Dodgy church collecting in M&S

[FallingDownMoment]

Popped into M&S on Lordship Lane this evening and was pretty disgusted to find the UCKG allowed to collect money in there through bag packing and carol singing.

It's not obvious that they're an international church (their logo could be mistaken for the British Heart Foundation's at first glance) and when asked, they're very vague about what the collection funds.

It seems M&S head office weren't happy about them operating in Hampstead last year, so why they're allowed in ED I don't know. https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/marks-and-spencer-investigate-hampstead-fundraising-by-universal-church-of-the-kingdom-of-god-1-5845999

For those that aren't familiar with them, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God was founded in 1977 by Edir Macedo, a former lottery assistant, who propounded a doctrine of intense prayer, exorcisms and financial sacrifice.

The church has frequently been accused of cult-like illegal activities and corruption, including money laundering, charlatanism, and witchcraft, as well as homophobia and intolerance towards other religions.

UCKG leaders promote "prosperity theology" ? through which committed believers are told their faith and regular, generous donations can help them achieve material wealth. Members are expected to ?tithe? 10% of their gross income or benefits to the church. The UCKG has a turnover of over ?700 million, and their founder is now a billionaire.

Do you remember the tragic case of 8 year old Victoria Climbi?? Although they were cleared of involvement in her murder, a UCKG Pastor saw her and expressed the view that she was possessed by an evil spirit. The UCKG had been planning to hold a service to "cast out the devil" from her on the day she died.

Among other facts: in the past they've peddled miracle cures, and blamed headaches and depression on "demons". The church openly supports Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro. The church spent an estimated ?130m on a replica of Solomon's Temple in S?o Paulo.

Obviously people are entitled to their beliefs, and many religious groups do fantastic charitable work. However, at best UCKG are a proselytising religious group, at worst a dangerous, corrupt sect who prey on the desperate.

In addition to bucket shaking, they've come to my door twice this week seeking donations. Please don't give them your money, there are far more deserving recipients.

For more on UCKG:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Church_of_the_Kingdom_of_God

https://newrepublic.com/article/153083/demon-slaying-pentecostal-billionaire-ushering-post-catholic-brazil

https://www.forbes.com/profile/edir-macedo/#43dcca232fcf

https://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/13/brazil-evangelical-leader-charged-fraud

https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/5360/bringing-god-to-the-ballot-box

https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/eagerly-awaiting-release-of-brazilian-evangelicals-autobiography-in-soho/

[dbboy]

From last year see:

https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/search.php?5,search=UCKG,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=365,match_forum=ALL

[FallingDownMoment]

Oh dear, 2 years running? Thanks dbboy. Looks like head office officially frown upon them when contacted by the media, but it's actually left up to individual branch managers. I voted with my feet last night, but I'll contact the manager and head office today. Hope others will do the same.

[kford]

Share this on M&S?s Twitter feed

[seenbeen]

Oh dear- whatever is M and S thinking of

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/17/anti-gay-church-that-believes-headaches-are-caused-by-demons-approved-in-belfast/

[Paradise2]

They should not be allowed to collect money there.

[Seabag]

It never would have happened in Iceland

[first mate]

Is it possible someone in the local managment team is a member?

[JohnL]

They're opposite me and they still often invite me in and I still make an excuse. (I think I said the same last year)

[Ruskin]

They're currently doorstepping in the Ruskin Park area and after a youth rang the bell and invited himself into our closed porch, I told him to leave our property. Had he not been so young, I'd have challenged him more.

Had I not read the OP this morning, I wouldn't have known about them so thanks for the heads-up.

[atrain82]

Dreadful.

Jay Rayner wrote a piece about them a while back. I tweeted to him in an attempt to get him to pick it up. Feel free to retweet the below - maybe if there?s a bit of social media attention they might finally do something about it. I?ve complained to their complaints team the past three years and been fobbed off.

[edanna]

They were getting a lot of donations in M&S yesterday despite some pretty dire singing. One of the women was complaining her bucket was too heavy to hold. I didn't give them anything because I remembered last year's thread but most people won't stop to look at the details of the charity.

[monica]

Thank you for posting Dboy, I will avoid them and let the other shop keepers know about them.

[FatherJack]

I complained to M&S yesterday and tried unsuccessfully to get through to the store by phone however I have just spoken to the store manager who has promised that they will not operate from the store today or in future. It seems they just arrived, said ?they collected last year? and were allowed in, no questions asked???

They seem to target M&S...perhaps M&S need to ensure all their branches local to UCKG outlets know.

[binkylilyput]

I agree will all of the above.......but please remember that those people who are ?on the ground? doing the collections/ door knocking etc are not really the ones at fault. They have unfortunately been hooked into the organisation and are unaware of dodgy dealings and heavily under the influence of indoctrination.

Just saying......before they are tackled harshly.

It is M&S who should be challenged here

[dbboy]

Personally I'd just ignore them, if you don't engage with them their is nothing they can do.

[Cora]

I have memories of this being taken up with M@S head office last year..and it wasn't going to happen again...admin is there an old thread somewhere...

[intexasatthe moment]

One last year thread https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1992773

response from M&S was vague ,no promises , maybe there were other threads ?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Aren't these the people with the 'help centre' on Rye Lane?