Exclusive Brethren Suicide - Kenneth Irwin Rogers

Ken Rogers was excommunicated from the Exclusive Brethren during the 1970's. As always, this involved leaving everything behind. In Kens' case, he was forced to leave his wife and three children.

Ken wandered for a while, by all accounts aimlessly. Eventually he bought a yacht and this became his focus for a few years. When his yacht capsized and was lost, Ken returned again to what has been described as an itinerant lifestyle.

Mr. Rogers suffered from mental illness, doubtlessly aggravated by the enforced separation from his family and lack of social interaction. It is important to remember that any ex-Exclusive Brethren person has known only one social group - the impact of the Exclusive Brethren doctrine of 'separation'. Those who are forced to leave must find a way to readjust and learn to interact with a new society outside of the Brethren.

While in this 'fog' of mental illness and loneliness, Ken and his only known friend, a big white Alaskan Husky, found their way to Albury in New South Wales. He was seen around town with his dog by members of the Exclusive Brethren. It was 2003 and Bruce Hales had just instituted his now infamous 'Review'.

Ostensibly, the 'Review' was a time for the Exclusive Brethren to look back over all their cruel decisions of recent years and to apologize to those they had treated so poorly and to offer amends. Many believe that Bruce Hales' Review was little more than a world-wide publicity stunt, concocted as a result of increased media scrutiny.

The Review normally followed a standard pattern. Exclusive Brethren priests would approach an ex-member who was still under Exclusive Brethren discipline and offer apologies for previous harsh treatment. If the apology was received well, they would make overtures suggesting that the ex-member might like to return to the fellowship. If the person agreed, a series of meetings would take place between the individual and the Exclusive Brethren priests to establish whether there were any difficulties in allowing the person to return.