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In a startling development, it has come to light that plans are underway to permit individuals accused of child abuse within the Jesus Army to claim a portion of the cult’s significant wealth, much to the dismay of 150 victims represented by a lawyer. A recent BBC investigation uncovered that former loyal members of the scandal-ridden evangelical group could potentially receive larger payouts than the victims affected by the abuse under a redress scheme. The total estimated value of the group’s assets exceeds £50 million, prompting survivors to express their disgust at the possibility of abusers benefiting from the cult’s finances.
Malcolm Johnson, a solicitor at Lime Solicitors, emphasized the necessity of redirecting the remaining assets for charitable purposes as the appropriate course of action. Asserting their stance, a spokesperson for the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust (JFCT), responsible for winding up the group’s operations, stated that the identities of the fund’s recipients remained confidential to safeguard the privacy of victims who had come forward with their allegations. The trustees maintained that consultation with Mr. Johnson had transpired over an extended period and reiterated their lack of authority to reallocate the assets, highlighting the potential consequences for claimants who failed to submit their claims by the stipulated deadline of October 16.
Over the course of five decades, the Jesus Fellowship amassed numerous valuable properties and profitable ventures, funded by the contributions of its 3,500 members who devoted their earnings and possessions to a trust. Financial records from 2017 revealed that the group’s assets were valued at £58.6 million. Following the closure of the trust in 2020, approximately £25 million was distributed among 172 remaining members, termed as listed beneficiaries, in the form of relief or capital returns. Notably, beneficiaries reported receiving a lump sum of £63,000. The trust had also compensated 601 victims last year for the abuses suffered within the fellowship, with each individual receiving an average of £13,000, partially covered by insurance proceeds. Despite trustees asserting that around 10% of the group’s assets had been allocated towards victim compensation, discrepancies arose over the actual proportion, with claims of the figure being closer to 20%.
In light of recent revelations, Malcolm Johnson, representing the interests of 150 victims in claiming damages, condemned the lack of accountability displayed by the Jesus Army in addressing the harrowing abuse endured by survivors. Shockingly, no discernible action had been taken against many alleged perpetrators within the church, some of whom held longstanding roles. Mr. Johnson decried the appalling scenario where accused abusers stood to gain more financially than their victims, citing it as a blatant effort by cults like the Jesus Army to evade culpability for their alleged transgressions. Notably, trustees of the JFCT reported all accusations made during the redress scheme to law enforcement authorities, underscoring the pivotal role of the police in pursuing remedial actions. A comprehensive review of claims highlighted the involvement of 539 alleged abusers within the sect, a notable proportion of the total membership, including 162 former leaders. Measures have reportedly been taken to exclude around ten former members with criminal convictions arising from community house incidents from benefiting from the asset distribution
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