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Hillsong’s Connection with Gloria Jeans

Blogonaut — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:13:55 +0000

Hillsong issued this statement, presumably in response to rumours surrounding the legal battle being fought by Gloria Jeans:

19 April 2010

Hillsong Church does not own or operate Gloria Jeans and has no legal or financial ties to the company.

Gloria Jeans is a privately owned business.

The owners of Gloria Jeans have publically acknowledged that they attend Hillsong Church.

Hillsong Church is not associated or implicated with any pending legal proceedings before the NSW Supreme Court. Any suggestion otherwise would be highly defamatory.

As far as I can determine they are right, though I do find the wording in sentence three a little curious. This distancing themselves from Gloria Jeans is really par for the course with Hillsong. They are only to happy to be in the picture even if its by a loose association, when the going is good, but when the shit hits the fan it’s “we have no legal or financial ties”.

We are talking on an entity the has grown and I suspect continues to work on the bonds of strong christian fellowship(not legal or financial just to be clear), friendship or connection.

So let’s explore that connection.

Lets look at this sentence:

The owners of Gloria Jeans have publically acknowledged that they attend Hillsong Church.

True, Peter Irvine has I think only ever been identified as a Hillsong attendee, perhaps a high profile one owing to his membership on the boards of Gloria Jeans and Mercy Minitries. Both I might add who have at least had strong working relationships( by which I mean catering in the case of Gloria Jeans and donation to and promotion of the Mercy Program) with Hillsong.

With Mr Saleh though, I think the sentence above might be stretching the definition of attendee. Nabi Saleh is an Elder in the church. Not just an older and respected churchgoer but a member of an advisory council of sorts. On Hillsong’s SENIOR PASTORS & ELDERSHIP page we have the following listing

The Hillsong Eldership

Brian Houston is Founder and Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church.

George Aghajanian is the General Manager of Hillsong Church. He possesses a wealth of senior management experience in both Australian and international organisations, and brings a strong balance of faith and practical business application to his role.

Nabi Saleh is the Chairman of Gloria Jean’s Coffees Australia and New Zealand. His strong business acumen and Godly wisdom have also enabled him to sit on several boards of directors for many large, non-profit organisations.

Robert Fergusson is a Senior Associate Pastor at Hillsong Church. He is passionate about imparting practical life principles from the Bible, and his primary gifting and function within the church is that of preaching and teaching.

Dr. Gordon Lee is a highly respected General Practitioner, and operates successful medical practices in Sydney. He also pastors the Hillsong Chinese Extension Services.

Leigh Howard-Smith is the Managing Director of several companies in the logistics/transport and plastic manufacturing industries.

Don Cooper-Williams is a Senior Marketing Executive within the IT Industry. With both Godly wisdom and management skills, he is a gifted communicator within the church and the corporate community.

Joel A’Bell, with his wife Julia, have been on staff at Hillsong Church for over 10 years. Recently, he has come alongside Brian & Bobbie to outwork the Hillsong vision across the Hills, City, South West & Brisbane campuses. Joel is a devoted husband, and father to Harmony and Eli.

So to say that Mr Saleh attends Hillsong is a gross understatement don’t you think? But this Eldership is kind of nebulous is it not. I mean it doesn’t say that Mr Saleh fulfils any role really.

Until of course you look on the corporate governance page where Mr Saleh is listed as a member of both the Audit and Remuneration Committees.

What does it all mean?

There is no financial or legal connection between Hillsong and Gloria Jeans. The Chairperson of company that hasn’t paid its debts just happens to be on the Hillsong Elders council and is a member of two committees involving finance. Ultimately it’s Hillsong’s concern – I think it may speak to Mr Saleh’s business acumen and character but I am sure that that could be forgiven/forgotten considering how easily sexual misconduct can be plastered over( referring here to Frank Huston).

Gloria Jeans parent company insolvent?

Blogonaut — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:03:06 +0000

In April I commented on the interesting news that Jireh, parent company of Gloria Jeans Coffee had landed itself in court over unpaid commissions to another company. Well to give you an update I’ll hand you over to Ruth Pollard of the Sydney Morning Herald:

THE parent company of Gloria Jeans Coffee, co-owned by the Hillsong Church elder Nabi Saleh, is in ”financial dire straits” and should be put into liquidation and an investigation held into its affairs, the NSW Supreme Court has been told.

It is the latest shot fired in the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the coffee giant’s parent company, Jireh International, by a small US-based coffee supplier, Western Export Services.

On June 11, the court ruled that Jireh must pay the export company millions in commissions and interest after it found Jireh had breached a joint venture agreement. Yesterday the parties were back in court, fighting over the formula used to calculate the total owed to Western Export Services.

Both parties were required to submit evidence to the court on their financial circumstances. ”The defendant is hopelessly insolvent,” said Jim Johnson, counsel for Western Export Services. ”There are public policy issues as to whether this company should be allowed to keep trading.”

[Read More]

What’s this got to do with Atheism or Reason?

Nothing – new readers may not be aware of the 18 months I spent in helping out the victims of the evangelical mental health facility Mercy Ministries. To catch yourselves up on that story start here. One of the directors mentioned in the article above Peter Irvine, was also a director of Mercy Ministries and in addition to being forced to pay damages to victims after a ruling by the ACCC it appears that his business activities are about as shady as his so called charitable ones.

So this post is some continued Schadenfreude on my behalf, frankly these bastards look like they are getting what was coming to them.

We only like you because you’re good in blog – The everyman skeptic

Blogonaut — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:18:38 +0000

This post is part of a joint initiative by skeptical bloggers to share experience and insights on the blogging format.

Are you good in blog? Want to brag about it?

On April 22, skeptic, critical thinking and rational bloggers from all over the world are invited to blog about blogging!!!

How do you start a blog, pick a name, get and keep readers, and deal with trolls, cliques, and flame wars? How has the recent UK libel case vs Simon Singh changed blogging? Why blog at all? How is blogging different from journalism?

Share your secrets and tips, and learn from your peers! Because after all, what fun is it to be good in blog alone?

Links to all posts will be available on SheThought .com

So what wisdom, dear readers and skeptical compadres, can I impart to you?

First, I am not sure that there is any right way to do this blogging thing. Sure, I think there are more effective ways of blogging depending on your goals, skills , education and talent but it’s also a form of self expression and an interactive medium – a conversation.

So my advice is directed more to the self oriented blogger or potential blogger, more so than the skeptic with a direct measurable goal or outcome in mind.

Sean the Blogonaut is about me

I assure you I named this blog out of a lack of imagination, and eagerness to express myself more so than a need to bring attention to myself (self centred prick eve names the blog after himself).

In the first real statement of intent for the blog I wrote( cringe!) this:

Couldn’t really think of a name for my general blog.

This is my general blog. I will pass up the dream of becoming one of the blogging elite(that rare breed that get paid for it), chiefly because I get paid well enough now to do non blogging work and I doubt I could write anything of sufficient interest to generate a cadre of worshipping fans

So why blog?

Why not.

To exercise my demons or imps maybe, demons sounds a bit dramatic.

To find and communicate with like minded souls

We’ll see how long it lasts anyway.

That was December 2006. As you can see this blog was more about expressing myself, I wasn’t sure whether it would last, I didn’t think I would get paid(still don’t, in fact this blog runs at a loss), and I didn’t think I would generate interest.

If I could go back now and slap myself I would, for being so passive …but that’s the benefit of growth and self understanding that 4 years has brought me.

So this blog was and still is about me, about the skeptical, atheist activist me.

How does a self oriented blog help skepticism?

First it helps me, as a skeptic,

to hold a place in discussion,
to train and educate myself as a skeptic
to trade ideas in the market place
to help educate and support others

I also hope that it might serve as an example that we don’t need to be experts in a field to be a skeptic or to participate in a moment, or even to be prominent in that movement(not saying I am prominent). I don’t think it does us any good to push skepticism to people if there aren’t everyman(or woman – thanks Loretta) skeptics on display. Indeed I think it’s vital if we want to encourage skeptical thinking and that people can take on the mantel of being a skeptic.

Self oriented blogs can make a difference

I blogged about Mercy Ministries and applied critical thinking to their claims. I did this significantly for 18 months. By holding a place in the discussion, by supporting and educating others I contributed to the demise of an abusive and deceptive treatment program in my country. If I do nothing else with this blog I think I will die happy.

My advice?

Blog, get involved in the discussion, participate as a skeptical citizen. Be open to being educated, learn from you peers and be

…an everyman(or woman) skeptic.

Gloria Jeans in hot water

Blogonaut — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:39:02 +0000

Ruth Pollard reports in the SMH:

THE coffee giant Gloria Jean’s is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit that threatens to lift the lid on one of the most secretive companies in Australia.

Owned and run by the Hillsong Church elder Nabi Saleh and the high-profile church member Peter Irvine, Gloria Jean’s parent company, Jireh International, is accused of breaking a joint venture agreement with a small US-based coffee supplier, Western Export Services.

Western is suing Jireh for $56 million in unpaid commissions and damages. Jireh has launched a cross-claim, saying the 1996 agreement was invalid.

[Read More]

I find it odd that Peter Irvine isn’t out doing the rounds in various newspapers, telling everyone what a fine company Gloria jeans is and how Ross Koffel is someone with psychiatric problems – I mean that’s they way he generally deals with complaints from defenceless women.

Or is that only reserved for people who can’t afford to lawyer up.

The case begins in the NSW Supreme Court today and Gloria Jeans (or Jireh the parent company) intends to vigorously defend itself.

I am jumping the gun here a little but I would put it to Jireh that – you reap what you sow. The case will hopefully shine a light on their peculiar brand of business operations.

Like blood from a stone – Mercy Ministries to hand over records

Blogonaut — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:11:29 +0000

For new readers you can follow the start of the latest Mercy Ministries debacle in my posts here, here and here. For those with a bit of time on your hands click the link at the bottom of this post to read about the 2 year long struggle against this rather dubious biblical ministry.

The News

I have been contacted by one of the women involved in trying to gain access to their files, who herself has been in contact with the privacy commissioner. She reports that:

Mercy appears to have a new legal firm, one that is more cooperative and understands the privacy act
That Mercy will be willing to forward complete files to qualified psychologists/psychiatrists
That no other files will be destroyed but rather archived in accordance with the law

What a sad fact that a group that purported to act in the best interests of their clients has to be hauled kicking and screaming to do that, which on the face of it, seems the obvious ethical and moral direction to take.

What is this Mercy Ministries all about Click here to view more details?

Mercy Ministries and Privacy Commissioner Investigations Update

Blogonaut — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:19:46 +0000

In the post we learnt that the Privacy Commissioner had decided to carry out a preliminary investigation of the situation surrounding the refusal of Mercy Ministries Australia to hand over client files to past clients.

In a letter received by one of the complainants, a few days ago, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner has advised:

So Mercy Ministries Australia is undergoing investigation by the Privacy commissioner and has until March 23rd to answer claims made by the complainants. Three weeks for Mercy to cobble together a cogent argument as to why they shouldn’t hand back files containing personal information.

Did Mercy have a privacy policy?

Or does that not come under biblically based management practices?

Mercy Ministries to target victims of Sex Trafficking

Blogonaut — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:08:59 +0000

Kudos to John Weaver at Against Biblical Counselling for Alerting me to this:

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb 23, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —- Mercy Ministries, a non-profit Christian residential program serving young women between the ages of 13 – 28 who face life-controlling issues, has joined efforts with Natalie Grant’s Home Foundation, a leading mission with both global and domestic connections to make a difference in the lives of sex trafficked victims. By joining forces, the two organizations will share information and resources to raise awareness about domestic sex trafficking with the goal to develop residential shelters with counselling programs for female victims using the Mercy Ministries’ counselling model.

[more]

That last line sent a shiver down my spine.

The counselling model used until the scandal in 2008 was Restoring the Foundations (though I have no indication how long it was used previously), a bigger tome of misogynistic horseshit I have never come across. Reading it makes my physically ill. John weaver did an in depth reading himself and shared his findings with his readers. The link to his posts is here. Sufficed to say I would love to know what the new program entails and I question how much thought Home Foundation have put into this partnership.

That Mercy abandoned a program at the first hint of scandal, despite it being a claimed success for thousands of women( thousands sounds so much better than a specific number – could be anywhere from 1000 to 99000) is telling.

What we have is an organisation that is making up Christian counselling on the fly, selling it as a huge success and potentially abusing victims all over again.

What is this Mercy Ministries? Click here to view more details

Apparently I’m a front for a Pharmaceutical company and a woman

Blogonaut — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:44:29 +0000

Sometimes I do wonder if I have made an impact, if I have got people thinking with what I have written. So it’s good to get recognition for the work I have done it’s nice getting the Monty Miller award. It’s truly heartening to receive emails of thanks for those who participated in the exposure of Mercy Ministries.

Most recently though it appears that the Anti-vaxers have deduced through their wonderful powers of research (comparable no doubt with their powers of comprehension) that I am not who I say I am, that I am a front woman for a drug company that runs a number of bullying blogs attacking anybody who wants honest information on Vaccination.

Certain blog visitors who have actually met me in person might be shocked to find out that my six foot, hairy chested, shaven headed frame is actually a cunning disguise.

I really look like Megan fox

…

Yes there are people with half a brain out there who have the time, to construct an elaborate fantasy about me(actually it’s an elaborate fantasy about another person who I am but an alternate persona of).

This really does come as a shock to me, as I think there are other more prominent and active skeptics who deserve to be called shills for big Pharma.

Does this mean I have hit the big time or should I start sleeping with one eye open?

Privacy Commissioner to make inquiries into Mercy Ministries refusal

Blogonaut — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:49:37 +0000

This email was forwarded to me, by an ex-mercy member who has lodged a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner. This followers from the refusal by Mercy to release client information on request to previous residents. It is reproduced with permission and names and contact details removed.

Dear

PRIVACY COMPLAINT AGAINST MERCY MINISTRIES

Thank you for your email received on 12 February 2010. We have treated it as a complaint under section 36 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

We have decided to make immediate preliminary inquiries into your allegations. For information about our complaints handling process, please visit our website atwww.privacy.gov.au/complaints

I note from your email that you have requested, and been refused access to, your files under Freedom of Information. While the Freedom of Information Acts do not apply to Mercy Ministries, the Privacy Act 1988 (the Act) does.

The National Privacy Principles (NPPs) in the Act regulate the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information, give individuals a right to know what information an organisation holds about them, and the right to have that information corrected if it is wrong.

Under NPP 6, unless an exception applies, if an organisation holds personal information about an individual, it must provide the individual with access to the information. If an organisation denies an individual access to their personal information, the organisation must provide a reason that is consistent with one of the exceptions under NPP 6.

I will be making inquiries of Mercy Ministries about this matter. If you would like to discuss the matter with me at any time, please contact me on ————— or (————– during business hours, by fax on ——————— or e‑mail —————–

Yours sincerely

Assistant Compliance Officer

What is this Mercy Ministries Click here to view more details

Mercy Ministries Australia to destroy client files

Blogonaut — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:36:34 +0000

I received this letter from a ex-Mercy client yesterday. It was sent out to all clients that had requested that their personal files be released to them:

Now as they have been advised they are operating within the law and they will be destroying the requested documents. To break the letter down

We have received you request to have your file
We understand you want to get your hands on what we have written about you
Our lawyers have informed us that you can’t file an FOI request to get said files
Our lawyers have said that we can dispose of it as per our licensing and or rules under which Mercy was set up
So we are destroying them.

So my questions are what rules/licensing were Mercy ministries operating under? Did they have a records management, or client information policy?

What is this Mercy Ministries Click here to view more details