September 22nd, 2008

We have been sent a copy of the Jackson-Wells spin-doctors’ media release. It is a remarkable document that offers an in-depth and wide-ranging rebuttal. There is only one problem, they have yet to read Michael Bachelard’s new book - ‘Behind The Exclusive Brethren’.

Is it fair to suggest that by waiting 24 hours or so they might have gained a little more respect? What an extraordinary error!

We reproduce the media release in full:

—– Original Message —–
From: Ben Haslem (bhaslem@jacksonwells.com.au)
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 12:32 AM
Subject: Exclusive Brethren Media Release

Please find attached and following a media release from the Exclusive Brethren Church.

Media release – September 22, 2008

New book ‘a transcending work of fiction’: Brethren

A book about the Exclusive Brethren Church to be launched tomorrow is likely to be “a transcending work of fiction”, according to the Church.

“Articles previously written by journalist Michael Bachelard about the Church over the last two years, and extracts from his book published at the weekend, show both an ignorance of our beliefs and practices and an unwillingness to assure factual integrity,” says senior Church leader, Daniel Hales.

”We find many of the assertions Mr Bachelard makes to be extraordinary. For example, he made a comprehensive visit to our MET Meadowbank School last year, yet makes statements about our education system that he must know are wrong.

“He has been using the columns of The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald to promote what seems certain to be a far-fetched and lurid book on the Church,” Mr Hales said.

“Over recent weeks, Mr Bachelard has also taken to the radio airwaves to leverage sales of the book by offering mythology and gossip that he represents as a true account.

“in other respects, the book ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren’ should probably be entitled ‘Behind the Times’.”

Mr Hales said the Church had analysed 14 articles about the Brethren that Mr Bachelard had written for The Age over the last two years.

“We found 60 egregious and many less serious errors of fact or misrepresentations about the Church in those articles,” he said.

“Potential readers should understand that, on this track record, Mr Bachelard’s book is more likely to be a work of imagination than a factual account of the beliefs, practices and behaviour of the Church.”

Mr Hales pointed to a number of devices Mr Bachelard uses to portray the Church in a negative light. These include:

Extrapolating from individual actions as if they represent the decisions, policy or activities of the entire Church. “This stereotyping and vilification is probably the most common technique used by Mr Bachelard,” said Mr Hales.

Drawing assertions from gossip not evidence. “Phrases such as ‘don’t let the facts spoil a good story’ and ‘don’t get it right, get it written’ spring to mind,” said Mr Hales.

Using pejorative expressions such as ‘poised to intervene’, ‘won special dispensation’ and ‘receiving the same generous rate of government funding as the nation’s poorest schools’ to describe perfectly normal and routine events.

Repeatedly using expressions like ‘The Elect Vessel’ to refer to the world leader of the Church, Mr Bruce Hales, even though such terms are eschewed by Mr Hales.

Failing to recognise the transformation the Church over recent years, both to reconcile with people who have left and, within its understanding of the Scriptures, to adapt itself to modern life.

Publishing many allegations and imputations that would be disproven by even cursory research and fact checking had Mr Bachelard chosen to do this.

Perpetuating many untruths and misconceptions that could and should have checked in the interests of fairness, honesty and impartiality.

“It seems that Mr Bachelard’s motive is to sensationalise our Church, not to provide an accurate picture of it,” Mr Hales said.

A summary of Michael Bachelard’s factual errors and misrepresentations about the Exclusive Brethren Church in The Age newspaper, and the Church’s responses to these, is available on request. Phone (02) 9904 4333

A book about the Exclusive Brethren Church to be launched tomorrow is likely to be “a transcending work of fiction”, according to the Church.

The words “is likely” are very important - they haven’t even seen the book! It offers a memory of a truly wonderful advertising slogan used many years ago for Guinness - that dark creamy-textured beer that you either love or detest:

“I’ve never tried it because I don’t like it!”

“Articles previously written by journalist Michael Bachelard about the Church over the last two years, and extracts from his book published at the weekend, show both an ignorance of our beliefs and practices and an unwillingness to assure factual integrity,” says senior Church leader, Daniel Hales.

Danny Hales would do well to remember that Michael did not make the news! Michael did not design and print political smear campaigns. Michael has not been responsible for ripping families apart.

“He has been using the columns of The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald to promote what seems certain to be a far-fetched and lurid book on the Church,” Mr Hales said.

Awesome use of adjectives for a book that has not been seen as yet! Michael must be pleased with this free advertising across all media outlets - after all, ‘far-fetched’ and ‘lurid’ are the stuff of tabloids - and boy do they sell!

In fact, Michael Bachelard is a well-respected and professional journalist. He researches carefully and has helped lift the lid off a group that has been accurately described as an “extremist sect and cult” by no less than the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

“Over recent weeks, Mr Bachelard has also taken to the radio airwaves to leverage sales of the book by offering mythology and gossip that he represents as a true account.

How does Danny know this? In the Exclusive Brethren cult, listening to radios is banned!

“in other respects, the book ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren’ should probably be entitled ‘Behind the Times’.”

And all this without even having read it!

Mr Hales said the Church had analysed 14 articles about the Brethren that Mr Bachelard had written for The Age over the last two years.

“We found 60 egregious and many less serious errors of fact or misrepresentations about the Church in those articles,” he said.

“Potential readers should understand that, on this track record, Mr Bachelard’s book is more likely to be a work of imagination than a factual account of the beliefs, practices and behaviour of the Church.”

This is pure Exclusive Brethren! We would love to see the list they have worked so hard to create!

Extrapolating from individual actions as if they represent the decisions, policy or activities of the entire Church. “This stereotyping and vilification is probably the most common technique used by Mr Bachelard,” said Mr Hales.

The Exclusive Brethren are run from the top. Danny Hales’s brother Bruce is the Universal Lead, the Man of God, the Elect Vessel, the Minister of the Lord in the Recovery. When ‘Mr. Bruce’ says “Jump!” an Exclusive Brethren member has no option but to ask humbly “How high?”.

Repeatedly using expressions like ‘The Elect Vessel’ to refer to the world leader of the Church, Mr Bruce Hales, even though such terms are eschewed by Mr Hales.

But Bruce Hales doesn’t “eschew” including the term in thousands of Meeting Room, ‘Poverty’ and School Trusts in all Exclusive Brethren territories.

We can hardly wait for the apoplectic and adjective-churning response due within the next 48 hours! We don’t know how many copies have been produced in the first printing, but it will quite possibly need to be in excess of 43,000 - the contents of the book may well be the first time that 99% of Exclusive Brethren members have read of how the Assembly is run.

Go Michael! Thank you for your courage and professionalism.