Concerning the Exclusive Brethren: “For 175 years the sect has counted among its strange proscriptions – no public entertainment, no novels, no eating with outsiders, no university, no membership of other organisations of any kind, no shorts (“God has no pleasure in the legs of a man”), no party walls shared with non-Brethren, no films, no radio, no television and no mobile phones – an absolute ban on worldly politics.” This is an excerpt from the article found here.. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hidden-prophets/2006/07/01/1151174401719.html

    This post is part two of a comparison sent from a survivor of this religious cult group called –“Exclusive Brethren”. He has taken the list of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) “don’ts” that was posted earlier on this blog and reviewed it for similarities with the Exclusive Brethren.  The survivor who we will call “Paul” has taken the list and commented after every few rules with his observations. The list of “don’ts” can be found here.  WOFF Don’t list from 03 10  Follow down the home page of this blog for the first post in this series. Also, the first post about Exclusive Brethren on this blog can be found here. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3198  

    These comments are from an email returned to me from “Paul”. His comments will be italicized after he quotes from the WOFF list. My comments will be after his comments. 

Comparing the list between WOFF and the Exclusive Brethren– From Paul

WOFF Rules on Pictures, Videos and such….

Don’t take pictures during a regular service.
Don’t make your own recording of a service.
Don’t bring visitors unless you tell someone in the office so they
can tell Jane.

EB- Pretty much never ever happens.(Paul mentioned in the previous post that visitors were very rare, to none, in the EB)

WOFF- Don’t take pictures of Jane of other members unless you are given
permission.
Don’t be loose with your camera at any time

EB- No real rules …they will fight over this stuff among themselves.
Although maybe the main leader doesn’t allow photo.. not sure.. But know
M.O.G (Man of God- Local leader) doesn’t like media taking photo…. hides from media… gets taken
to church in car with dark window… driven in(there) in great secrecy…leader has become very paranoid!

WOFF- Don’t put large amounts of cash in the offering unless it is in an
envelope.
Don’t complain when the offering plates are passed more than once.

EB- Plate doesn’t get sent around twice ….nobody really keeps tabs on how
much you give, too much …although if you are wealthy, I’m sure you can
be watched to see if you are being tight… and if you are wealthy then
you will pretty much, most likely, be expected to make extra gifts to
leader… like I said they now have a new (central) office accountant
scheme.. run by church big wigs … business folk are being pushed to
start using it. Wow – that is control.

 WOFF- Don’t allow your toddlers to eat in the sanctuary.
  Don’t bring snacks of dark drinks or chocolate.
  Don’t chew gum in the sanctuary.

EB- Food isn’t really ever consumed at church anymore …except for
“breaking of bread” on Sunday morning which is held at 6am. (6AM!!!! That is starting the day early!)

WOFF- Don’t fall asleep during the services. If you get tired, take your
Bible and stand –up in the back of the sanctuary.
Don’t wear muddy shoes or boots into the sanctuary, leave them at the
door-outside.

EB- L.O.L ….yes, not a good look.

WOFF- Don’t leave your tissues after services. Place them in the trash.
Don’t leave coats, Bibles or personal belongings in the sanctuary. It
gets locked after each service.
Don’t touch the thermostats in the church unless you are approved.
Don’t wear jeans. (exception may be for construction work..maybe..)
Don’t wear shorts.
Don’t wear sleeveless dresses or tops.                                                                                                                            Don’t wear dresses above the knees.
Don’t wear a bathing suit without having it covered with long shorts
(below the knees) and a dark t-shirt.
Don’t wear cargo pants.

EB- Shorts are frowned upon. Same as dresses above the knees… I doubt
female would wear anything like a bikini….. As far as I know, some of
these rules are being relaxed a little lately due to not wanting to lose
the youth…. I heard beach going rules are being relaxed.. but, in
these situations it is suggested that EB members find a part of the
beach away from other non-EB folk…. I heard they may have even started
allowing members to have small swimming pools at home again. Wearing
jeans or cargo pants specially by adult is frowned upon.

WOFF- Don’t wear or own anything with Nike® on it. Nothing.
 Don’t wear black tennis shoes.
 Don’t wear high-cut, boot-like tennis shoes.
 Men: don’t wear solid white tennis shoes

EB- No such rules that I know of…

WOFF- Don’t wear a baseball cap sideways or backwards.
Don’t wear t-shirts with slogans or pictures.
Don’t wear “muscle t-shirts”.
Men: Don’t leave the house without a white t-shirt on under your top
shirt.
Don’t go swimming with boys and girls together.
Don’t leave the pool toys out when you are done using the pool.
Don’t go outside without sunscreen. (daily)

EB- No such rules that I’m aware of…

WOFF- Men: Don’t allow facial hair to grow. No beards, of any type. No
“pork chop” sideburns.
 Men: Don’t let your hair get long or unkempt

EB- Same.(see picture in link above to see EB male leaders.)

WOFF- Don’t interview for a job unless it is “under authority”.

EB- Not sure what happens here… Although nobody goes to university so
nobody ever becomes a Doctor or lawyer or Accountant, etc these days
…they all ceased going to university round about 1960? or 70? …EBs
mostly have their own business and employ all their own members also.

WOFF- Don’t accept a job unless you check it out with authority.
Don’t make plans for college unless you have Jane check it out.
Don’t sign-up for classes unless Jane Whaley or leadership checks out
your schedule.
Don’t buy a house unless Jane Whaley can check it out.
Don’t even make an offer on a house unless Jane can “checkout”
and “get a feel” for the neighborhood.

EB- There is no strict laws. But they often have their own schools, now... Leaders advice might be sort on certain matters. P.S …. John, from here on I will only discuss matters that the two cults have in common… So, any you notice I’ve left out… you can simply assume they don’t really apply… OK..

WOFF- Don’t buy insurance without checking with the approved church source
person for insurance.
Don’t plan a vacation or time away with your family unless you check-it out with Jane. 

Don’t assume you can go to the funeral or a wedding of a family
member without checking it out and/or someone from the church going with
you.
Don’t celebrate Christmas.
Don’t give gifts to others unless you are “under authority”.
Don’t celebrate Easter.
Don’t celebrate other holidays.
Don’t eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
Don’t celebrate your birthday or others in your family or group of
friends or co-workers.
Don’t celebrate wedding anniversaries.

EB- Not sure what the rules are about insurance at the moment. But it used to be totally outlawed… Maybe only life insurance is still outlawed….  not quite sure. Nobody ever really takes vacations as such …not planned ones anyway…you might stay a few days with family or children or friends.. but tourist activities ? .never ever.  Funerals – you might go to if they are your local EB.. Same with weddings, you do not make a big thing of weddings, even if its family. Neither birthdays ….Yes, pretty much everything else here you mention is exactly the same. Except maybe you can give some gifts. plus Don’t even ever keep thanksgiving ,,,, plus …They never ever go to a wedding of anyone not in their church …And don’t allowed to travel far for weddings even if close family.

WOFF- Don’t go hunting.
 Don’t go fishing. (well, unless it is on an approved “ministry” trip)
 Don’t hunt or fish just for sport.

EB- They have relaxed the rules with regard to hunting and fishing lately
….but, not for sport.

WOFF- Don’t have bumper stickers on your car. (Political season is an
exception.)

EB- Not really …but in elections lately they have become involved trying
to get people they want into power. Hey, in Rutherford County- they know about the political moves..

WOFF- Don’t play football.
 

EB- Never join any club for any sport …among EB is ok these days
……All clubs are a no-no.

WOFF- Don’t let WOFF children play with children outside of WOFF.

EB- Pretty much the same.

WOFF- Don’t let children have Bibles with stories and pictures of Jesus.
(maybe..)

EB- Same I think ….was when I was a kid anyway.

WOFF- Don’t go to tanning beds.
130. Don’t ride motorcycles

EB – Yes,  same …but, maybe bikes are ok for special work.

WOFF- Men: African American- Don’t shave your head bald.
133. Don’t start a relationship without checking it out with Jane
Whaley.
134. Don’t decide who you will marry without checking it out with
Jane.
135. Don’t talk to the other person who you are in relationship with
unless someone is

EB- I don’t thinking anyone shaves their head …..The rest is much the
same.     Did you notice that- same in the control over relationships!!!

WOFF- Don’t complain about the list of “don’ts”.
EB- Unless you are the youth.. who we have now become afraid might leave
if we are too tough. In my opinion, Jane’s grandson will have the same effect on the WOFF group.

WOFF- Don’t speak to those who have left unless you ask Jane.
140. Don’t ask anyone but Jane about those who have not been seen lately in services.

EB- Kind of yes….. Except maybe you might be ok to talk with the local
sub(group) leaders about such things.

WOFF- Don’t go in the sanctuary with “sin in your heart”, deal with it
before service.

EB- Yeah.. Tell a local leader.

WOFF- Don’t back-talk or give excuses for your sin.

EB- no. ( I believe he is agreeing on this one.)

WOFF- 144. Don’t attack those in authority.

EB- never ever …you will likely be excommunicated.

WOFF- 145. Don’t question Jane’s authority to run WOFF.

EB- No, never ever …You will be gone.

WOFF_ We hope you will be with us for many years to come. Don’t worry about
memorizing this list. When you violate a “don’t”, you will be told-“We don’t do that”.

EB- Ohhh, yeah that’s for sure! ….L.O.L….. you will be told alright
….unless you are youth…. we are afraid of losing the youth these
days.

    Thank you, Paul for taking time to submit this comparison. It gives some very astounding information about how much alike the groups are. Since WOFF is matriarchal, could we then say that they could called the “Exclusive Sistern”?  We see that public scrutiny and the caution EB has about losing their tax-free status and younger members – has brought some changes. Those ideas are worth considering for WOFF. When the money flow is in danger; changes WILL COME.

   Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog.  Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

    Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

       (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 239.