Ex-Exclusive Brethren accuse church of tearing families apart, leading to estrangement and legal battles

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. The group, which now calls itself the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has faced criticism for its strict policies and perceived authoritarian leadership.

Last week, RNZ revealed the church, which receives millions of dollars in tax breaks annually, is using private investigators and lawyers to defend itself against critics. One former member’s story highlights the personal toll of these practices. A Christchurch woman and her husband have been estranged from eight of their nine children, 25 grandchildren, and wider family, and have been repeatedly involved in legal proceedings.

The couple, whose names RNZ has agreed not to disclose, claim the church has destroyed their family. The woman, a faithful Brethren member for over 60 years, said, “At the moment, we just feel they have destroyed our family, and I don’t see how the damage can ever be repaired.”

Their ordeal began when the church’s world leader, Sydney furniture salesman Bruce Hales, visited Christchurch and publicly chastised a couple of local Brethren in front of a congregation of hundreds. A chance remark to her adult daughter three years ago triggered a chain of events. The woman told one of her older married daughters she felt sorry for them, which was reported back to the leadership and led to her and her husband being disciplined.

A few months later, they flew to Australia with their 14-year-old daughter to visit relatives but were turned away on the orders of the Brethren leadership. Soon after, their youngest daughter went to visit one of her older sisters and never returned. When the father arrived to bring her home, there was a confrontation. He said he put his arms around her to lead her to the car, but his elder daughters and a son-in-law tried to prevent him. He was knocked over, still holding the girl.

“I was left on the ground with my glasses flung off and bruises on my arms. They had rung the police, and I got arrested for common assault,” he recounted. After completing a non-violence course, he was granted diversion, but was then served with a protection order.

He challenged that in court, it was thrown out, and the couple again tried to visit their daughter. No one answered the door, but they were later both served with another protection order, claiming they had been violent towards their elder daughter, her husband, and children. They were both ordered to do a non-violence course, but the facilitator referred them back to the court, which appointed a counsellor.

Source: Read the original report