‘My Beliefs Are A Private Matter’ – National MP Part Of Underground Sect Probed By FBI

Amy
Williams, Journalist

A
National Party politician who is part of a secretive sect
being probed for historical child sexual abuse says he had a
happy upbringing in the group and he regards his beliefs as
a private matter.

The FBI is working with
international law enforcement partners to investigate abuse
within the global group known as the Two by Twos or The
Truth, and NZ police have
arrested two men, one of whom pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 13 years in prison last year.

The
religious sect has no official name or church building and
its itinerant ministers travel in same-sex pairs, stay in
members’ homes and receive gifts for living costs.

A
current member of the Christian sect – who RNZ has agreed
not to identify – confirmed National MP for Ilam Hamish
Campbell was born into the group and still attended meetings
when he is in Christchurch.

The insider said Campbell
was well respected, including for his career, having been a
cancer researcher and scientist before entering
politics.

Campbell said he was aware the Two by Twos
was being investigated for historical child sexual
abuse.

“My connection to the organisation has been
through family, and while I have been made aware of these
historical allegations through the media, I have no personal
knowledge of the individuals involved,” he said.

“My
wife and I are non-denomination Christians, but my faith is
separate from my role as a politician and I consider myself
a social liberal. My views are shaped not only from my
upbringing, but also my scientific career.”

Campbell
said allegations of sexual abuse, or any other serious
misconduct, must be thoroughly investigated and addressed
with full accountability.

“I acknowledge the
organisation’s statement that it will fully cooperate with
the police.”

When RNZ first asked about his
involvement with the Two by Twos in May last year, the MP
said he “regards this as a private matter”.

“I have
had an association with this organisation through my family.
My beliefs are a private matter but I consider myself a
socially-liberal person.”

At that time, Campbell said
he was unaware of the reported historical abuse
claims.

“I am unaware of the reported historical abuse
claims. Any allegations of abuse, anywhere, should be
reported to police and investigated.”

In June, a
spokesperson for the MP said Campbell believed in secular
government and was dedicated to representing a wide range of
world views.

“He does not view the group as secretive,
as they hold public meetings in open locations. In his
personal experience, he has not felt restricted and
appreciates his happy upbringing.”

The sect meets in
members’ homes during the week and on Sunday mornings. It
also holds gospel meetings in hired halls around the country
on Sunday afternoons or evenings – it chooses not to hire
church halls.

It has 2500 members and 60 ministers in
New Zealand.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he
was aware the MP was part of the group.

“As you well
know we’re a proud multicultural country, people are free to
celebrate their faiths as they wish, from lots of different
backgrounds.”

Luxon said political candidates were not
asked about their religious beliefs.

“We have a
vetting process and I’m confident in the process. I don’t
think we ask explicitly what religion people are, whether
they’re Catholic or Protestant or have faith or no
faith.”

He had not talked to Campbell about the
matter.

“I haven’t had those conversations with him…
it’s very obvious to me whether it’s a Catholic church,
whether it’s a faith based organisation, whether it’s a
business organisation or a community based organisation,
anyone experiencing abuse should come forward to the
police,” Luxon said.

“My message very strongly to
people experiencing abuse from any organisation should come
forward to police.”

Gloriavale Leaders Trust
spokesperson Liz Gregory said the sect shared similar
beliefs to those in Gloriavale and she believed it exhibited
a similar level of control over its members, without the
commune.

She said the sect was exclusive and believed
other churches to be false.

Former insiders have
described the control the closed Christian group has over
its members, with many unwritten rules, such as not having a
TV in their homes and a dress code for women who are
discouraged from wearing make up and jewellery.

One
hallmark of the Two by Twos is that families stay in the
sect for generations – RNZ has spoken to former insiders who
were the third and fourth generation of their family to be
born into the closed fellowship, but feared their families
would be shunned if it was known the leavers had spoken
out.

Religious studies expert and Massey University
professor emeritus of history Peter Lineham said freedom of
belief was an important keystone of life in New
Zealand.

“Generally we evaluate members of parliament
from what is publicly available about them and we like them
to be as open as they can be about what they stand for,
where they come from, whether those are religious or other
fraternal associations,” he said.

“It’s only natural
that the public has a real interest in that.”

The
prime minister’s religious beliefs had been scrutinised when
he became a National MP. At the time, in 2021, Luxon told
Parliament that while
he was a Christian, that did not mean he held extreme
views.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had
been up-front about renouncing her Mormon faith in her
twenties.

Sect’s response to historical
abuse

In February, the FBI announced it would be
investigating the sect for historical sexual abuse, after
victims flooded a hotline set up by survivors in
America.

The sect’s New Zealand overseer Wayne Dean
earlier confirmed that police were investigating at least
one former minister for alleged historical child sexual
abuse.

He said the church encouraged any victims of
historical sexual abuse to go to the police, and any alleged
offender was stood down from attending church meetings
pending investigation.

“I am aware of 14 cases of
members that have been asked not to attend meetings,” Dean
said.

“We take every report seriously. Even when it is
only considered as inappropriate behaviour. As are some of
the cases being dealt with at present.”

Workers have a
written Code of Conduct which they signed and were expected
to adhere to in all situations, including when they were in
members’ homes, he said.

Dean said all workers had to
undertake formal and refresher training to keep children
safe and perpetrators were banned from meetings arranged by
the ministry.

The fellowship fully cooperates with
police investigations and reporting of child abuse was
encouraged, he said.

Last year, the sect’s
Australasian leaders launched
a website with information about its response to
historical child sexual abuse and a written apology to
victims.

The website does not carry any name for the
sect but refers to the group as “our fellowship” or “our
church”.

“There are no excuses for this offending
committed within our fellowship. We deeply regret all
instances of abuse and any time when more could have been
done to hear concerns or help victims. We firmly declare
that any form of abuse is utterly unacceptable and
inexcusable,” they said.

It followed two letters
posted on a website for the sect’s members last year by its
Australian and New Zealand overseers, acknowledging cases of
child sexual abuse within the group overseas.

“We have
communicated our zero tolerance with respect to the harming
of children, young people, or anyone within our fellowship
and have begun actions to support this stance. The impact of
child sexual abuse is devastating and far reaching. Our
thoughts are with each one of you who have been affected,”
they said.

An insider told RNZ the sect’s lack of a
name was going to make it hard for the police to find a
pattern and link the reports of
abuse.

© Scoop Media