Bethel Covenant Community

Bethel Apologises to Former Members and Announces Termination of Activities

9 July 2008

Bethel Community today formally apologised to all former members of the organisation and announced that all activities of the group have been terminated with immediate effect. The interim leadership of Bethel made the announcement after consultation with the remaining members of the group this week.

“While Bethel Community was formed with the best of intentions and has supported families for more than 25 years, recent misconduct and longer term structural, cultural and behaviour issues within Bethel mean that the Community’s ongoing existence is no longer justifiable,” said Bethel Interim Chairman, Mr Rob Crothers.

“It is clear that a proposal to reform, restructure and rebuild the Community on the foundations of the old organisation which had been under consideration is untenable, particularly as aspects and physical reminders of the old organisation are a continuing source of some considerable pain to former members of the Community.”

Bethel was formed in 1980 from a collection of small prayer meetings in the metropolitan area. During its existence some 800 people drawn from Catholic, Anglican and other faiths have been members of the Bethel Community at various times.

Recent allegations of misconduct against certain former leaders of the organisation have highlighted some fundamental failures in governance, culture and behaviour which have greatly affected former and current members.

The interim leadership group of Bethel will oversee the winding up of activities of Bethel and will ensure that the affairs of the organisation are managed appropriately, as part of that winding up.

During this period in the coming months the commitment remains to continue to give whatever support and help is required for the victims — both current and past members of Bethel — including providing counseling services at no cost to those who have suffered.

Pursuant to the constitution of Bethel, none of the assets or undertaking of the organisation can be distributed to members or former members of the Community.

In the event of a dissolution of the Community, net assets must be transferred to some other charitable organisation. This organisation or entity must have a similar purpose and independent, transparent and verifiable restrictions on distributing assets for charitable purposes.

“We deeply regret that the original genuine Christian mission of the Community has been subverted by certain actions and activities that the remaining members of the Community find totally unacceptable and do not condone,” he said.

“In deference to former members and the greater importance of transparency and Christian principles we have no choice but to close down the Community.”

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