereo, most kids learnt to play instruments and played together. However, their children live quite separate lives from other New Zealand children. Brethren have built 36 Campus & Co supermarkets in New Zealand for their members' exclusive use, staffed partly by "volunteers". Some broke the rules, sneaking to the neighbours to watch TV, stayed up drinking Saturday nights and showed up at Sunday's 6am prayer meeting with a thick tongue and splitting headache. She also volunteered to take me out for a drink "and tell you all about how much more fun it is being an evil outsider or whatever the heck those loonies call us". Photo: Supplied. This is based on the Biblical procedure for the treatment of lepers, and involves being isolated from family and friends and only allowed to see specially chosen church members until local church leaders believe that God has forgiven the person. Little did we know we'd make the evening news. A cult-like church that exerts almost complete control over its members has metastasised into a multinational corporation with massive buying power. Members who break rules are required to confess their sin during church meetings and demonstrate their repentance. - NZPA. Life in the Exclusive Brethren could be happy enough if you stuck to the rules, Craig says. There'll be a dinner and dance, a "mystery day" and lots of socialising - "certainly not religious, just a fun weekend". Across the Tasman, we've seen exposes of strong Exclusive Brethren financial backing in John Howard's re-election and allegations of past money-smuggling and child sexual abuse cover-ups. A broker with the insurance company, Crombie Lockwood, said he was instructed to use a special code with Brethren clients, discounting his commission by 20 percent, which went to the listed "sub-agency", UBT (Universal Business Team) a church-controlled company. Graeme Hubbard left the Exclusive Brethren at 21. As a young child the chorus mystified me. Exclusive Brethren Vernon Suckling, manager of Trax Equipment, says: "The way we're promoted is certainly not the way we feel we are. This cult-like control is unbiblical, and is one of the reasons why the movement has attracted negative publicity. He doesn't go to the same church as I do of course.". Attitudes since have become much more diverse, however. Church and business and family life are inextricably intertwined in a way that means all parts of their lives are controlled. I had further meetings with Bruce Hales, and he told me to consult a Brethren doctor to receive treatment for my "condition". These confessions came to a head when one day, feeling completely broken, I finally confessed to being gay. The Exclusive Brethren are an evangelical protestant Christian church related to the Christian or Open Brethren, according to the BBC website on world religion and ethics. What clinched it for them was realising they "could never say to our children 'we can't have you in the house', like our parents said to us". "Even housewives had to fill out diaries accounting for what they had done every hour and spent," McLean said. Now in their early 40s with four children and a playground business, the couple had been married four years and already had two children when they left. Brethren run at least 12 firms in Dargaville - mostly in trade and farm supplies - many clustered in an industrial complex on the town's southern edge. In. Jim Taylor taught that Jesus was human when he was born and did not become fully divine until later; either when he was 12, or at his baptism. *Their names have been changed to protect their identities. All members must follow the rigid code of behaviour and rules that govern the contact they can have with outsiders. Pathways College is a Tauranga-based theological seminary formed in February 2000 by the merger of two older Brethren[30] institutions: New Zealand Assembly Bible School and GLO Training Centre. It was exhausting, especially for families with young children, but we heard repeatedly how we were the "chosen ones", members of a spiritual elite carving out a place for God on Earth, destined for special reward when we got to heaven. I had no idea how to eat in restaurants, tune a radio dial, or engage in contemporary discussion about pop culture. The Exclusive Brethren A Current Sociologial Appraisal by the late Bryan R. Wilson. Christian Community Churches of New Zealand, The Brethren and the Charismatic movement, Christian Community Churches of Australia, "The Significance of J.G. It's led to some amazing experiences, and a few hair-raising ones to boot. Brethren and their companies are encouraged to buy their supplies, groceries, petrol, internet, insurance - the whole range of goods and services - from companies that give cash back to the church through a range of kickback arrangements. They recommended that I become a journalist, and took me in to TV3 to meet their executive producer. On one occasion a senior leader asked if I was sexually attracted to a local priest. Research resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues, Article continues after this advertisement , Original content Copyright 1996-2022 Apologetics Index, History and Ministry of the Exclusive Brethren (so-called), [p]remier resource for their origin, progress and testimony 1827-1959 on, Name Change: Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, Exclusive Brethen/Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Beliefs, Plymouth Brethren Christian Church: Cult-like control, The Social Dimensions of Sectarianism: Sects and New Religious Movements in Contemporary Society, The Exclusive Brethren A Current Sociologial Appraisal, Breakout: How I Escaped From The Exclusive Brethren, Exclusive Brethren news tracker & news archive, The Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship, can still be viewed at the Internet Archive, Secretive sect softens ban on outside contact, difference between theological and sociological definitions of the term cult., John de Ruiter College of Integrated Philosophy, The Church of Almighty God (Eastern Lightning), The Bible is the inspired and literal word of God, God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, members must keep away from any person or group that does not follow Exclusive Brethren teaching including other Christians. The leaders get the children drinking it. and others who were in practical fellowship with them for the years c. 1827 to 1959. A grandparent dies of cancer and suddenly you have to call your family, trying to find out where they are so you can say goodbye. And representations of Brethren women as oppressed are "rubbish. I've been chased, tear-gassed, and had a few close calls with petrol bombs. The first beginnings of the Brethren movement occurred in the 1820s, when Darby, then an Anglican clergyman in the Church of Ireland, began meeting with others who shared his serious doubts about the validity of Anglican orders and, indeed, about the biblical warrant for any sort of clerical class. Life as an Exclusive Brethren had its good sides. These early Brethren were men of education and social positiontwelve of the earliest Brethren were, or were training to be, Anglican clergymen (in England and Ireland); five were ministers in Nonconformist churches; a number had private means, including five with titles, and another eight were, or had been, commissioned officers. You will receive notifications of new posts by email. Out, you started to question it. some amazing experiences, had. N'T look down on other Christians because they do n't live like.. Fellowship with them for the years c. 1827 to 1959 world to the same church as do! I 'd seen two men so openly showing public affection just one big orgy n't know, have... That 's fine anybody to get into jail watching his fresh inexperience, realising how I myself have! When I called in to TV3 to meet their executive producer notifications of New posts by email, a to! And others who were in practical fellowship with them for the years c. to... 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