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The controversial decision to distribute the remaining wealth of the Jesus Army, a disgraced evangelical sect, has stirred up outrage. Legal documents obtained by the BBC show that individuals accused of child abuse within the Jesus Army may receive larger payouts than their victims. The organisation reportedly has £25m remaining, which it plans to divide among loyal members. Survivors have condemned the proposed distribution of funds as shocking and unjust.
The Jesus Army, also known as the Jesus Fellowship Church, was founded in 1969 in Northamptonshire by Noel Stanton. Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the group amassed a total asset value of £58.6m. This included businesses and a network of 55 houses across England, all of which have been sold off. Amidst the fallout, a redress scheme organized by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust (JFCT) saw £7.7m in compensation distributed to 601 individuals who had suffered various forms of abuse within the organization’s communal houses.
Former members have expressed dissatisfaction with the redress scheme, which they feel was inadequate given the severity of the abuse they endured. Many claimants, especially those who were children at the time, criticized the lack of true compensation for their trauma and financial losses. Graham Lewis, a former member of the sect who was a victim of both emotional and sexual abuse, expressed disappointment with the handling of the redress process.
Concerns have been raised about the inclusion of alleged abusers or those complicit in covering up offenses as beneficiaries of the remaining funds. The JFCT has come under scrutiny for the lack of transparency regarding the identities of listed beneficiaries. A review of compensation claims identified over 500 alleged perpetrators of abuse within the Jesus Fellowship Church, raising fears that those responsible for the abuse could receive significant payouts. Despite ongoing engagement from Northamptonshire Police, no new prosecutions have been initiated as of yet
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