Gloriavale shepherds use food ‘as a weapon’ and believe they are ‘above the law’, leaver says

Warning: This story discusses details of suicide and sexual abuse.

A Gloriavale leaver born into the Christian community says she decided to leave when the community kept changing its values and beliefs to “cover their tracks”.

Pearl Valor continued giving evidence on day four of the Christchurch Employment Court hearing on Thursday, where it is alleged women were subject to sexual abuse as well as “slave-like” conditions from as young as 6 or 7.

Valor told the court “higher class” members (relatives of leaders) were given access to special foods and dental care, while others were left with staple food items or, some days, no food at all.

Leaders would control members’ members by using food “as a weapon” – taking food away from those who did not follow the rules, and giving it those who conformed, she said.

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Valor said she spent months contemplating leaving Gloriavale to give her daughter a better life. She took action in May 2021 when the community attempted to realign its commitment statement to protect itself from the law.

“I couldn’t understand how God could just keep changing his mind when the shepherds decided.

“I wanted my daughter to have the choice in her life to go to university and to have an education I did not have.”

Valor began working at the instruction of shepherds when she was primary school-aged, and left high school at 15 to begin working full-time for the community, the court heard.

She is one of six women arguing they should have been recognised as employees, not volunteers for the domestic work they did for years at Gloriavale.

They are Virginia Courage, Pearl Valor, Serenity Pilgrim, Rose Standtrue, Anna Courage and Crystal Loyal.

Gloriavale leaders deny any claims the women were employees.

Valor understood all the work she did was for the benefit of Gloriavale, and in return she was fed.

On more than one occasion, between three and five people were tasked with cooking for the full community of 600.

“In my experience in Gloriavale, they are above the law. Under authority to a higher figure, answering to someone who has taken the place of God.”

When asked if she was able to leave the community of her own volition, Valor accepted this, but said it was “under dire circumstances”.

“It’s a much bigger story than me disagreeing with the community and leaving.”

Gloriavale’s lawyer, Phillip Skelton QC, suggested the community’s commitment made it clear members could be individuals with control over their own life.

Valor said the Gloriavale commitment – a contract members must sign – kept changing due to former members coming out and making accusations.

“They wanted to cover their tracks.”

Skelton suggested Valor was misconstruing information and “portraying things in a bad light” to frame the community negatively.

“I’m not portraying anything,” she said. “The truth speaks for itself.”

In her earlier evidence on Tuesday, Valor said a former leader used to coerce members to fast as a means to cut costs.

“The first thing to go when they’re trying to save money is the food,” she said. “It’s used like a weapon.”

Valor told the court earlier this week that as a young child she would get so hungry that she would eat leftover curd cheese, which made her sick.

On Wednesday, former Gloriavale member Rose Standtrue told the court she, like many other girls, was groped and touched inappropriately.

Standtrue, appearing by video link, sobbed when she admitted the abuse led her to contemplate ending her life.

“I just wanted my life to be over because I was miserable,” she said.

“And I felt that was the only way out of Gloriavale because I wasn’t allowed to leave.”

Where to get help:

• 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.

• Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

• Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202

• Lifeline 0800 543 354

• Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812, click here to access its free resource and information service.

• Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254

• Samaritans 0800 726 666

• Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

• Yellow Brick Road 0800 732 825

• thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626

• What’s Up 0800 942 8787 (for 5 to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon-11pm and weekends, 3pm-11pm. Online chat is available 3pm-10pm daily.

• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat and other support options here.

• If it is an emergency, click here to find the number for your local crisis assessment team.

• In a life-threatening situation, call 111.