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| Type | Religious organization |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Region served | Mansfield, England; Connecticut, USA |
| Official language | English |
| Key individuals | John Hibbert, Jean Spademan, Sam J. Wibberley |
| Affiliations | Christianity |
Bethel Church, also called Bethel Interdenominational Church, is a Christian religious organization based in Mansfield Woodhouse, England, founded by John Hibbert and Jean Spademan. It has a sister church, King's Chapel, in Norwich, Connecticut. Within the movement, Spademan was known by the name "Syro" - "an obscure Biblical reference to a Syro-Phoenician woman who appeals to Jesus to save her daughter from a demon".
Founders
Jean Spademan
In 1999, Spademan had six children and over twelve grandchildren. She had children early in life and did not have much money. Her youngest daughter was adopted from Honduras – Spademan had the idea to begin a connection between Bethel Church and the Honduras orphanage Finca de los Niños. Spademan and the church had a goal to build a new orphanage, but they gave up on these plans in the mid-1980s.
In an interview with the Daily Express in 2000, Spademan commented on claims by others that she said she was a prophet: "I don't believe I'm a prophet"Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). Hibbert stated in an interview: "As a boy of 11, 12, and 13 they could not keep me away from it. I was in every single service soaking up the preaching, listening to these missionaries tell their stories. I can remember standing in these congregations ... and with tears streaming down my face and saying, 'Lord I want to do whatever you want me to do in this world. I want to be your servant for the rest of my life.'"
He was raised in central England, and attended a technical college where he received education as a draftsman. Hibbert served as an ordained minister in a Pentacostal church, and rose to the level of assistant minister in Rotherham, in a parish of the organization Assembly of God. Hibbert is married with three daughters and an adopted boy originally from Honduras. He met Spademan in 1972: "I saw a hesitation in her eyes. I sensed she was in need. And so that was it." Hibbert commented on claims that individuals were pressured to donate funds to his organization: "Certainly no pressure was ever put on anybody (to give)," he said. "You have never met a more selfless giving group of people than the people in this church and that includes this ministry."
England
In 2000, Spademan rarely attended services through sickness. Spademan learned of a church member's lesbian relationship in 2000, and decided to offer one of the girls to live at the church in Connecticut.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The church sent individuals to Zambia in July 2009 to assist in construction work for a missionary-led school. "I can't do much to help, but I can walk, so if people would like to sponsor me, every pound counts," said pastor Jenkinson. The school in Zambia serves as a location for 300 children to receive free education – the children also receive food free of charge each school day.
British MP calls for group to be placed on register
In 2000, after critical reporting on the organization exposed controversial practices by the group, British MP for Mansfield Alan Meale publicly requested that such religious groups and cults be placed in a register. Meale noted that if employers utilized the psychological methods used by Bethel Church management, employees would be able to request a significant amount of financial compensation.
"There needs to be a register to protect the people involved in these movements, their relatives and the communities in which they exist. Everyone, from parents, to social services and neighbours should be allowed to know what these organisations are. They are usually very secretive and impose huge pressures on the people in them. A register should also lay open the church's business dealings and its aims and objectives," said Meale.
Analysis
Dr. Martyn Percy of the Lincoln Theological Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, an authority on new religious movements, commented on the organization's nature of control: "It seems to me to be a fascinating form of religious control exercised on people. If you really think people know what you think, you just don’t dare step out of line. It becomes intolerable. What is absolutely unique about this church is a woman being not just a figurehead, but the prophetic leader of it."
Lonnie D. Kliever, chairman of the religion department at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, said that he did not observe evidence of brainwashing within the church. He compared individuals devoted to strict organizations such as King's Chapel to "misguided victims", commenting: It is like getting involved in a bad marriage. Some find it preferable to stay."
Mary Alice Chrnalogar, author of the 1997 book on cults, Twisted Scriptures, said she has heard of the group, and compared it to other religious groups she has dealt with: "I’m very familiar with that group. It’s no different from any other cult I have worked with."
The director of the New England Institute of Religious Research in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Robert Pardon, analyzed statements from ex-members of the King's Chapel organization. Pardon stated that the group "fits the classic profile" of an abusive religious organization. Pardon commented on Spademan's control of the group: "If you accept the premise that she hears from God and is always right, then you have no safeguards, no accountability from abuse. This is pretty scary stuff."
References
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
tolsonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ The Express staff (July 17, 2000). "The Express: The sect where doubt is a sin". Daily Express. Express Newspapers.
- ^ Tolson, Kyn (May 30, 1999). "Preacher, prophet founded church 'to know God'". The New London Day. Shore Publishing.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Savidge, Katherine (March 2, 2000). "A Special Chad Investigation". Mansfield Chad. Johnston Press.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Cite error: The named reference
pastortoscalewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Cite error: The named reference
exposedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Tolson, Kyn (May 30, 1999). "Cults rob victims of the freedom to make decisions". The New London Day. Shore Publishing.
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External links
- Hassan, Steven Alan (2009). "Kings Chapel (Bethel Church)". Freedom of Mind Center. Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-20.