Articles

Investigating systemic vulnerabilities in our institutions through rigorous journalism.

Oct 1, 2025 Featured

The Anatomy of Coercive Control

A Toolkit for Survivors to Understand High Control Breenism

This toolkit serves as a practical guide to the specific mechanisms used to construct and maintain high-control spiritual environments, particularly within the system of 'Breenism'. It systematically examines the tools that redirect a person's source of imitation from Christ to a human leader, creating dependency while maintaining an appearance of biblical faithfulness. The guide is structured into three operational phases—Recruitment & Filtering, Indoctrination & Control, and Defending the System—detailing specific techniques within each. The purpose is to provide analytical clarity, offering a framework and vocabulary to help individuals recognise, name, and respond to coercive dynamics, thereby distinguishing between genuine spiritual community and systems designed to consolidate power around a leader

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Oct 1, 2025

The Language of Breenism: A Critical Glossary of Core Tools

Understanding the tools of a High-Control System

This document serves as a critical glossary for terms used in the discipleship system known as Breenism. It is a companion piece to our primary investigation, 'Mike Breen: The Architect of Coercive Control', and our analysis of the system's mechanics, 'The Breenism Toolkit'. Each entry first presents the concept as described in Breen's own materials ('The System's Framing') and then provides a critical analysis of its function and associated safeguarding concerns. The purpose is to equip readers to understand the language of the system in order to recognise its risks.

Aug 31, 2025

Rooted in Strength: Reimagining the Graft in Church Planting

How a common church planting image reveals a deeper truth about spiritual safety and growth.

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.

Jul 1, 2025

Mike Breen: The Architect of Coercive Control

When Discipleship Becomes Coercion: A Deep-Dive into the Safeguarding Risks of Breenism.

An independent investigation reveals how the discipleship methods of Mike Breen, founder of 3DM, systematically employ psychological manipulation. By analysing his own teachings through the lens of clinical psychology and survivor testimony, this article deconstructs a system that transforms discipleship into an architecture of control.

Jun 17, 2025

Mike Breen's Restoration Letters: A Hero's Journey to Reclaim the Narrative

How Persuasive Frameworks Replace Accountability with Professional Grade Narrative Construction

This investigation examines how Mike Breen's public letters, issued after confirmed adult clergy sexual abuse, mirror the persuasive strategies detailed in his book, Speak Out. By analyzing structure, diction, and recurring messages, the article reveals how Breen crafts a redemptive narrative focused on healing, trauma, and restoration. These techniques spotlight the leader's emotional and spiritual recovery, while minimising the original safeguarding findings and neglecting the victim's experience. The outcome serves as a case study in narrative control among prominent church leaders.