Church of England Policy on Cults such as BKWSU

From the Church of England Policy on Cults.

The Church of England wise up to what cults like the Brahma Kumaris want and name the BKWSU specifically, bundling them in with Scientology, Sai Baba, Raelians etc. The Church appears to have got the message and developed the correct response. Well done. It specifically draws a clear line between established religions and dubious intents of new religious movements. It would appear the Brahma Kumaris have been excluded from Interfaith dialogues whereas, say, the Bahá’i make it in.

What do NRMs and Alternative Spiritualities want?

Many NRMs and Alternative Spiritualities want nothing from the Church of England. Others, however, want the same kind of relationship with the Church of England as the major historic world religions.

They may be looking for

Acceptance
Advocacy
Dialogue
Access
Money

Some NRMs want the Church to intervene with government or other agencies to help them gaincredibility. Many NRMs feel that being on the same platform with the Church of England canaddress bad PR or negative media coverage. Other NRMs invite the Church of England to stand alongside them on thematic issues such as the environment or peace initiatives but then includethis as endorsement for their group or to legitimate their interest in such concerns. Others want access to decision making bodies on matters such as sacred sites and locations, educationpolicy, civic occasions, chaplaincy and interfaith dialogue.

Policy towards NRMs and Alternative Spiritualities

The Church of England does not have formal dialogue with any group of this kind or provideservices to such groups.
The Church of England does not facilitate access, engage in advocacy or provide funds or accessto funds.
The Church of England does attempt to listen, to encourage and support informal local contactswith groups, and to provide pastoral assistance where this is requested.
The Church of England uses and supports INFORM at the London School of Economics and someother information groups to resource its knowledge of NRMs and Alternative Spiritualities.INFORM also provides access to legal and counselling services, parents’ and ex-members’groups.
The Church of England does not act to suppress groups, either directly or by supporting anti-cult or counter-cult groups

Some examples of NRMs derived from Eastern religions

Sai Baba
Sahaja Yoga
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Brahma Kumaris
Osho (Rajneeshism)
Elan Vital (Divine Light Mission)

The Inter-faith portfolios relate for the most part to major world faiths other than Christianity. These include: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Bahá’i

These are major world historic religions and are characterised by:

significant and identifiable history of the faith
significant scripture or holy text
significant history of sacred practice
identifiable theology, mythic structure or philosophy within a developed tradition
identifiable holy persons or exemplars of faith
accountable authority or leadership, upholding right behaviour and practice within the community
cultic integrity - the formation and sustaining of an identifiable faith community