A lawyer representing 150 victims of the Jesus Army has condemned plans to allow individuals accused of child abuse within the cult to receive a share of its substantial fortune as "shameful" and "appalling." A BBC investigation revealed that 172 former members of the now-defunct Northamptonshire-based evangelical sect were set to receive payouts far exceeding those given to abuse survivors under a recently concluded redress scheme. The community's assets, estimated to be worth more than £50 million, remain partially in the hands of former members, including some accused of perpetrating or covering up abuse, a prospect that survivors have described as "sickening."

Malcolm Johnson, a lawyer from Lime Solicitors who has supported numerous victims, described the abuse endured as "truly harrowing" and criticised the absence of significant disciplinary action against many alleged abusers, some of whom were long-standing members or leaders. Speaking to the BBC, he said, "The news [some people accused of abuse] could end up with more remuneration than their victims is appalling. It is a shameful example of how cults like the Jesus Army escape responsibility for their alleged crimes."

The Jesus Fellowship Community Trust (JFCT), responsible for winding up the group's affairs, stated that the identities of beneficiaries were confidential to protect the privacy of victims who made their allegations in confidence. The Trust insisted that trustees had consulted with victims' representatives over a long period and had no authority to redirect assets away from the listed beneficiaries. Under a court order, anyone with unresolved claims against the JFCT had to have applied by 16 October, after which the right to claim was permanently lost.

Over its 50-year existence, the Jesus Fellowship amassed numerous properties and businesses, funded by its 3,500 members, many of whom contributed their entire assets into a trust. Documents seen by the BBC showed the group's assets valued at £58.6 million in 2017. When the trust was closed in 2020, its assets were liquidated, and about £25 million was distributed among the 172 remaining beneficiaries, including relief of need payments and returns of capital, with some receiving lump sums reportedly around £63,000.

Last year, the redress scheme compensated 601 victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, with an average individual payout of approximately £13,000. These payments, partly covered by insurance, accounted for roughly 10% of the total assets, although trustees claim the real figure is closer to 20%. In total, over £7 million has been disbursed to victims through the scheme, which closed on 31 December 2023 after receiving 890 applications from 601 individuals.

A final report from the JFCT revealed severe systemic failings within the Jesus Army related to abuse handling, identifying 539 alleged abusers — about one-fifth of the total membership — including 162 former leaders. The Trust acknowledged responsibility for 264 alleged abusers, 61% of whom were leaders, and noted that about ten former members with convictions stemming from offences committed in community houses are excluded from asset distribution.

Kathleen Hallisey, a lawyer from Scott-Moncrieff and Associates, has taken on around 60 new clients since a BBC documentary, Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army, was aired. Many of these new claimants include women who served as so-called "domestic sisters," married women forced to perform unpaid domestic labor in large houses for the community, sometimes under conditions that amounted to exploitation. Hallisey highlighted the psychological toll on these women, citing cases of breakdowns and suicide attempts. "If you don’t perform this unpaid job, you have to leave the community destitute with no money or support," she said.

While the JFCT trustees have issued a public apology for the abuse and stated all allegations have been reported to the police, they have emphasised the complexity of the situation. A spokesperson asserted that it was misleading to draw a clear line between beneficiaries and victims, suggesting a more intertwined and complicated membership legacy.

The redress scheme covered various areas of harm through segmented schemes, including the Individual Redress Payment Scheme for abuse claims, the Community Adverse Experience Scheme, and Other Claims Scheme. Applicants were encouraged to engage legal representation for assistance, as outlined on the official JFCT website.

Despite the Trust’s efforts to wind up the community’s affairs and distribute the assets, the unresolved issue of accused abusers potentially receiving payouts alongside or exceeding those of victims continues to provoke distress and condemnation. Survivors and their legal representatives maintain that redirecting leftover assets for charitable purposes, especially to benefit victims and related causes, remains the only morally justifiable course.

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Source: Noah Wire Services