Gloriavale resident calls allegations about the community ‘laughable’

Wednesday, 28 September 2022

Gloriavale community members arrive at the Employment Court in Christchurch during an earlier court hearing. (File photo)

A Gloriavale resident’s testimony about the “insane things the news media” publishes about the isolated Christian community drew a gleeful chuckle from her fellow community members in the back of the court.

Compassion Standtrue, 20, was called to read her evidence from the witness stand in the Employment Court on Wednesday.

Standtrue was called as a defence witness in the case centred on six women who are arguing they should have been recognised as employees, not volunteers for the domestic work they did for years at the religious sect.

Standtrue, who was born in Gloriavale, said allegations made by the plaintiffs about life in the remote West Coast community were untrue and in some cases “laughable”.

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“There are many exaggerations and distortions in the allegations against Gloriavale, and some are even laughable such as not getting enough time to drink water or go to the toilet, and not being able to have your own water bottle.”

Serenity Pilgrim had earlier told the court that she was accused of having “worldliness or pride” because she had a personalised water bottle.

“We have rubber mats in the kitchen and we have always had rubber mats as far as I can remember,” said Standtrue. “We are not on the concrete floor all day as [plaintiff] Pearl Valor says.”

She denied claims that women were shamed and forced to publicly apologise when they made mistakes such as not cooking a dish correctly. Allegations that women did not get time off when they were sick or were forced to return to work before they were fully recovered, were also false, she said.

Standtrue spoke about the duties single and married women in Gloriavale had and the amount of hours they were expected to work. She acknowledged women sometimes had to get up at 5.30am to get ironing done and breakfast prepared, but said there were also mornings when they were allowed to “sleep in” until breakfast time at 7.30am.

Gloriavale residents gather outside Christchurch's justice precinct during an earlier hearing in the Employment Court. (File photo)

She said evenings were “always free” and she usually spent it with her family reading the Bible, singing songs, or “having a lively discussion about the latest insane things the news media is putting out about Gloriavale”.

Gloriavale members seated in the public gallery looked at each other and audibly chuckled at her remarks.

During cross-examination it was put to Standtrue that according to Gloriavale beliefs, only men could occupy leadership positions in the community and therefore leadership was not an option for her.

“I wouldn’t want to be in a leadership role,” she responded.

Asked if she could choose to work on one of the community’s farms rather than in the kitchen or doing cleaning, Standtrue said she “probably” could, but she did not want to.

Standtrue said the perception that women in Gloriavale were ignorant was not correct and that she had as much contact with the outside world as she chose to have. She said she had access to the internet and could use it whenever she wanted to.

“I can talk to any visitor who comes onto the property if I choose. I have been on trips outside of Gloriavale and think I know enough about the outside world to make my own decisions.”

She said speaking to people who left Gloriavale and later returned just confirmed her belief that Gloriavale was “the best and safest place” to be.

“I believe this is where God put me and this is where he wants me to live. However, if I ever wanted to leave, no-one would stop me and I know I would be provided with enough money and help to make my life out there.”

Standtrue was asked during cross-examination what were the influences of the world that she thought it was best to stay separate from. She responded to dress modestly and not in a way “that could cause a problem for someone else”.

Asked what she meant by that, she said the way you dress could sometimes cause offense to others.

“The Bible says about being modest and having downcast eyes and not trying to draw attention, so yeah, that’s what I believe.”

The hearing will continue on Thursday.