In the 1970s, with its headquarters in New York, it developed into a controversial network of churches with 10,000 members and 110 communes at its peak, but only a few hundred members in later years.[3][4]
Traill underwent a conversion experience in the early 1970s in Allentown, joined a Pentecostal church from which he was expelled, and began teaching Bible and developing a following.[3][5] He changed the name of the "Forever Family" to the "Church of Bible Understanding" in 1976. Ex-members complained that they worked for very low wages, with all the money going to the church. The group had a communal lifestyle, with Traill maintaining that only he can understand the true meaning of the words of God. Traill encourages his group members to break off contact with their families. Over time, the members decreased in number.[6] The group has been accused of being a cult, and it has been estimated that Traill became a millionaire from it.[5]
Rev. Bruce Ritter of Covenant House accused The Church of Bible Understanding of enticing 17 youth out of the shelter with promises of salvation, and a state court enjoined them from housing or transporting youth under age 18 without parental permission.[5]
Business venturesedit
With a carpet-cleaning business, "Christian Brothers Carpet Cleaning", they were the inspiration for Seinfeld's "Sunshine Carpet Cleaning Cult".[5][7] They also started a used-van business as a commercial venture.[5][8]
The group's only successful venture is Olde Good Things, New York City-based retail stores selling architectural salvage goods and antiques. In 2017, the stores funnelled $6.8 million to the Church of Bible Understanding, according to the nonprofit's tax filing for that year.[9]
Haitian orphanagesedit
In November 2013, the Associated Press investigated claims that the church was at fault for running substandard housing for orphans in Haiti after the two homes the church runs received a failing grade from the Haitian agency that monitors orphanages. "...Even though they claim in IRS filings to be spending around $2.5 million annually, the home for boys and girls was so dirty and overcrowded during recent inspections that the government said it shouldn't remain open."[10]
On February 14, 2020, one "orphanage", run by the organization in Haiti, burned down, killing 15 children; two burned to death and the others died from smoke inhalation, according to a BBC World News report. The cause was alleged to be candles being lit, the facility's generator being inoperative.[11]
Stewart Traill, the long-time leader of the group, died in 2018.[12]
Referencesedit
^Lewis, James R. (1998). The encyclopedia of cults, sects, and new religions, James R. Lewis, Prometheus Books, 1998, ISBN 1-57392-222-6, accessed February 6, 2010. ISBN9781573922227. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
^McManus, Una; Cooper, John Charles (June 19, 2009). Dealing with destructive cults, Una McManus, John Charles Cooper, Zondervan Pub. House, 1984, ISBN 0-310-70281-X, February 5, 2010. ISBN9780310702818. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
^ abcChryssides, George D. (2006). The A to Z of new religious movements. Vol. 20. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 89–90. ISBN0-8108-5588-7. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
^The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality, James K. Walker, Harvest House Publishers, 2007 ISBN0-7369-2011-0. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
^ abcde"The Church of Bible Understanding; Minister Accuses Church of Enticing Youngsters". The Evening Independent. June 11, 1983. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
^Larson, Bob (2004). Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. ISBN0-8423-6417-X.
^Dunn, Brad; Daniel Hood (2004). New York: the unknown city. 146: arsenal pulp press. ISBN1-55152-161-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Yglesias, Linda (December 8, 1996). "Cleaners Handle Rugs and Religion Shagging Souls a la TV's Seinfeld". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
^"Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to 'cult' known for NYC antique stores". 23 February 2020.
^. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
^"Haiti: 15 children killed in fire at unlicensed orphanage". BBC News. February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
^"Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to 'cult' known for NYC antique stores". New York Post. February 22, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
External linksedit
Mike Montoya's COBU Web Page
January 01, 1970
church, bible, understanding, confused, with, forever, family, british, anti, racism, organization, first, known, forever, family, founded, allentown, pennsylvania, 1971, stewart, traill, 1936, 2018, communal, organization, teaching, form, evangelical, christi. Not to be confused with Forever Family UK a British anti racism organization The Church of Bible Understanding first known as the Forever Family was founded in Allentown Pennsylvania in 1971 by Stewart Traill 1936 2018 1 2 It is a communal organization teaching a form of evangelical Christianity 3 Contents 1 Beginnings 2 Business ventures 3 Haitian orphanages 4 References 5 External linksBeginnings editIn the 1970s with its headquarters in New York it developed into a controversial network of churches with 10 000 members and 110 communes at its peak but only a few hundred members in later years 3 4 Traill underwent a conversion experience in the early 1970s in Allentown joined a Pentecostal church from which he was expelled and began teaching Bible and developing a following 3 5 He changed the name of the Forever Family to the Church of Bible Understanding in 1976 Ex members complained that they worked for very low wages with all the money going to the church The group had a communal lifestyle with Traill maintaining that only he can understand the true meaning of the words of God Traill encourages his group members to break off contact with their families Over time the members decreased in number 6 The group has been accused of being a cult and it has been estimated that Traill became a millionaire from it 5 Rev Bruce Ritter of Covenant House accused The Church of Bible Understanding of enticing 17 youth out of the shelter with promises of salvation and a state court enjoined them from housing or transporting youth under age 18 without parental permission 5 Business ventures editWith a carpet cleaning business Christian Brothers Carpet Cleaning they were the inspiration for Seinfeld s Sunshine Carpet Cleaning Cult 5 7 They also started a used van business as a commercial venture 5 8 The group s only successful venture is Olde Good Things New York City based retail stores selling architectural salvage goods and antiques In 2017 the stores funnelled 6 8 million to the Church of Bible Understanding according to the nonprofit s tax filing for that year 9 Haitian orphanages editIn November 2013 the Associated Press investigated claims that the church was at fault for running substandard housing for orphans in Haiti after the two homes the church runs received a failing grade from the Haitian agency that monitors orphanages Even though they claim in IRS filings to be spending around 2 5 million annually the home for boys and girls was so dirty and overcrowded during recent inspections that the government said it shouldn t remain open 10 On February 14 2020 one orphanage run by the organization in Haiti burned down killing 15 children two burned to death and the others died from smoke inhalation according to a BBC World News report The cause was alleged to be candles being lit the facility s generator being inoperative 11 Stewart Traill the long time leader of the group died in 2018 12 References edit Lewis James R 1998 The encyclopedia of cults sects and new religions James R Lewis Prometheus Books 1998 ISBN 1 57392 222 6 accessed February 6 2010 ISBN 9781573922227 Retrieved March 25 2010 McManus Una Cooper John Charles June 19 2009 Dealing with destructive cults Una McManus John Charles Cooper Zondervan Pub House 1984 ISBN 0 310 70281 X February 5 2010 ISBN 9780310702818 Retrieved March 25 2010 a b c Chryssides George D 2006 The A to Z of new religious movements Vol 20 Rowman amp Littlefield pp 89 90 ISBN 0 8108 5588 7 Retrieved February 5 2010 The Concise Guide to Today s Religions and Spirituality James K Walker Harvest House Publishers 2007 ISBN 0 7369 2011 0 Retrieved February 5 2010 a b c d e The Church of Bible Understanding Minister Accuses Church of Enticing Youngsters The Evening Independent June 11 1983 Retrieved February 6 2010 Larson Bob 2004 Larson s Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality Tyndale House Publishers Inc ISBN 0 8423 6417 X Dunn Brad Daniel Hood 2004 New York the unknown city 146 arsenal pulp press ISBN 1 55152 161 X a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Yglesias Linda December 8 1996 Cleaners Handle Rugs and Religion Shagging Souls a la TV s Seinfeld New York Daily News Retrieved June 22 2015 Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to cult known for NYC antique stores 23 February 2020 AP News Haiti faults orphanage run by well off US church Associated Press Archived from the original on 2013 12 19 Retrieved 2013 12 18 Haiti 15 children killed in fire at unlicensed orphanage BBC News February 14 2020 Retrieved April 4 2020 Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to cult known for NYC antique stores New York Post February 22 2020 Retrieved April 4 2020 External links editMike Montoya s COBU Web Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Church of Bible Understanding amp oldid 1198873756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
