What would you do if your upbringing inside a fundamentalist Christian community left you scarred and confused — and estranged from family members still inside the sect?
For Tim Twinam, a software developer living in Williston, Vermont, the answer was: Launch a website dedicated to re-connecting lost members driven apart from family and friends by the religion’s “doctrine of separation.”
Twinam was raised inside The Exclusive Brethren in 1960s England. He couldn’t eat or socialize with anyone outside the sect, and TV, radio and university education were strictly forbidden. Internet is also banned.
Today he is the webmaster of Peebs.net, an online community made up of former members of The Exclusive Brethren, which is the subject of this week’s Seven Days cover story.
Twinam, and his wife Sallie (pictured), have devoted the last four years to exposing the secrets of the reclusive Brethren and creating a network of “helpers” to assist those who want to leave the religion but don’t know how.
Now the Brethren are suing the Twinams in Vermont federal court for copyright infringement, claiming Peebs.net downloaded Brethren-owned sermons and letters that are property of the Brethren.
Lawyers for the sect say they’re just protecting their legal property. The Twinams say it’s a lawsuit meant to silence their criticism by bleeding them dry financially.
Two attempts to settle the suit have failed and a third attempt is slated for later this month. Meantime, the Twinams told their story in the hope it would raise awareness about a relatively unknown religion with 43,000 worldwide followers, one they say wields outsize influence in the worlds of business and politics.
We’ve linked to the story here to allow readers to comment.
Photo by Andy Duback.
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2009.
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The exclusive brethren would be worse today than they were 40yrs ago and prior. They are savvy now and have lots of cash. There was abuse even 40 yrs ago. Worked for a “preacher” who tried it on me. Years later it was revealed he had abused his child for many years. If member complied to rules there were rewards! Had to be a member of the club in other words. Any disobedience to these rules was dealt with, ie. being shut up. Kicked out of home and house. Families wrecked never to recover. Adultry was rife. Went to college at night in a City and when classes finished had to walk past some hotels. A leading brother and two other leading brothers came out with “fancy women”!!! Valium and other drugs were given freely to sisters who could not cope and they had then in their handbags. This was a talking point often as to which drug had the best effect. A local doctor prescribed them. He now is under suspicion of carrying out evil doings. Leading brothers, ie Taylor, Hayles and others around were viewed as being next to God. Godly men? No, they were not!! Peebs.Net is being attacked because it tells the truth and members feel free to talk over what has happened to them. Seeing their are member forums, how to the EBs get into them and read same. This is only the tip of the iceberg though.
For over 40 years the Symington/Hales led exclusive brethren have been splitting up families. By “Splitting up” I mean husband has been separated from wife, children have been separated from parents, either one parent or both. My nephews and nieces (four in number) were allowed to remain with relatives within the group after their parents had been excommunicated. The parents allowed this to happen believing it would lead to an early reconciliation of the family. Unfortunately once the brethren had the children, although nothing was legalised, the parents were denied their parental rights. The youngest was seven years old when this happened in the late 1980s. Those children were brain-washed into thinking that the circle of the EB brethren is the only right place for them to be. Their parents, who are now grandparents to children they never see, have been left in despair.The Peebs Net site has been in existence since May 2004. That is five and a half years ago, approx 2000 days, or approx 48,000 hours of existence. There have been over 61,000 postings to the site, which means that on average well over one posting per hour has been made throughout the existence of the site. This shows the importance of the site.
I was raised in the Open Brethren, but they were nothing like this Exclusive Brethy’s people. We had the gospel preached to us and hung over hell if we didn’t believe!! But these Exclusives – they are something else. They have so much money especially the leader who is a recluse – I would love if the Media could get an interview with him as he hides out behind tents and things.The peebs net site tells a lot of interesting information on them. Pretty bad bunch these Exclusives if you ask mePeace to y’allFrank
Seven Days – hope the Exclusive Brethren aren’t contemplating action to quieten you down for having reported this case!
I left the brethren because I could not stand the meetings every day and the boring worshipping of the leader. But I miss my Mum and Dad, my brothers and sisters and all my friends I grew up with. They are still in the brethren and will never speak to me – its like I am dead. It is very cruel and am so happy that Tim and Sal have made peebs.net available for me to catch up with others who left. Without it I do not know what I would have done and do. Please keep the site open.
What harm has the peebs.net site done to anyone? Absolutely nothing apart from discrediting the current goings on in the Exclusive Brethren cult and exposing them for what they are.What harm have the Exclusive Brethren leaders done, AND are still currently doing? Check it out for yourself. Thankfully the peebs.net site is still up and running, but for how much longer?If Bruce D Hales and his henchmen have their way they will spend whatever it takes to close it down as well as bankrupt anyone that stands in their way.Make no mistake that this is one of the most evil cults in the world today who will do in an instant anything their lord and master Bruce Hales tells them to do.Get behind Tim & Sallie and protect free speech.The Land of The Free but for how long?
To be in the EB you must conform in every way….dress, hair style, car you drive etc etc. Epilepsy does not conform. An elderly EB man in my area was banished to a ‘colony’ for years. Then my wife became epileptic after suffering eclampsia. Suddenly WE didn’t conform, meetings were missed due to fits, her own parents steadfastly denied the condition and so we left. Since we left the EB 20 years ago they have never asked about her condition or been in touch, even though her younger sister died recently .At least peebs.net gives us the opportunity to converse with old friends, many hurt in other ways, without judgement, bias or conformity. Please don’t allow this facility to be taken away. God bless you Tim and Sallie.
I don’t know if there is a limit on the number of words in a post, but because the following is so long I have only posted part of it. I will place a link at the end so that people may read it in its entirety if they wish. Here is a remarkable document written by a New Zealander while she was still an Exclusive Brethren cult-member in 2008. As can be seen, Lindy Simmons put a great deal of time and thought into organizing her thoughts.In mid-2008, Lindy decided she needed some answers and mailed the following document to Bruce D. Hales, the current leader of the cult, in Ermington, NSW, Australia.Bruce Hales did not, or could not reply.Lindy Simmons left the Exclusive Brethren at the end of 2008 and is now coming to terms with freedom from one of the most restrictive modern-day religious groups.Lindy’s ListLindy Simmons – Summary Letter21 August 2008The aim of this letter is to summarise my questions and issues about the E.B. It is an appeal for increased understanding and answers in regard to these things.Obviously, I will have to go over them in greater detail before my current thinking could be changed, if I was to be thoroughly settled and convinced about them.Where I am currently at is that I have such questions and issues about foundational EB beliefs, principles and practises that I feel I can no longer belong to the EB church.However if they can be answered, their reason for existence explained, or if I become convinced some other way that before God I must remain an EB, then I may do so, as I believe the Word of God is law and obedience to Him is highest priority.Brief summary of my questions/issues about the Exclusive Brethren:I don’t understand or agree with the EB application of ‘separation from evil’. I don’t understand why we must be so extreme in our separation, especiallyWhy do we separate so totally from other believers?Why do we separate ourselves so totally that we restrict our capacity to evangelise/do outreach to unbelievers? Or even just to get more involved with ‘doing good’?Why do we separate from ‘out’ family members to the point it is like a death and its a complete cold severance? (Especially how can this be Scripturally justified when they are not wicked and haven’t given up the faith?)Why can’t we belong to associations/memberships etc?I don’t understand the EB application and interpretation of 2 Timothy 2.I don’t understand the EB teaching that they are the ‘one divinely accredited position’ or the ‘best position’.I don’t know what the ‘light of the assembly is’ and cannot see that we have a more special position or more special light than some other assemblies I have come across.I don’t understand the teaching that the EB will have some special part in the ‘end times’ – or that they are the only ones who are Christ’s Bride, or that they can claim to be holding some special ground.I don’t understand the ‘we are exclusive’ or ‘special’ mindset.I don’t understand the teaching that the EB assembly as a whole will one day be perfect and sinless while still on earth.I don’t understand the concept of one elect vessel, one man who leads the entire assembly.I don’t understand how his one ministry is all that we should follow.I don’t understand why he can be called ‘Paul of our day’, I struggle to believe every word that comes out of his mouth is from heaven, I struggle to believe he is infallible and that he is God’s only representative here on earth.He does a lot of good, yet I still see far too many people totally out of his reach and falling through the gaps. It is impossible for one man however great to adequately serve a flock as big as the EB. There is something wrong with this system.I don’t understand the teaching about how any human can reach a sinless state, such as is claimed about the ‘great men.’How can it be right that the ‘great men’ and their ministries are quoted and spoken of far more in the EB meetings than Jesus or the Bible is?I don’t understand why the EB do not support or do any missionary work.I don’t understand why the only form of evangelising/outreach is the street preaching.I don’t understand why we don’t advocate Jesus, and the EB position, far more to ‘all men’ or do more to ‘put our light on a hill’.I don’t understand why the EB cannot have jobs other than working for EB businesses. Especially why not service-type jobs (eg. fire-fighter, nurse) and jobs that are essentially doing humankind (and therefore God) good.I don’t understand how the teaching in regard to the Lord’s Supper can be right – that the Lord only attends the EB communion. I’m struggling to understand the teaching about our social boundaries being set by those with who we have the EB Lords Supper.Other things that I cant understand – again, that I cannot see the moral or logical reason for:I don’t understand why there is this extremely strong and yet unable-to-be-pinned-down concept among the EB that it is forbidden and immoral to marry anyone who is your 5 th cousin or 4 th cousin.I don’t understand why there is also this extremely strong concept that marriage between persons who have different skin-colouring is forbidden and immoral.Why we cannot donate blood or organsWhy we do not voteWhy we cannot adopt or foster childrenWhy if I have a non-Statcom phone, camera or computer I am immoral.Why we cannot have petsLindy’s full list can be found http://tinyurl.com/yk6js55
Ian, that is a good posting. The fact that your father took a large dose of tablets and nearly killed himself is trajic. Thank you having the courage to share your story – my heart goes out to you and to those who support you. I have also seen the very same thing, my father also tried to commit suicide and came close to death while the family was forced to split due to the Exclusive Brethren’s punishment. I didn’t tell anyone for years – the thought was just too bad. Thanks to the freedom of communication (and the wonderful facility of peebs.net) I can now start to come to terms with it and talk to others who understand.As you also point out, we will have life-long scars, but we need to support projects like peebs.net to keep the spotlight on the EB and prevent the next generation being abused in the same way that we were. Within the EB there are no checks and balances. I feel for the children, they have little choice. They have limited education, limited socialisation, limited career choices, and no freedom. The only real gain is the finance and power of the few at the top. Those who can see it for what it is should support kind-hearted initiatives like peebs.net and protect these vulnerable people from he abuse that they are suffering. If you are a praying person, please include the Exclusive Brethren children – they deserve better.
You cannot rip a family apart without severe emotional consequences. Shortly after I was separated from my parents, my brothers, my home and all my friends, and left to find my own way without a friend in the world, my father swallowed a large overdose of sleeping tablets and nearly killed himself. My own emotional trauma likewise left life-long scars. And the Exclusive Brethren have inflicted similar traumas on thousands of other families. Tim and Sallie Twinam’s Web site helps to heal these scars.The Exclusive Brethren leaders don’t like it when their cover is blown like this, but the publicity serves a valuable purpose. It is the only way to restrain the EB leadership from more extreme abuses of their power, and thereby protect their deluded, misguided followers, especially the children, most of whom have no realistic hope of escape from an oppressive, controlling, abusive system. Besides, the public have a legitimate interest in topics like the following.covert attempts by the EB to swing election resultsexemption from property taxes on buildings that are alleged to be places of public worshipsequestering of children from contact with non-Brethren, and psychological effects on the childrenattempts by EB leaders to suppress allegations of child abuse within their rankspublic funding of Brethren schoolsstrict limits imposed by the EB leaders on the education of Brethren childrenseverely traumatic severing of family relationshipsseveral attempts by the Brethren, sometimes successful, to silence their critics by vexatious litigation, thereby suppressing constitutionally-protected speech.