Thisisme, Just a thought - did you get the chance to look at the video I posted above (on 14th November 2019?) As I said at the time, I think it is It is a gentle, caring (kind!) insight into this sensitive topic, which is why I genuinely think everyone, including the SMC leaders would benefit from watching it. Would welcome your thoughts on the video, either on this forum or by Private
Forum: Destructive Churches

Hi thisisme, and welcome to the Forum. Apologies for not responding earlier. I did see your message, but I have made the majority of the posts in recent months, and do not want people to think I am the only one here, or that I want to use the forum just to express my own thoughts. I am always happy to respond both through the public forum and privately and, like you, I think there should b
Forum: Destructive Churches

I seem to be on a roll today! I have just watched the best video I have ever seen about spiritual abuse, see It seems to me this is a really, really interesting insight into how to recognise spititual abuse and the impact it can have. I would encourage all readers of this forum to view this, especially the leaders of SMC. It is a gentle, caring (kind!) insight into this sensitive top
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Read an interesting article about kindness today. It was anonymous, so I cannot attribute it, but thought it was worth quoting. QuoteIt's been great to see all the posts today for #WorldKindnessDay. It got me thinking about what it means to be kind. I think there are a few myths out there about this concept, and I wanted to address them. Myth #1: Kindness is weak. Kindness is
Forum: Destructive Churches

It is a while since anyone has commented on the financial state of affairs in Struthers Memorial Church, so I thought I would have a quick look at the latest accounts (which can of course be downloaded free of charge from the companies house website). Some interesting observations including that shop turnover, school fee income and gifts and donations all dropped (by fairly small margins). As
Forum: Destructive Churches

I thought many of you would be interested in this short video (less than 3 minutes) about empathy and how connecting with others can help when people are struggling. I find it strange how those in SMC seem to believe you have to study to learn to be a teacher/ plumber/ brain surgeon, yet do not need to study to learn either theology or how empathy can help people. I think this short v
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Interesting stuff Jock, and quite an insight into various aspects of Struthers. Seems to me there are lots of experiences listed on these pages, but a number of common themes. Not all identical of course, you wouldn't expect that, but still enough similarities to see a pattern. One is of course the disdain for any sort of learning that took place outside of the Struthers meetings. As y
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I thought some readers of this forum might be interested in the article below which highlights some problems with the book called "Jesus Calling". I have not read the book, but thought there were some general points here that are quite applicable in other contexts. For example, the first concern raised about the book is that, QuoteShe speaks for God. Far and away the most troub
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I have been having some discussions about “the guidance of the spirit” recently and thought some of you might be interested in one of the ideas in particular. The SMC view is very much that it is possible to be in such a relationship with God that He guides you at every moment. That is very clear from the preaching that is quoted on the latigo site. They see this as the way the early churc
Forum: Destructive Churches

Some brilliant points made in the recent posts that really hit the nail on the head. I think the point about training and professional counselling is particularly relevant. Seems to me that the SMC leaders divide everything into two categories - things that have immediate observable outcomes and things that do not have outcomes that are easily observed. Things in the first category include
Forum: Destructive Churches

Rob alba, I am not surprised the Jennifer Jack did not respond to your email. She has treated others the same way. I know of one person that wrote about once every five years over a period of over 30 years but has never had a response. Why would anyone act is such a horrible, hurtful way? It seems to me that is a purely selfish, cowardly way to behave, with no thought at all for the ot
Forum: Destructive Churches

Thought readers of this forum might be interested in a post in another thread on this site, where Secret Victoria mentions an interview about the Exclusive Brethren, which was the church Hugh Black was brought up in. I think there are some interesting parallels here and look forward to reading the book that is mentioned in the article referenced below. Thought the idea of "Collective PTS
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Hi Servant Victoria, That is a lovely thought and I hope people do find comfort in and discussions to this thread. There are many that post in the "destructive churches" forum that have had the kind of experience you mention. I certainly know what it is like to feel alone due to the rejection of a church - unable to believe they are right because of the things they do, yet unable
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Hi Henri, and welcome to the forum. You make some valid points, but not really sure what the alternatives are. In terms of the anonymous postings, yes, I am sure that you are right that both former and current members will speculate about who is posting. Not sure that the anonymous posters can be blamed for creating division in the church however. For a start, why would anyone in Stru
Forum: Destructive Churches

Rob alba Welcome to the forum! Can't help but agree with your analysis. If they had a leak in the bathroom, they would not pray until it want away, they would get a plumber. Same if their car breaks down. But if they are talking about anything that cannot be evidenced - people falling out with each other, talking rubbish about retail therapy, being 'anointed' etc, they w
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I thought that readers of this forum might be interested in a TED talk I have just been listening to. It is called "I grew up in Westbro Baptist Church. Here's why I left". I won't try to summarise the content here, as the speaker Megan Phelps-Roper does it much better than I would, but I will say it os only 15 minutes, so well worth a look. I think this Forum has done no
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It is s long time since I - or anyone else for that matter - posted to this forum, but I came across something recently that might interest some readers of this thread. One of the questions I have been asked a number of times is "how can people still in SMC not see what is happening?" Well, I am not sure I have all the answers to that question, but I have recently come across an int
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Cheerylizard, I am afraid you have misinterpreted my statement. Sorry, I realise I am used to quite a legalistic interpretation of words, so my phraseology can at times need careful reading. I am not trying to be clever with words, but I do generally mean exactly what I say and not something that may be very close to what I say, but is in fact different. I did not say you recognised my
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I don’t know if any of you saw the programme called “Trapped in a cult”, which was shown a way back on Friday 21st August. Long time ago, I know, but I had recorded it but not really had a change to look at it until this weekend. I though the programme included some quite important comments about what is meant by a cult and how it affects people. I was particularly interested in the final s
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CheeryLizard, once again you put words in my mouth. I never said I wanted to know who was in the commune. A very political sort of answer, changing what I have asked and commenting on what you imagine I have said rather than what I actually said. Good to see you recognise "the commune" however (even if you would not use that word), and link it with the "Fidra operations"
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Well, indeed. How much is earned by Mrs Spears and all those that live in the commune, how much rent do they pay, where does the money go etc. That is not openness and transparency. There are many other questions about the accounts as well, many of which have been covered elsewhere - for example, what happened to the money that was in "designated funds" and was "reallocated"
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Hi CheeryLizard, Yes, I agree that the annual accounts are published. It is good to hear that they are also made available in the branches as well as through Companies House. I persoanlly see some of the detail as obscuring rather than revealing information however. Others seem to agree with this, as a number of people only realised that the church was subsidising the school once it wa
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Hi Chester, Good point. It is quite amazing that people continue to give money to an organisation that they have no influence over. Just one thing I would add. Where you say: If you think this is acceptable biblical Christianity, that the damage people speak of is irrelevant, that your life and ministry gifts are valued, and that you give expecting no information about the organisa
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Oops, sorry - readers may have realised that, "Why would they surprise it if it showed then in a good (our even reasonable) light?" should read: "Why would they suppress it if it showed then in a good (our even reasonable) light?"
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Well, isn't this interesting. We seem to have two different opinions about the letter - one party says that there are detailed recommendations - ones that apparently do not reflect well on the SMC leadership - and another party seems to say it was just minor issues. But here is a strange thing - the people that are saying "it is all minor" refuse to make the information availa
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Cheery lizard, I have just noted your recent post addressed to Chester. I have to say some of it seems a bit strange to me. First, you "sense Chester's frustration". Really - do you have some sort of super power? How do you manage to sense the feelings of others in this way? It reminds me of Struther's comments about people having 'seeds of bitterness' etc.
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Hi Cheerylizard and welcome to the forum. I am glad that you have had time to read through all 140 pages of posts – that must have taken a while! It is good to hear your comments, and it will be interesting to see any further info you post in future. I do not really see the current position as one of failure however, for a number of reasons. First, as Chrester55 points out, the leaders
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Sorry to be hogging the show and putting up two posts in a row, but I am really enjoying the book I mentioned above, and I think there are some key messages for OSCR and others looking into Struthers as well, for example: QuoteFrom our perspective, a group or relationship earns the label "cult" on the basis of its methods and behaviors- not on the basis of its beliefs. Often those of
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Welcome WestofEast, good to have your contribution. I am glad your experience in Cedars was so positive. I think it is really important to be objective, as I think that the worst organisation can have positive aspects, and the best can have aspects that are quite worrying. I personally do not believe SMC leaders are evil and wrong in all they do, but neither do I believe they are super-holy
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Cbarb - too late. I think I was the one that caused the world shortage of mince pies. Anyway, being the sort of boring person that doesn’t have a life, (and trying not to eat too much until the effect of the mince pies wears off) I thought I would have a look at the Charities act. (Interesting stuff if you like that sort of thing). The first thing I noticed was that the key test of a Ch
Forum: Destructive Churches