Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on The Fellowship (Australia)


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere



The Fellowship (Australia):

The Fellowship: Churchgoers warned to reject secretive group

Herald Sun, via The Advertiser, Australia
Feb. 27, 2006
Kamahl Cogdon
www.theadvertiser.news.com.au

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 13764 • Posted: Monday February 27, 2006  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: The Fellowship (Australia)

Churchgoers were warned yesterday to reject a secretive group operating in their midst.

The warning came after the excommunication of 15 elders of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Camberwell Victoria over their links to the Fellowship, a sect accused of wielding strong control over its followers.

A statement read to the Trinity congregation by Presbytery of Melbourne East clerk Kevin Childs before yesterday morning’s service said the elders had been banished for their conduct as Fellowship members and their failure to address the situation.

The statement said the presbytery of Melbourne East – which oversees the running of member churches – had no choice but to expel the 15 from the elders’ council and the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

And it urged others to stay away from the group. “Presbytery counsels all members of the church of Camberwell that, for their own welfare, they should dissociate themselves from the group known as the Fellowship,” the statement read.

“The Presbyterian Church of Victoria has set up procedures to advise and help those who feel they have been aggrieved and hurt by the practices of the Fellowship.”

Cult FAQ

CultFAQ.org: Frequently Asked Questions About Cults, Sects, and Related Issues

Includes definitions of terms (e.g. cult, sect, anticult, countercult, new religious movement, cult apologist, etcetera)

Plus research resources, and a listing of recommended cult experts
- CultFAQ is provided by Apologetics Index

Trinity minister Philip Mercer, who is not a Fellowship member, told his congregation the news would be “grievous and distressing” to many.

He reminded them they were in a house of prayer and said appeals would be lodged against the ex-communication.

“Please understand that what you are about to hear is not the final word on the matter in so far as these decisions are subject to appeal,” he said.

But there was little reaction from the more than 200 worshippers who continued their usual service after the announcement.

Outside the Riversdale Rd church, Mr Childs said the action against the Fellowship related to the way the group treated members of a family and cared for the congregation.

Former Trinity minister Robert Humphreys first complained to the presbytery about the Fellowship in 1989, and two books have been written about the group.

One of the sacked elders, who refused to be named, said he would continue to attend church and would appeal against the decision.

He said there was lots of misinformation about the Fellowship but refused to explain the group’s function.

Mr Mercer said the church community was hurt and determined to have the dismissal overturned.

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine