Secrecy, loyalty, discipline: Leaked videos and texts reveal Brethren election campaign coordination

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, has faced renewed scrutiny over its involvement in the 2024 federal election. New evidence, including videos and internal documents, has emerged, revealing a highly coordinated campaign led by senior church figures. The materials, obtained by the Brisbane Times, show that members of the church were directed to campaign for Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Coalition, specifically supporting Peter Dutton’s leadership.

The evidence, which has been shared with the federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, contradicts the church’s public stance that its members acted independently. The church, which is registered as a charity, is prohibited from engaging in political activity. If found to have coordinated such efforts, it risks losing its tax-exempt status.

The campaign, described as secretive and hierarchical, involved thousands of members who worked at polling booths. Instructions issued to booth workers emphasized loyalty to the church’s leadership and confidentiality in their activities. These directives were reportedly given by individuals close to the church’s global leader, Bruce Hales, who is referred to as the “Elect Vessel.”

Hales, a central figure in the church, has long emphasized the integration of members’ lives with the church’s mission. In a 2014 sermon, he stated that members should carry the “feature of the house of God” in all aspects of their lives, suggesting that their actions outside the church are inherently tied to its teachings.

The church has denied any role in organizing the campaign, stating that while many members were active, the church itself did not participate or coordinate their political involvement. However, the new evidence challenges this claim, highlighting a central role for senior leadership in directing the effort.

The controversy has drawn attention from both the public and political leaders. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously labeled the group a “cult,” a term the church has rejected. The ongoing parliamentary inquiry continues to assess the extent of the church’s involvement in the election, with the findings potentially impacting its legal standing and public perception.

Source: Read the original report