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.
In early 2024, church growth guru and author Mike Breen resigned after an independent investigation confirmed he had engaged in “adult clergy sexual abuse” and patterns of “bullying and intimidation.” By the end of the year, he had quietly returned to the UK and launched a new ministry platform. Operating outside the formal oversight of the Church of England, Breen now presents a significant challenge to safeguarding. We launched this four-part investigation to analyse the system he created and the risk he continues to pose.
“Above all else, know that good leaders always define their own reality.”
— Mike Breen, Building a Discipling Culture
Our investigation demonstrates that Breen’s celebrated discipleship model is, in fact, an architecture for coercive control. We argue that Breenism, the collection of his interconnected teachings, is a system of psychological conditioning designed to create dependency and enforce compliance. We demonstrate how Breen’s response to his scandal follows the exact playbook of psychological manipulation he taught others, revealing a system in which genuine accountability is structurally impossible.
The investigation unfolds in four parts, with new articles published over the coming days.
Part 1: Mike Breen’s Restoration Letters: A Hero’s Journey to Reclaim the Narrative
Analyses how Breen applies his own “Hero’s Journey” teaching to his letters, reframing his misconduct as a redemptive story.
Part 2: Mike Breen: The Architect of Coercive Control
Deconstructs Breen’s signature methodology, arguing that its core techniques function as a form of psychological conditioning.
Part 3: The Architecture of Defence will examines how the voices of family, friends, and even God are deployed within the letters to create a protective shield against scrutiny.
Part 4: The Institutional Risk will assess the present-day safeguarding concerns that emerge from Breen operating outside of formal church oversight in the UK.
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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.
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An analysis of Breenism and how sophisticated communication techniques are used to frame abuse not only as a personal journey of repentance, but as justification for return to ministry
A response to the 'letters to the reader', as published by Mike Breen on disciplingculture.com.
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