Churches must equip young people against cults: Expert

Young Christians are being left vulnerable to deceptive cult recruiting across Melbourne, an expert warns.

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry is examining whether coercive control tactics used by cults and fringe groups should face criminal sanctions.

The inquiry comes as groups such as Shincheonji Church of Jesus are actively targeting Christians across university campuses and online.

Cult Information and Family Support Australia president Tore Klevjer said churches left young people vulnerable to false teaching by not teaching them reasons for their faith.

He said ministers tended to preach through the Bible week by week, which was fine, but there needed to be a place for real answers to complex questions.

“Church isn’t filling this need otherwise they wouldn’t be joining these groups,” Mr Klevjer said.

“No one joins a cult; they join a friendly group. They want to learn, they’re hungry for the truth.”

Read more: Melbourne leaders warn cult targeting young adults

St Jude’s Carlton UniChurch assistant minister Sam Oldland said churches had a pastoral responsibility to strengthen Christians with the truth of the gospel.

Mr Oldland said his church had shifted from a quiet, individual pastoral response to a proactive public education approach about Shincheonji.

They now spoke about the group in Sunday services twice a year and tried to teach sound doctrine around topics commonly exploited by the cult.

“We don’t want to be alarming people or creating anxiety or panic about the presence of Shincheonji, but we do want people to have enough awareness to be able to see and identify their activity,” Mr Oldland said.

Read more: University students report approaches from cult group: Campus workers

Allegations of coercive control at organisations including Geelong Revival Centre prompted the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee to launch an inquiry.

The Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups aims to examine whether coercive control tactics should face criminal sanctions.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens advocated for the inquiry after meeting with former GRC members.

She said the investigation was not about judging religious beliefs but protecting people from coercive control.

Ms Couzens said she met with a father who had not seen his daughters for six years after leaving GRC while his wife and children remained.

She said the man’s experience was traumatic and many others had shared similar stories of family separation and impacts on their mental health.

“This has got nothing to do with religion or religious freedoms,” Ms Couzens said.

“This is about protecting people from something that’s very wrong.”

The Committee is accepting input from the community through submissions responding to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference.

They are also inviting people to share their experiences with cults or fringe groups through an anonymous questionnaire.

Read more: Twelve hours of Bible study a week, no questions: Melbourne cult encounters

Cult Consulting Australia director Raphael Aron said he supported the inquiry’s aims but was concerned about its implementation and timing.

Mr Aron said the July 31 deadline for submissions was too early and would prevent many cult survivors from preparing proper submissions.

He said people who had been through cults were often paranoid and fearful, and needed months to prepare for such testimony.

Mr Aron said he was concerned the inquiry had not explained how coercive control laws would work in practice against large organisations, where it may be unclear who was responsible.

Submissions can be made online until July 31, 2025. The questionnaire is also open until then. Public hearings will follow the submission period.

A final report on the Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups is due by September 2026.

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