NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
New Religious Movement (NRM) is the name used for groups,
movements or gatherings which claim to have, or appear to have, a
religious character, and which fall outside the major historic
world religions. Some of these groups are sometimes called 'cults'
or 'sects'.
The Church of England has a policy on relations with New
Religious Movements
The point of contact for enquiries about New Religious
Movements is:
Dr Anne Richards
National Adviser: mission theology, alternative spiritualities and
new religious movements
Mission and Public Affairs Division
Archbishops' Council of the Church of England
Church House
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3AZ
anne.richards@churchofengland.org
Resources available on the right-hand side
include:
- Basic information about NRMs and about particular groups,
including other cult-watching groups
- Suggestions on what to do if a friend or family member
joins an NRM
- Guidance on lending or hiring a church or church hall to
an unknown group
- The Church of England's policy on NRMs
Information is also available on New Age, health and
healing issues in relation to NRMs, practices and therapies and
alternative spiritualities.
Other places to go for help:
To get information
The Church of England has a partnership with INFORM at the
London School of Economics. INFORM staff can give information on a
wide variety of groups and movements and can put enquirers in
contact with parents' networks, counsellors or other sources of
specialist advice.
Contact:
INFORM
London School of Economics
Houghton Street
London
WC2A 2AE
Tel: 0207 955 7654
Email: inform@lse.ac.uk
Web: www.inform.ac
Another useful website for information is the Centre for
the Study of New Religions at www.cesnur.org
To get local pastoral care and
advice
Each Church of England diocese should have an appointed
adviser on New Religious Movements. Send an email to anne.richards@churchofengland.org if you want
to get in touch with your local adviser
Relationships with other Christians
The Council for Christian Unity on this website has a number of
resources on the Church of England's relationships with other
churches, including: