Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Jesus Army churches close after child sex abuse claims
BBC.COM ^ | May 29, 2019 | BBC

Posted on 05/31/2019 4:05:06 AM PDT by Morgana

An orthodox evangelical church has closed down following a series of historical cases of sexual abuse.

Six men from the Jesus Fellowship Church - formerly known as the Jesus Army - have so far been sentenced for the indecent and sexual assault of 11 victims between the 1970s and 1990s.

Northamptonshire Police said about 200 complaints of various types of abuse were made. Its investigations continue.

The JFC said it was "appalled" by the abuse and apologised to those affected.

A lawyer representing two alleged victims said he was concerned the closures may mean his clients do not receive compensation. Advertisement

The JFC's leadership team said members of the church voted to revoke its constitution at a meeting on Sunday.

The vote came years after the first allegations of bullying and financial, physical and sexual abuse were made, the group said.

At its peak in the early 2000s, Jesus Army had about 2,500 members - hundreds of whom lived together in community houses.

Membership dropped to less than 1,000 people after the abuse claims were made in 2013, following the JFC's invitation to worshippers to share their experiences of the church.

The JFC passed on the reports to police in Northamptonshire - where the church was based - and an investigation known as Operation Lifeboat was launched. 'Cult'

Solicitor David Greenwood is representing two women from the area who say they were abused - one sexually and the other emotionally - by members of the church when they were teenagers.

He said the church's "totalitarian regime" meant child members were not allowed possessions, had to attend schools directed by the organisation, and were even only "parented" by people the church's "elders" deemed appropriate.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: jesusfellowship; sexabuse
Anyone even ever heard of these people?
1 posted on 05/31/2019 4:05:06 AM PDT by Morgana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Theodore Dalrymple wrote an article about it. Like other cults (and criminal gangs), the Jesus Army provided a highly structured ... i.e., totally controlling ... environment for people buffeted by the chaos of modern life.


2 posted on 05/31/2019 4:17:47 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Be like Kendrick, Brendan, and Riley.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

In order for Cults to operate, they must abandon Christianity. They transition from worshiping God to worshiping the cult.


3 posted on 05/31/2019 4:22:06 AM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Morgana
Anyone even ever heard of these people?

Never heard of them. Maybe a cult.

4 posted on 05/31/2019 4:39:11 AM PDT by Mark17 (What, exactly, was the "only evil continually," that was going on in the days of Noah?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

I agree.


5 posted on 05/31/2019 4:43:45 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Be like Kendrick, Brendan, and Riley.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

It is a cult.


6 posted on 05/31/2019 6:02:57 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy; Mark17; Tax-chick

The article says it was orthodox, evangelical.

IOW, a Protestant sect.


7 posted on 05/31/2019 4:02:42 PM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jacquerie

Probably still a cult.


8 posted on 05/31/2019 6:07:02 PM PDT by Mark17 (What, exactly, was the "only evil continually," that was going on in the days of Noah?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

**Six men from the Jesus Fellowship Church - formerly known as the Jesus Army - have so far been sentenced for the indecent and sexual assault of 11 victims between the 1970s and 1990s.**


9 posted on 05/31/2019 6:08:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson