Bible & Gospel Trust - April 2010
The latest insight into the Exclusive Brethren comes from a document submitted to the UK Charity Commissioner just a few weeks ago. The Bible & Gospel Trust’s Summary Information Return (2009) has some remarkable details and a rather embarrassing typo for a printing company.
To begin with, what is the Bible & Gospel Trust?
If the Exclusive Brethren had a soul, perhaps a debatable concept, then it would reside at Chelwood House, Cox Lane, Chessington, Surrey, UK. This is the address of the printing and printed material distribution center for the Exclusive Brethren. The primary function since its birth, in the years following the 1970 death of James Taylor Jr, is to publish the words spoken by its recognized leaders, sometimes with embarrassing accuracy.
Very similar to the Watchtower relationship with Jehovah Witnesses, the Bible & Gospel Trust has an assured market within the Exclusive Brethren cult. Exclusive Brethren must purchase ‘ministry’, hymn books and bibles from this single source. As an EB teenager begins to earn money, the local EB Assembly ‘BGT Agent’ will approach the young person and let them know that they are expected to purchase the collected writings of all EB leaders, right back to J. N Darby and the mid 1800′s. It’s quite an investment – and the purchase is mandatory.
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After a grueling full day in court, settlement was reached in the long-running law suit between Peebs.Net and the Exclusive Brethren. The fact of settlement is public, but not the terms.
We will publish what we are able as and when lawyers advise.
Meanwhile, the wording used by the Court Reporter seems to underline the effort of the process!
Case Name: Bible & Gospel Trust v. Twinam et al
Case Number: 1:07-cv-00017-jgm
Document Number: 159
MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge J. Garvan Murtha: Status/Settlement Conference held in chambers on 11/23/2009. Present were Matthew Kirtland, Esq. on behalf of pltf; Ronald Shems, Esq. and Rebecca Boucher, Esq. on behalf of dft Timothy Twinam. Statements by counsel. After extensive negotiations and discussions between the parties, a confidential settlement was reached. The parties shall prepare a written settlement agreement and file a stipulation of dismissal. The record of this conference shall remain SEALED until further order of the Court.
