1News – Gloriavale residents told ‘they owe their life’ to commune

By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 05/09/2022

Gloriavale members grow up being told they owe their life to the West Coast commune, the Employment Court has been told.

Virginia Courage is one of six former female members arguing that they should’ve been treated as employees, rather than volunteers at Gloriavale.

She started giving evidence last week and is continuing on Monday.

Courage said children grow up with a real sense of obligation, and are told the late founding leader Hopeful Christian had given them life.

“You’re told from real little that if Hopeful hadn’t set up the community … then you wouldn’t have been born.

“You get told that sacrificing yourself, working hard, putting down your flesh is what you have to do,” said Courage.

Read more / watch video here: https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/05/gloriavale-residents-told-they-owe-their-life-to-commune/