Twelve Tribes Overview

Group Name: Twelve Tribes

Founder: Gene Spriggs (also known as Yoneq)

Current Leader: The Twelve Tribes operates under a collective leadership structure, with local communities led by elders, but the teachings of founder Gene Spriggs continue to hold significant influence.

Date Founded: 1972

Locations: The Twelve Tribes has communities in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and several European nations.

Characteristics:

• Group endorses non-orthodox theology: Yes, the Twelve Tribes espouses beliefs that diverge significantly from mainstream Christianity, including a unique interpretation of the Bible and communal living.

• The Leader is an infallible authority: Gene Spriggs, the founder, is regarded with high reverence, and his teachings are considered authoritative and binding for the members.

• Leadership seeks control over members’ activities, behaviors, and finances: Yes, the leadership exercises extensive control over members’ daily lives, including their activities, behaviors, and financial contributions, often requiring members to surrender personal assets to the community.

• Requires unquestioning faith and allegiance to the leader or group: Yes, members are expected to demonstrate unwavering faith and allegiance to the group’s leaders and doctrines.

• Suppression of Critical Thinking: Yes, questioning the group’s teachings or leadership is strongly discouraged, and critical thinking that challenges group norms is often suppressed.

• Intimidation, fear, and shame are used to control members: There are reports that the group uses intimidation, fear, and shame to maintain control and ensure compliance with its doctrines and practices.

• Isolates or shuns former members, leading to loss of family connections and support: Yes, former members often face shunning and isolation from current members, leading to loss of family connections and support networks.

• Allegations of financial abuse and lack of transparency: There have been allegations of financial exploitation, including the requirement for members to turn over personal assets and a lack of financial transparency within the group.

• Allegations of sexual misconduct: There have been various allegations of sexual misconduct within the Twelve Tribes, including accusations related to inappropriate behavior and abuse.

Narrative:

The Twelve Tribes is a religious group founded in 1972 by Gene Spriggs, also known as Yoneq, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The group promotes a distinct interpretation of Christianity, emphasizing communal living, strict adherence to Old Testament laws, and a unique set of beliefs and practices.

Members of the Twelve Tribes live in close-knit communities where personal assets are often surrendered to the group, and daily life is governed by a strict set of rules and communal norms. Gene Spriggs’ teachings are highly revered, and the group’s leadership exercises significant control over the activities, behaviors, and finances of its members.

Questioning the group’s doctrines or leadership is strongly discouraged, with suppression of critical thinking that challenges group norms. Reports indicate that the Twelve Tribes uses intimidation, fear, and shame to maintain control over its members.

Former members frequently face shunning and isolation, leading to the loss of family connections and support networks. There have been multiple allegations of financial abuse, including the requirement for members to turn over personal assets and a lack of financial transparency within the group. Additionally, there have been various allegations of sexual misconduct, contributing to the group’s controversial reputation.

Despite these issues, the Twelve Tribes continues to operate in several countries, maintaining a dedicated following and a network of communal living arrangements. The group’s practices and beliefs, however, have led to significant scrutiny and criticism from outside observers and former members.