This is both a Training and Archive Document resource.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In this article, we break down the myth that members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church don’t pay tax. Of course our parishioners across the globe pay tax!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5519,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"resource-type":[429],"class_list":["post-12017","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-type-pbcc-articles"],"acf":{"content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"module_section","row":[{"column_gap":"","column":[{"module":[{"acf_fc_layout":"rich_media_block","image":false,"header":{"":null,"title":"","heading_level":"h2","header_styles":{"":null,"background_colour":"","background_image":false,"text_colour":"black"},"make_separator":false},"content":"
In recent years, outlets including Radio New Zealand (RNZ) have published reports making sweeping claims about the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and its relationship to the independent businesses owned by our members.<\/p>\n
Terms like „money-go-round“ have been used to characterise organisations such as the Universal Business Team (UBT) and the National Assistance Fund. References to political donations, charity status, and Mr Bruce Hales have also featured in this coverage.<\/p>\n
We understand that these topics generate public interest, and we believe it is important to establish the truth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church does not own, operate, or hold any commercial interest in any business. The Church does not employ anyone in a commercial capacity.<\/p>\n
Many Brethren members and their families own and operate their own independent businesses.<\/p>\n
If our members succeed commercially, that success belongs to them and their families, not to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. The Church has no legal, financial, or any other interest in these businesses.<\/p>\n
This distinction matters, and it is one that some reports have failed to make clear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Similarly, UBT and the National Assistance Fund are not owned or operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.<\/p>\n
They are distinct entities that are accountable to their own, independent boards.<\/p>\n
The Church has no controlling interest in either organisation.<\/p>\n
However, RNZ and other media outlets have misrepresented the relationship between these organisations, our members‘ independent businesses and the Church. Some have used language like „money-go-round“ to describe how funds move between them.<\/p>\n
We reject that characterisation completely.<\/p>\n
As is true for any independent business, our members choose, as individuals and business owners, how they engage with these organisations.<\/p>\n
Many of our members are also regular and substantial donors to charitable causes. These donations are made freely to a range of fully registered charities that meet their relevant legal requirements.<\/p>\n
The decision about where and how to give is a personal one, made by each member according to their own means and conscience.<\/p>\n
This culture of giving extends into the business community among our members. Business owners frequently direct a portion of their commercial success toward charitable purposes not because the Church directs them to do so, but because generosity is woven into the values they hold as people of faith.<\/p>\n
This is a direct reflection of who we are as a Christian fellowship. Donations of time and funds are rooted in our faith, guided by scripture, and expressed through a genuine sense of duty to support others with care and compassion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition, we are also aware of reports that have raised questions about political donations made by members, with suggestions that our Church is somehow involved.<\/p>\n
Donations made to any political parties or causes are made by individual members in their personal capacity, as is the democratic right of any citizen.<\/p>\n
The Church does not make political donations, nor direct our members to make donations to any specific party or cause.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While there is a clear distinction between the Church and the commercial and political activity of our members, our community is connected by a shared faith and values.<\/p>\n
We want to be transparent about our Church and the values that define our fellowship.<\/p>\n
In response, we have produced extensive resources on our beliefs and way of life. This includes our podcast series, which features in-depth interviews with members on topics that include running independent companies guided by our Christian faith.<\/p>\n
These resources also seek to dispel other myths sometimes reported in the news about our Church, including being labelled as the Exclusive Brethren.<\/p>\n
For further information on the PBCC, please refer to our Any Questions<\/a> page or get in touch via our Contact<\/a> page.<\/p>\n","enable_button":true,"button":{"button_text":"","button_url":"","open_in_new_tab":false,"button_class":""},"class":""}],"columns_sm":"12","columns_md":"12","columns_lg":"12"}],"row_class":"pt-0","module_padding":{"":null,"padding_top_xs":"","padding_bottom_xs":"","padding_left_xs":"","padding_right_xs":"","padding_top_md":"","padding_bottom_md":"","padding_left_md":"","padding_right_md":"","padding_top_lg":"","padding_bottom_lg":"","padding_left_lg":"","padding_right_lg":""},"module_margin":{"":null,"margin_top_xs":"","margin_bottom_xs":"","margin_left_xs":"","margin_right_xs":"","margin_top_md":"","margin_bottom_md":"","margin_left_md":"","margin_right_md":"","margin_top_lg":"","margin_bottom_lg":"","margin_left_lg":"","margin_right_lg":""}}],"section_heading":"","section_class":"","module_padding":{"":null,"padding_top_xs":"","padding_bottom_xs":"","padding_left_xs":"","padding_right_xs":"","padding_top_md":"","padding_bottom_md":"","padding_left_md":"","padding_right_md":"","padding_top_lg":"","padding_bottom_lg":"","padding_left_lg":"","padding_right_lg":""},"module_margin":{"":null,"margin_top_xs":"","margin_bottom_xs":"","margin_left_xs":"","margin_right_xs":"","margin_top_md":"","margin_bottom_md":"","margin_left_md":"","margin_right_md":"","margin_top_lg":"","margin_bottom_lg":"","margin_left_lg":"","margin_right_lg":""}}],"resource_listing_image":false},"yoast_head":"\n