Awkward Saints
Exploring the boundary between healthy discipleship and unhealthy control.
A Church Safety-net
A peer support toolkit to ensure no one slips away unheard.
Leadership transitions can leave faithful congregants feeling isolated and confused. This resource equips longstanding members to counter the disconnection.
25 February 2026
About the Project
Awkward Saints investigates the hidden social mechanics and authority structures that drive spiritual abuse within the Church. We believe that genuine discipleship is a beautiful, life-giving pursuit; however, the boundaries between healthy spiritual formation and unhealthy control are rarely communicated with clarity. To address this, we deconstruct how discipleship frameworks are frequently co-opted to consolidate power, creating environments where usefulness is rewarded and personal boundaries are dismantled.
Exposing this architecture of coercive control is a vital starting point. Alongside this investigation, the project champions the quiet, restorative power of ordinary church members and established congregations who provide a safe harbour for the spiritually exhausted. This work serves to dismantle a discipleship of shortcuts while fiercely advocating for the patient, loving communities that refuse to leave anyone behind.
Where to Start?
Most visitors arrive to explore the Mike Breen Investigation.
Mike Breen Investigation
A comprehensive investigation into Breenism—a discipleship system that has influenced thousands of churches worldwide. This investigation examines how its frameworks and language can function as mechanisms of coercive control, analyzes Mike Breen's own restoration process, and provides practical tools for survivors and communities affected by high-control discipleship.
The Architecture of Coercive Control
An independent investigation reveals how the discipleship methods of Mike Breen systematically employ psychological manipulation, transforming discipleship into an architecture of control.
Read the investigation →Toolkit for Responding to Breenism
A practical guide to the specific mechanisms used to construct and maintain high-control spiritual environments, with frameworks to recognise and respond to coercive dynamics.
Access the toolkit →Investigation Overview
Beyond Breenism
Additional essays and analysis exploring broader patterns in church leadership, authority structures, spiritual safety, and the mechanisms that allow harm to persist in religious communities.
A Church Safety-net
A peer support toolkit to ensure no one slips away unheard.
Leadership transitions can leave faithful congregants feeling isolated and confused. This resource equips longstanding members to counter the disconnection.
25 February 2026
Awkward Saints YouTube Channel
Visualising the Invisible: Why Awkward Saints is Moving to Video
A post explaining why Awkward Saints is expanding into video and introducing the first video: The Disconnection Machine.
26 January 2026
Rooted in Strength
Reimagining the Graft in Church Planting
The 'graft' has become a popular metaphor for church planting, but it's often misunderstood as a new plant revitalizing a tired one. This article explores a truer, horticultural understanding where the new 'scion' depends on the strength and stability of the established 'rootstock'. Through a compelling case study, it reveals a bidirectional flow of life, affirming the deep, unseen gifts of faithful congregations and offering a healthier model for church renewal.
31 August 2025
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