Fractured Families gives an assessment of a group called "the Fellowship' which is mainly based in Melbourne. It had its origins in an intense spiritual movement in the Sydney University Evangelical Union in the 1930s and 40s. It was perfectionist and subjectivist in spirit, holding out the hope of unrealistic spiritual attainments. Wise leadership in the Evangelical Union (men like Dr Paul White and Marcus Loane) prevailed in that context, and the Evangelical Union kept its mainstream Reformed character.

Members of the movement went in two directions. The path of one section has been traced by David Millikan in his book Imperfect Company. The other section moved to Melbourne, and it is this story which Morag Zwartz endeavours to reveal.

It is not an easy project. The crucial element of Zwartz's story is that the Fellowship has not set itself up as a separate church or cult. It has remained embedded within churches of mainline denominations. Members of the group have often become leading members of a church, sometimes ministers or enthusiastic workers, supporting the church in giving and in effort, but having a prior private allegiance to the Fellowship. The result has been highly divisive and damaging.  To this day, opinions differ as to the significance of what has happened even amongst leaders of the denominations.

Morag Zwartz's book does not claim to be an exhaustive account. It is difficult to obtain a clear statement of Fellowship teaching. To get some idea of this she has listened to tapes and read sermon notes and Bible study material. She has had to rely chiefly on the memories and experiences of critics and those who have been hurt by the Fellowship. Her book contains an outline of the history involved and an assessment of the teaching of the group. She is able to show the distinction between this teaching and reformed evangelical convictions. Mainly there are the moving testimonies of those who have had first-hand experience of the phenomenon.

This has been a very awkward and painful book for Morag Zwartz to write. She has shown great courage in publishing it. It has been difficult for her to get to the facts and difficult for the people who have spoken to her out of their great sadness. She writes with passionate personal concern. But it is an important story, and I am glad that she has told it. There are lessons in this for us all.

Fractured Families is available at Moore Books and Koorong.

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