Thoughts about the Bruderhof
Purcell Family
Gulfstream jet, many worrisome thoughts passed through our minds.
If it is true they were willing to spend an extra million dollars or so
for quick delivery, what in the world is going on? What IS the urgency?
Think about all that has transpired in the last several months. The
Bruderhof is drifting away (or being led away!) from the manufacture of
children's toys and equipment for the disabled to the maintenance of
"executive toys" used by the world's richest people for business and
pleasure. We have seen Joe Keiderling boasting of carrying Sharon Stone
on their jet charter service. Rifton enterprises has embarked on the
construction of a multi-million dollar facility at Stewart International
airport. The Bruderhof also spends great sums of money to buy land in
Australia.
Now those who say it is not our business to speculate should keep in
mind that our families are involved. If the Bruderhof is dissolved,
where do our family members go? Australia? That's even farther away than
the closed Bruderhof at Deer Spring. Since we had heard Deer Spring (yet
unsold) was to be disposed of so that operations could be
"consolidated," one would suppose that a good deal of this consolidation
is intended to take place in Australia.
Who owns Rifton Aviation Services? Are they making money? If so, who
gets the dividends? If not, where is the capital coming from for the
sustained losses that might be expected by a relative start-up company?
And why is that money not "earned" by those who work so hard prior to
being kicked out? Why do they not gain equity in the business enterprise
their labor has created?
While the Bruderhof is disposing of multiple families with many
children, providing little or no assistance and sometimes obligating
payback of what they do advance to those ejected, millions are being
spent at Gulfstream. Is THAT where the money comes from? From the sweat
and labor of those like the Eanes family who spent fourteen years as
what essentially could be defined as slave labor?
They train their ejectees well. KIT folk are demonized, made to appear
the devil incarnate. They are deceived that Anabaptists (they still
claim they are Anabaptists!) don't sue people. In other words, don't
seek help from those who offer it - and don't, for goodness sake, sue
the Bruderhof. THAT would be un-Christian.
Well, it is obvious the Bruderhof as well as Christoph Arnold has
defined itself by its actions. But, let's try again by their words. Poor
and humble people in the eyes of God just doesn't wash. To cater to
those they define as immoral by their very existence (movie stars,
business executives, the idle rich) is a huge contradiction. How is this
explained to the membership?
The Bruderhof obviously wants its share of the great American dream -
Christoph said so during his famous interview on WCVB (Boston). How does
that square with the poverty we hear about all the time?
Quotation from J. Christoph Arnold (May 1st, 1995):
"Are you proud to call yourself an
American? I am ashamed to be an
American."
For Christoph to take the trappings of a wealthy man (in order to
minister to his tiny flock???) is a contradiction so strong that the
only term that comes to mind is schizophrenia. And when we hear the
Bruderhof wants to move to Australia to escape its critics, another term
springs up. Try paranoid on for size. (and that's not a diagnosis - his
actions and words define the man, not me). He has no shame.
So, is it ethical to steal the labor of those kicked out so as to buy a
new jet aircraft? Could it be, really, a birthday present for junior?
Coming up, I think, around the 14th of September. He has no shame.
Is it part of the American dream to shatter the lives of so many
families? He has no shame.
Is it part of the American dream to accept government benefits designed
for the poor while flying about in an apparent choice of multi-million
dollar jet planes. He has no shame.
From either a secular or a religious perspective, he has no shame. He
has no courage and he dishonors his office.
Blair Purcell
Purcell Family
Wellann2 wrote:
> These are my own observations.
> When my Eanes grandchildren arrived in our city, most were wearing outgrown
> clothes, jackets, sweaters etc. More than half were wearing shoes ( sneaker
> type) with holes in them. Their underwear was in shreds. This was Winter ,
> mind you. Each had two boxes of possessions, allowable by the airline. Later
> in the week, beds arrived. Army cots with old foam mattresses, one dining table
> and seven chairs.
Christoph has an entirely new conception of "Suffer the little children."
He has no shame. He has no courage and he dishonors his office.
Blair Purcell
http://members.tripod.com/~quercus/index.htm
Wellann2
When my Eanes grandchildren arrived in our city, most were wearing outgrown
clothes, jackets, sweaters etc. More than half were wearing shoes ( sneaker
type) with holes in them. Their underwear was in shreds. This was Winter ,
mind you. Each had two boxes of possessions, allowable by the airline. Later
in the week, beds arrived. Army cots with old foam mattresses, one dining table
) One baby crib. One high chair. Boxes of generic food. Some books. The
adults and older children could not sleep on the beds. These were not the beds
in their apt at Spring Valley. This junk cost more to ship than all of it was
worth by a factor of 500%.
I understand that this was generous by Bruderhof standards for people expelled.
I would have loved for some newspaper publicity if it would not have
embarrassed my family.
Actually, people in the North West have never heard of the Bruderhof.
That is what all the wealth of the Bruderhof comes to for ordinary members.
Where is the sharing that was supposed to be the lot of all those workers ?
I remember all the times the workers worked day and night to make furniture to
fill orders. Working six days a week. One time I visited and wondered if they
were getting enough to eat.
Where does the money go? I thought it went to charity and wondered if some
might be diverted for charity at home.
Guess I am too worldly. And as I travel to other countries, I am proud to be an
American , unlike Christoph .
Ellen Eanes
emily cragg
-----Original Message-----
From: Purcell Family <pur...@erols.com>
To: hummer <humme...@onelist.com>
Date: Sunday, August 29, 1999 9:57 PM
Subject: Thoughts about the Bruderhof
>When we heard the other day that the Bruderhof is acquiring another
>Gulfstream jet, many worrisome thoughts passed through our minds.
>
>If it is true they were willing to spend an extra million dollars or so
>for quick delivery, what in the world is going on? What IS the urgency?
>
>Think about all that has transpired in the last several months. The
>Bruderhof is drifting away (or being led away!) from the manufacture of
>children's toys and equipment for the disabled to the maintenance of
>"executive toys" used by the world's richest people for business and
>pleasure. We have seen Joe Keiderling boasting of carrying Sharon Stone
>on their jet charter service. Rifton enterprises has embarked on the
>construction of a multi-million dollar facility at Stewart International
>airport. The Bruderhof also spends great sums of money to buy land in
>Australia.
>
>Now those who say it is not our business to speculate should keep in
>mind that our families are involved. If the Bruderhof is dissolved,
>where do our family members go?
. . . Can we talk about this, please?
. . . Bruderhof people are not the ONLY people who want to live in
Communities where the Sermon On the Mount is put to work.
. . . There are many, many people wanting to flee the cities who would
treasure the knowledge that you folks have--individually and
collectively--about how a community RUNS. I travelled across the U.S. in a
camper in 1997, to visit communities. The ones I ran into--sadly--didn't
KNOW how to implement Christian sharing, even at a most elementary level.
. . . Where will you go? Well? Where can some land be found so that people
can create a new community upon it, with God's help?
chaiyah
>From either a secular or a religious perspective, he has no shame. He
>has no courage and he dishonors his office.
>
>Blair Purcell
>
>
>
>
> _____________________________________________________________
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>
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Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Melchior JR Fros
On 30 Aug 1999 00:51:32 GMT "Wellann2" <well...@aol.com> writes:
>I remember all the times the workers worked day and night to make
>furniture to fill orders. Working six days a week.
It has been reported they were asked to work on Sundays to fill CP.
orders.
>Guess I am too worldly. And as I travel to other countries, I am proud
>to be an
>American , unlike Christoph .
Christoph also claimed gun ownership was an "American right". He claimed
to be "proud of the jet". "I don't know if our listeneers have heard of
the American dream of free enterprise. We want part of the pie also."
Are these not the unmistakable words of a proud capitalist?
Perhaps, Christoph also felt a pang of guilt when he said, "good times
make bad Christians and we have to be careful"...
(quotes from Chronicles, Oct. 11, 1995)
Mel
>Ellen Eanes
>
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serious. More and more members and their families are leaving as they
finally listen to the voice inside that has been warning of the
corruption of the leadership, particularly the Bruderhof elder
Christoph Arnold and his two main advisers – Christian Domer and Joe
Keiderling.
Many people reading this newsgroup and other sites or material focusing
on the Bruderhof may wonder about the truth of what they read. The
Bruderhof advertises itself as a group dedicated to following the
teachings of Jesus. Their web site contains a picture of a family in
traditional dress. They speak about the toys and handicap equipment
they make and the books they sell. They have a long tradition of
association with Anabaptist groups such as the Hutterites. They also
have a long history of involvement in various social causes – the Civil
rights movement, anti-war demonstrations, anti-death penalty activity
and jail ministry. All of these things should be applauded.
Unfortunately they hide the truth about the Bruderhof leadership.
What the “outside” reader or seeker may not know is that the Bruderhof,
through its’ Constitution and practice, has bestowed essentially
absolute power on its’ elder. The current elder inherited the position
from his father and is appointed for life. He may be removed only by
“unanimous” vote of all of the membership on all communities. Former
members and others can elaborate further on the specific powers of the
elder, but within the Bruderhof his power is essentially unlimited. In
the context of a group of people who have given up all their worldly
possessions, property, rights and outside family’s ties, to join the
Bruderhof in full faith and trust of the leadership, it is a situation
ripe for serious abuse of power. Not only have members literally
entrusted everything to the leadership, they have made a lifetime vow
to remain faithful to the Bruderhof come what may.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely - always. No human, including the
Arnolds, has the ability to withstand the cancer of corruption that
power brings. I have heard Bruderhof members say, “it’s a gift that the
Arnolds do not let the praise and attention go to their heads”. It
would be a gift if it was true, but it is not.
Much of the abuse and corruption has been written about on this
newsgroup The $15 million law suit filled by Christian Domer on behalf
of the Bruderhof against three critics that the elder labeled as
“enemies” can be read on the Peregrine Foundation web site. The wire-
tapping and other forms of spying on members and former members have
been described. Telephone harassment of one “enemy” and the “pink
stickers” with the home number of another Bruderhof “enemy”, implying
sexual gratification if called, have been also been described. Other
abhorrent and non-Christian behavior by the Bruderhof elder and his
operatives can be found in the archives of this site and in the
KITnewsletters at the Peregrine website.
With more members leaving more information is available. The names of
the individuals who ghostwrite Mr. Arnold’s books are known. The
identities of many of those who post anonymously on this site is known.
The terrible abuse of people who dare question the elder or his
operatives will be more fully described. The way the elder screamed and
shouted at those who question his plan to buy land in Australia are
known. Shouting at people and tearing them down have long been used by
Bruderhof leadership to control and humiliate people. In Mr. Arnold
this appears to be reaching new heights.
To the membership Mr. Arnold portrays himself as a victim of people
out to get him. He spreads paranoia and fear that the US government is
out to get the Bruderhof. Black helicopters are flying over head,
spying. (Sounds like the Conspiracy Theory from Hollywood). The FBI is
wire-taping the Bruderhof lines etc. Yet it is Mr. Arnold and his
“adviser/operatives who perpetrate verbal, spiritual and other abuses
against those who question or oppose them. When Mr. Arnold was
scheduled to appear on a call-in radio show it was he who wanted wide-
spread advertising in the city where the show was to take place. When
he made blunders on the show and showed his true colors, including
saying he wanted to buy another gun “just to see again how it feels
like”, the Bruderhof membership had a special meeting for him because
once again he had been victimized by those who were out to get him.
The Bruderhof leadership contracted with a high priced New York public
relations firm, paying $80,000 to try to help buff the Bruderhof image.
This backfired when a 48 Hours program resulted which portrayed the
Bruderhof as a cult, with Mr. Arnold a heartless cult leader. As is
their wont, the Bruderhof sued CBS over the show.
Christian and Joe have high-priced Manhattan attorneys at their beck
and call. One wonders how much money is spent on legal advice. The
membership, by and large, is kept in the dark about the legal and money
matters. Most Brotherhood members were unaware that Christian had filed
the $15 million lawsuit. When confronted by a brotherhood member Joe
evaded the answer and said, “we took a legal action”.
All of us “enemies” are well aware of the leadership’s fascination with
attorneys and assume that much of what we post is given to Bruderhof
legal council. What we write is the truth. We are willing to stand
before both an earthly and heavenly judge and say the same.
The Bruderhof bought a $20 million jet for Christoph apperently as a
gift because he was under such an attack by Bruderhof enemies. Since
that time more jets have been bought – including a rush order two weeks
ago for which Christoph paid an extra $1million to get ASAP.
What is the rush Christoph? Is this latest jet a “present for you and
your pilot son? Are you planning to leave the country perhaps? Is the
US government asking why you fly around in $20 million jets, drive
expensive new vehicles and eat at expensive restaurants etc. while the
Bruderhof claims poverty, collects WIC, Medicare and Medicaid and sends
families away nearly penniless? Is the Bruderhof becoming too great a
burden on the government “safety net”?
Is the IRS going to ask Christian where all the money is coming from to
build his super-center at Stewart Airport? Is the Bruderhof using its’
tax-exempt status for unfair business advantages? Are funds raised for
the failed Nigerian “showcase” being used?
Perhaps more of your followers are coming to the realization that all
of this wealth comes not from serving the teachings of Christ, but
rather from serving Mammon. Perhaps you fear losing the level of
affluence to which you have become accustomed. Christian Domer and
others have certainly catered to your every creature comfort and desire.
Christian Domer, your self-proclaimed “hitman”, has also concocted a
term for anyone who he, Mr. Arnold, Joe Keiderling or any other
Bruderhof leader wants to label as “enemy” His term for them is that
they have the “KITspirit”. “KITspirit” is found in anyone who questions
the leadership. It is from the devil. Anyone who has it is serving the
devil. Once an individual is labeled as having the “KITspirit” that
person can be demonized by the Bruderhof leaders and membership. They
become non-persons. They can be abused and ridiculed. They are cut off
from all family and friends. They can be sent away from the Bruderhof
nearly penniless. In spite of its’ great wealth the Bruderhof does
little to help former members get situated outside the Bruderhof once
they leave. This is quite deliberate.
The truth is that what those of us with “KITspirit” provide is the
accountability and questioning that Mr. Arnold, and those he places in
power positions, does not face from his faithful followers. Many
members may not dare to voice concerns or questions because they have
seen what happens to those who do. Others may truly believe that Mr.
Arnold is somehow anointed with special power and insight from God. In
such a situation corruption flourishes.
Besides worldly wealth and fame, what Mr. Arnold wants is control.
Within the Bruderhof he is held high on a pedestal. He controls
people’s lives – both spiritually and temporally. The power and control
that has been placed on him, and his father before him, is simply
unhealthy and unnatural. It is bearing deadly poisonous fruit.
Christoph cannot control KIT, though he has tried by filing law suits,
cutting people off completely and trying to instill fear. He despises
those who would expose the truth. They are labeled and treated as
“enemies”.
If you wish to find out the truth, ask the Bruderhof leaders a few
questions. Don’t let them off with nebulous answers. Don’t let them
turn the question around, as is their wont. Push a little. Write to
former members such as Paul Fox, Wayne and Betty Chesley. They can also
put you in touch with other former members. Read the postings on this
site. You will note that none of the postings from Bruderhof members
and “friends” are signed with a real name. Listen to your heart. Decide
for yourself if Bruderhof actions square with the teachings and life
example of Jesus or even common civilized society.
There are many wonderful, sincere people in the Bruderhof who have
devoted their lives to following what they believe to be the truth. The
leadership is hoodwinking them. Many have been emotionally and
spiritually beaten down. Many are only shells of the person that God
created. More would like to leave but have nowhere to go and no means
with which to survive on the “outside”. In spite of the great wealth of
the Bruderhof, the members know the leadership will do little to help
them get on their feet “outside”.
I fear there will a great deal more pain before the truth is fully
exposed and believed and the abuse is stopped. That pain could be
avoided if Christoph, Joe, Christian and others would humble themselves
and confess the truth. If they would reach out to their “enemies” as
Christ instructed, rather than lash out at those who would but speak
the truth, we could all seek the truth together.
Christoph, Joe and Christian have gotten themselves into a serious
bind. They are so involved with attorneys and have used so many other
worldly means against their “enemies” that they fear their enemies will
do the same to them. They have long since lost any moral high ground on
which to stand.
Christoph, Joe and Christian, if you humble yourselves, give up your
power and start to put Christ’s life example into practice, you will
find that your “enemies” are a very forgiving lot. Until that day,
however, we will provide the accountability which is lacking in the
Bruderhof. What we want is genuine truth, genuine forgiveness and
genuine reconciliation with our families and loved ones.
It is up to you.
Timothy Domer M.D.
emily cragg
The situation within the Bruderhof is, I believe, becoming more
serious. More and more members and their families are leaving as they
finally listen to the voice inside that has been warning of the
corruption of the leadership, particularly the Bruderhof elder
Christoph Arnold and his two main advisers – Christian Domer and Joe
Keiderling.
Yes, stealing is serious; yes, repudiating the principles by which the
community was formed is serious; yes, violating the TRUST of all the members
is serious. So, what does God tell YOU to do? Just sit there and wring your
hands?
After all, there are people to care for [who are being thrown out]; people
to minister to [who are too weak and discouraged to do anything]. It sounds
as if the whole Brotherhood is in a state of SHOCK. Shock is immobilizing
and crippling. Someone needs to minister to these people and KIT is
attempting to serve that purpose. It is good that they do so.
I notice the author of this posting has the same name as one of his
adversaries: thus, we're talking about a civil war here--kinsman against
kinsman. Yes, this is serious.
Who can doubt it is serious?
Would God the Trinity WANT a despot to spoil this community? Why? It makes
NO sense.
Is God the One Who was NOT vigilant enough, or the people who are earnestly
following His Path--not vigilant enough? Where do the people PUT the BLAME?
This is a question not for sociologists, but to get a sense of the Bruderhof
people's relationship to God. God always provides a way, where there is a
Will to do good.
If my children lived in a community that was ripping off its members, you
can believe I would be right there with whatever legal papers it takes to
change the By-Laws and have Mr. Arnold thrown out. Period. No question. Give
me five minutes. I'm a tacky lady.
Well, well, well. I work with a public issues attorney, and he is on his way
out to California for the next two weeks. I have given your account of this
tragedy to HIM to take with him. He's as strange about ideals as I [seem to
be] and he has taken on the IRS, the Clinton Administration and Scientology,
so who knows?
Okay, Terry's idea is that a prepaid legal service costing $200 per family
can handle a class action suit that would force Arnold out of "office"
forever. At that point, the community will need to elect new leadership, by
the Holy Spirit.
My idea is--before you put out $200 per family [which is a lot of money to
some of us], the KIT folks [or individual Bruderhof families who feel they
are being cheated] can make a call to Legal Aid and find out what their
Rights ARE. What did they SIGN when they joined up; what are the local LAWS
the Bruderhof is subject to, that their actions violate? My idea is this:
GET SMART BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING.
In the meantime, let KITSpirit grow. Let there be hope, because God loves
His Kingdom. But more than this--Betty--you now have connections with the
Mennonites. Do they have any ideas how the Bruderhof people can find
sanctuary who MUST leave until these matters can be settled legally? How
many of you have Amish friends also? THEY may have some spaces. Primitive
QUAKERS [there are some in the Blue Ridge Mountains] may have some spaces
for people.
This situation is not unlike Kosovo in Yugoslavia--
--because the leadership is completely intransigent and unresponsive to its
own people,
--because it is taking what does not belong to itself in order to primp
egos.
Our Lord Jesus would NEVER abide this kind of behavior. Moreover, the entire
Kingdom of God CONCEPT is put at risk, if sincere people who want to
cooperate and work get fleeced by a counterfeit Christian denomination. This
situations hurts every Christian who wants to live in community--not merely
the individuals who happen to be affected.
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Emily Cragg
How is it, that
Timothy Domer M.D.
>
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