We have a lot to share with you this week:
- Scholarship applications open
- Modern Slavery Bill hearings
- Equippers church investigation
- Cult journalism hui on Thursday
- Religious Trauma Collective event
- Decult presents at ICSA in the US
DECULT SCHOLARSHIP FUND KICKS OFF
It’s half-time for our Decult Scholarship fundraising campaign and we’re at 46%, thanks to our match funders Olive Leaf Network and Maclean Legal – and all the generous decultivists who chipped in already! We need all your support for the home stretch to reach our $10k goal to release 30 free tickets.
If you can help with a small or large contribution to get us over the line, then now’s the time.
Are you a cult survivor with financial hardship hoping to attend Decult 2026? We would love to hear from you. Applications for scholarships are now open until 31 July. Please fill out this form.
MODERN SLAVERY BILL OVERLOOKS CULT HARM
New Zealand’s Modern Slavery Bill is currently advancing through its legislative stages to become a law. Some of our experts and advocates are making sure that the coercive harm happening on our shores is not overlooked. Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, Dr Caroline Ansley from the CIP Network and Dennis Parker, Chair of the Decult Trust and CEO of Trade Aid, gave their submissions at the Parliament hearing last week (photo above, from left to right).
They all urged the commission to consider people trapped in cults and to create a legal framework that prevents their exploitation and abuse. Caz mentioned groups from Sri Chinmoy to The Truth (or 2x2s) where “there is a form of modern slavery this Bill does not yet see at all.” Powerful and crucial input. You can read the full submissions here and here. Recordings are ready soon.
EQUIPPERS INVESTIGATION & CULT JOURNALISM
I wasn’t aware of Equippers until Paula Penfold’s excellent investigation for Stuff earlier this year. My cult alarm was ringing when she recently did a follow-up that raises more questions about the poor handling of sexual abuse claims within the Pentecostal megachurch. Stay tuned.
I’m grateful for colleagues like Paula who take on problematic religious and spiritual organisations. We’ll discuss cult reporting at the next CIP Network online hui this Thursday (18 June, 7.30 – 9 pm NZST) where I’ll be giving some input too. It’s for CIPN members only but we’re inviting NZ and Australian journalists along. To register, please email [email protected]
RTC EVENT WITH LOCAL MEET-UPS
Something exciting is happening this weekend: The Religious Trauma Collective online event (19 – 21 June) with a stellar line-up from NZ journalist David Farrier to US writer Tia Levings – “three days, 18 sessions, zero pressure”. You can watch presentations and discussions for free every day or sign up for their unlimited All-Access-Pass. Check out the program and all booking info here.
If you want to connect with like-minded people who are also following the event, then join the informal meet-ups that are happening in five cities across Australia, in Auckland (19 June) and in Christchurch (21 June).
DECULT PRESENTATION & DOCO AT ICSA
Last but not least, I’ll be attending the annual ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) conference in San Diego from 1 – 4 July to talk about the impact of Decult. My presentation “Why media voices matter” will be followed by a screening of our doco Decult Voices – Beyond Belief. I’m also on the panel “Finding common ground” on the last day. Check out the full agenda and register here – they have online tickets too.
While I feel conflicted (and a bit nervous) about entering the United States again, I’m excited to meet our Decult 2026 keynote speaker Rachel Bernstein at ICSA and some of our Decult 2024 champions like Dr Janja Lalich. It’s an immense opportunity for our fledgling Kiwi charity to combine forces with experts and activists across the world. I’ll keep you posted.
Ngā mihi nui,
Anke Richter