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You'd think it would be cause for celebration, but it can be agonising to have someone reappear. Pro/Contra My Brethren (Pro and Contra) History and Ministry of the Exclusive Brethren (so-called). "Group buying is a common business practice, using the power of group buying to deliver improved pricing or other benefits (such as rebates). According to the companies register, the seven directors and shareholders of the Fund's corporate trustee are current directors or shareholders of 79 other companies. * A national trust, run by three of the Secret Seven who bankrolled the anti-government pamphlets last year, now operates 15 regional campuses under the umbrella of Westmount School. You can't ever really escape a Brethren upbringing. The resources we highlight reflect a variety of perspectives. I left Hong Kong on October 31 last year, the 10-year anniversary of my final excommunication from the Exclusive Brethren. It was the first time I'd seen two men so openly showing public affection. nd to my brethren in the various connections resulting from the 1959 and 1970 crises, who seek to walk in the light and in truth. [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. *Their names have been changed to protect their identities. 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. Sydney marked a new chapter. [32], GC3 is an umbrella organisation encompassing three institutions: Global Connections in Mission (GCiM), which supports 150 missionaries abroad as well as almost 100 evangelists in New Zealand,[3] GC Assist, an "operations trust" within GC3 which runs, among other projects, Headspace, a one-year program for school leavers,[33] and GC Aid, a humanitarian NGO.[34]. Based on more than two years of research, this comprehensive study uncovers the lesser-known facts behind one of historys most enigmatic and influential Christian sects. "They tend to spend their lives trying to get around rules while trying to keep their noses clean." On 5 May 2009 the priests placed me in the first stage of excommunication being "shut up" when errant sect members are isolated in spiritual solitary confinement. Simmons has not gone quietly and is paying the price. NAF then dishes out grants to PBCC trusts, which are not registered charities and therefore not subject to any scrutiny. There'll be a dinner and dance, a "mystery day" and lots of socialising - "certainly not religious, just a fun weekend". Then they can claim that as a deduction in their accounts and reduce their tax liability at the end of the day. This cult-like control is unbiblical, and is one of the reasons why the movement has attracted negative publicity. This is far from the Open Brethren idea that individual churches should have a great deal of freedom in their dealings with others. The truth always does." It remains the most painful experience of his life. The Exclusive Brethren [MP3] Hack reporter Steve Cannane presents this radio report [MP3] on the Exclusive Brethrens involvement in Australian politics. These confessions came to a head when one day, feeling completely broken, I finally confessed to being gay. Families were ripped down the middle. Outsiders see him as an autocrat. A rural service town of 4500, the country's kumara capital has a Four Square, RSA, stores with names like Molly's Fashions and Lynley's Lingerie & Linen, a surf shop and one panini-serving cafe for the cool crowd. 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. But Exclusive Brethren are a cult. Some negative features cant be avoided, but my intent is to present a positive and comprehensive outline of the history and ministry of the recovery of the truth. 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. They were used as cash-cows by their leaders. Exclusive Brethren an evil, corrupt cult, court told Kevin Rudd allows secret talks with 'cult' Brethren's Qld schools gain $3m Inside the Brethren lobby horse Member of sect stalked women Exclusive access for anti-gay cult Exclusive Brethren school given $1m state grants Brethren schools net $18m funding No university for Exclusive Brethren kids Separate Lives [Transcripts | Video] An edition of the Four Corners investigative journalism TV program of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. * Firms clustered in around 40 towns and cities, mostly provincial centres Two girls in Invercargill welcomed me into their home and taught me seemingly banal things such as how to use a TV remote. However, their children live quite separate lives from other New Zealand children. Brethren were long noted for teaching cessationism the idea that the so-called sign gifts (such as miracles, divine healing, and speaking in tongues) were given only to the early church to authenticate the apostles, and "ceased" with the death of the last apostle. Sarah and her producer, Charlotte, took a keen interest in my circumstances as we travelled and filmed together, and asked what I wanted to do with my life. They're allowed to talk to us now," says Adrian. "When I read about some of the conduct the Brethren get up to, it's more like a cult-like organisation than a mainstream religion. On one occasion a senior leader asked if I was sexually attracted to a local priest. I've travelled the world, built a career, fallen in and out of love, and run the gamut of life. Numerous questions are explored, such as What exactly was their interest in politics? 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. Brethren women are distinguished by their white or blue headscarves and long hair -- which must never be cut. * Around 800 mainly small private businesses The following are some of the institutions that are widely supported by Brethren assemblies in New Zealand. Rob told Steve Cannane that the exclusive brethren talking about the greens destroying the social fabric was the ultimate in hypocrisy. One, for 25 years a manager of an engineering firm, who speaks only on the condition of anonymity, openly expresses a sense of persecution. And in other parts of the country, I was known for being against UBT, so that was where I felt the pressure.". 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 is worth noting that although many "Community Churches" and "Bible Churches" in New Zealand are part of the Open Brethren movement, others such as Mairangi Bay Community Church are not. (I was lucky to have the first eight years of my education in the public system, which gave me limited exposure to non-Brethren kids, but these days sect children are educated entirely within the Brethren system.) 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. [28] By 1911, it had become known as the Gospel Publishing House, but this name has since been depreciated. He appoints local priests, resolves disputes, approves all marriages and decides on levels of punishment for breaches of discipline. The leader of the Exclusive Brethren church, Bruce Hales. 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. Life in the Brethren could be happy enough if you stuck to the rules. Like most ex-Brethren - they call themselves ex-peebs (short for people of the Exclusive Brethren) - the hardest thing has been losing family from their lives. Perhaps if I came clean, I reasoned, the scales would fall away and I'd reach a new level of spiritual enlightenment. Members follow a rigid code of conduct based strictly on Bible teaching. Perhaps the best-known It wasn't long after that I heard the song Burning Bridges on the radio: All the burning bridges that have fallen after me, All the lonely feelings and the burning memories, Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door. Children are often educated within the Brethren community, although many Brethren children do attend mainstream schools. Pro The Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship (Pro) Note: The site has since been renamed to plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org, to reflect the movements misleading name change, in 2012. New Zealand's Exclusive Brethren, who number fewer than 2000, operate about 800 small businesses, according to a political pamphlet they released in 2002. All members must follow the rigid code of behaviour and rules that govern the contact. "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.". The schools teach around 1000 year 7-12 students, and get glowing ERO reports. Later, while working as a senior reporter for Stuff, I explored issues such as prisoner mistreatment, cannabis reform, and just where all the forks were going from our newsroom kitchen. 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). A happy Craig as a baby on his dad's lap at the piano. Growing up in the Exclusive Brethren meant missing out on a lot of things other children took for granted. Faced with being separated once more, we broke down and cried on each other's shoulders, and I realised how much I still loved my brother. Exclusive Brethren Rules, with documentation This is a list of rules ("directives") made by James Taylor Junior for his followers, known as the Taylorite Branch of the Exclusive Brethren. According to Statistics New Zealand there were 20,406 Brethren in New Zealand in 2001. When Te Atatu Bible Chapel embraced the Charismatic movement in 1978,[15][16] it was not treated as the Te Papapa assembly had been almost fifteen years earlier. 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. In tears that evening I finally broke, but even then I couldn't bring myself to say the words. He has been a friend of mine. Private individuals or businesses are free to spend their money how they like - but Dr Gousmett argues trading by charities should be taxed. It operates bookshops and a publishing house, and, for many years, published the Treasury magazine. Instead I felt condemned to struggle against the essence of who I was. 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. Former members say the church has a centralised hierarchy, and everyone is expected to show absolute loyalty to the Sydney-based supreme leader Bruce Hales. 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". Families do not have televisions, radios or computers, or go to the cinema or theatre. The marriage relationship is very much a partnership. Bulk purchasing power is smart business - but according to former members, Brethren were not really "free to choose". 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. Says Diana: "To this day my parents are heartbroken, because they can't have anything to do with us. 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. Although some run computer businesses, the technology is frowned upon for private use because it has the power to employ the satanic number 666. "You don't get someone blaming Presbyterians when someone who has a Presbyterian association does something. 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. Once someone leaves the Brethren, they are forbidden from having contact with anyone still in the church, including their relatives. As a young child the chorus mystified me. Despite ongoing external and internal attacks, from 1827 onwards, a continuing spiritual ministry opened up many precious truths , The main objective of this site therefore is to, The headline refers to a story in the Sunday Star Times (New Zealand). Meanwhile, the political storm around the Exclusive Brethren intensifies. His lawyers had left no stone unturned in scouring the earth for experts in the fields of neuroscience, car crashes and pathology to test the Crown's case that he had driven drunk, and carelessly, before crashing into a tree. In Dargaville, the businessmen give the impression they're in the dark about the masterplan. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "Personally I don't agree with the church having a business arm that everyone has to join. Nothing will ever be as bad as escaping my sect upbringing. Yet the Brethren experience hovers in my periphery; a mesh of traumatic memories. For members of the Exclusive Brethren, a strict religious sect, constraints such as these are normal. The BBC website listed the following rules for Exclusive Brethren: they cannot go to university, have televisions or radios, visit cinemas or the theatre, read newspapers or fiction, use computers, own mobile phones, vote in elections, serve in the armed forces or join any group that includes people outside the Brethren. This is a list of individuals who were part of the Open Brethren movement in New Zealand for at least a part of their lives. Pastorlink was established by and for Brethren pastors. The men must have short hair, be clean shaven and are prohibited from wearing ties.. From that moment it's as though you've died, and all public traces of your existence are scrubbed from the record. You can only take people as they treat you." Mum had a honey-coloured guitar. There has been much speculation as to why the website disappeared. Minding their business * Fewer than 2000 Exclusive Brethren New Zealanders Non-members are called worldlies. Latest items: Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner, Abusive Churches/Spiritual Abuse Cult FAQ. It was one of those scorching Australian summer days where the tempo slows, as though the very effort of moving is too much. If brethren and sisters continue to fellowship with other professing Christians who hold and practise the sign-gifts they will have to withdraw because we will have nothing to do with these practices. Sadie Stewart, 16, James Wearmouth, 18, and Susanna Stewart, 48, died when the ute driven by Russell Stewart crashed into a tree. "It's beentraumatising but from my perspective and my family'swe've been very free in a Christian spirit to forgive Russell. No member is allowed to eat in the same room as a worldly person, they are forbidden from owning a pet and they are restricted from socialising with anyone outside of the Exclusive Brethren. Promising to provide an Open documentary of their life and faith, this site claims to be the only site endorsed by the Exclusive Brethren. Contra Peebs.net (Contra) This web site deals with the Exclusive Brethren from a critical perspective. The man, who has name suppression, was being considered for parolelast week. There are two main motivations thought to be behind Brethren-backed political campaigns: promoting parties whose policies are closest to Brethren values (anti-gay rights, pro-traditional family, privatisation and decentralisation), thus delaying the "Rapture", when Jesus Christ is expected to descend and take away true believers; and, the more worldly theory of promoting parties with business-friendly policies to further Brethren's own business interests. Forced against his will to take sides, Deck remained with the Exclusives, but his family was divided. All church members work in Brethren-owned businesses. I felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. In. 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. "It was known in my local church that I wasn't subscribing to it and I was treated with disdain, like a black sheep. My family ties stretched back nearly 200 years to when the Plymouth Brethren sect was founded in Dublin in the 1820s. As a network rather than an organization, the Christian Community Churches of New Zealand do not own or run any institutions. The awful, incomprehensible reality of being true to yourself is that sometimes it means hurting those you love most dearly. The leaders get the children drinking it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Exclusive Brethren movement is an extremist branch or sect of the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848. They were required to wear dresses or skirts, have long hair and very minimalist or no makeup, hair dye and jewellery. Note that the version at the Internet Archive is, at times, slow to open and that not all internal links may work. They were a picture of languid happiness, sitting there in the sun. The broker, whom RNZ has agreed not to name, said while they were not doing anything illegal, he was uncomfortable with the way in which the church treated former members in particular. My gaze rested on them for a few seconds before I looked away. We urge you to wait. 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. Brethren can't vote but are encouraged "to express a moral viewpoint of legislation" to politicians, and to pray for the guidance of "right Government which is clearly of God". But eventually the constant monitoring by other Brethren and having to account for their actions got too much. Kiwi journalist Craig Hoyle immediately after being tear-gassed during Hong Kong riots on June 13, 2019. The girls were fiercely competitive about their scarves. [29] Of all Brethren institutions, Pastorlink is one of the newest: it is only in the last twenty to thirty years that the practice of having pastors has become common in Brethren assemblies in New Zealand. I had no idea how to eat in restaurants, tune a radio dial, or engage in contemporary discussion about pop culture. After the UK Charity Commissions refusal to grant Charity Status to the Exclusive Brethren, in the summer of 2012, an observer provided a series of explanatory comments regarding that decision: 2.10 Misleading information: whilst it is of course legitimate to change a name and reconstruct a website, it should not be done in such a way as to make it appear that it involves an entirely different organisation. Brethren women are distinguished by their white or blue headscarves and long hair -- which must never be cut. Most casual observers would say I've moved on. [25] The Stewards' Foundation, established in 1955, lends money to Brethren assemblies, institutions, workers, and missionaries.[26]. Now 30, the journalist reflects on a decade of laughter and heartache. Most of the jokes went over my head. The principle of separating from evil became for him and his associates the essential basis for Christian unity and common fellowship. Life as an Exclusive Brethren had its good sides. * Business types include farm machinery, agriculture, horticulture, orchards, vineyards, office furniture and trades I stared in fascination. The international community is run by the "Man of God", who has absolute power to dictate the church's rules. Even their churches are typically windowless. I knew I was breaking her heart, but had no choice. I've kept in touch so the kids know them. We held back from each other it's hard to trust someone again when you've closed off that part of your heart but our reservations fell away the day before I left for Hong Kong. The sun within the Brethren experience hovers in my periphery ; a mesh of traumatic memories fabric the! Unity and common fellowship languid happiness, sitting there in the church having a business that... All internal links may work of who I was sexually attracted to a priest. 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