SNU DODGY DOCTRINE-WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

This is an article by Lyn Guest de Swarte who was the editor of the Psychic News for about 7 years.  The PN was allowed to fold by the SNU, it said it had to stop putting money into it and it is now owned by the JV Trust. I have included the article without amendment and the original can be seen here at http://www.lynguestdeswarte.com/page13.htm

SNU DODGY DOCTRINE-WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The Spiritualists’ National Union aka SNU sounds like a grand and authorative body of organised Spiritualism – especially if you read or hear what those at the head of this old organisation choose to air in public…This includes stating they have no dogma or doctrine…I believe it is now time to take the lid off at least some of their machinations that do no justice to either themselves as a body or to others who are already Spiritualists or who might be likely to swell our numbers in the future.Take the church I founded in 1998 in Littleport near Ely in Cambridgeshire…

The SNU of much murmering and increasing irritation to thousands of otherwise calm and centred Spiritualist folk, is ‘caretaking’ aka ‘supervising’ to use both their words for what some might consider, ‘ruining’, the once lively friendly and thriving Spiritualist group called Littleport, Ely And District Spiritualists – LEADS for short – who meet at the Village Hall every Thursday since inception in 1998.
This meeting was set up by myself and my then Home Circle members – developing mediums and healers – who felt the need for a local church.
When I left the village in 2003 the regular meetings and circles were very popular. Run by the old circle members, now the committee, about 40 to 60 people would attend every week. Sometimes a few less depending on circumstances of course.The committee were united and dedicated local people.We even had a stall at the famous annual Littleport Show and were respected members of the community.
I spoke to them about affiliating to the SNU because like many others I believed their publicity and public benevolent persona…All I can say now after visiting LEADS at the service last night, the booking for which had been made with me last year, is that I am really sorry.
I did attend a committee meeting/AGM a few years ago when I realised that the SNU in one of their clever moves was about to take over our finances – funds of more than £4,000 raised over the years, and the other ephemera, cloths and crocks etc., we’d all donated.
Some new people had joined and were undergoing healer training with the SNU and did not want to cease.
I explained they could continue with other Spiritualist organisations but they were loathe.
The vote went against and soon after, the money was transferred.
The Minister who conducted the affiliation ceremony who was SNU President Duncan Gascoyne has in this last year resigned from the Union and his post as Chairman of the SNU owned Arthur Findlay College – another hotbed of dissent and resignations recently.
Speaking of Ministers, the SNU only recognises its own appointed ministers and refuses to allow ordained Spiritualist ministers to wear their customary garments when serving their affiliated ‘churches’ – like the one held in the local Village Hall in Littleport…
Should the Archbishop of Canterbury – or indeed the Dean of the local Ely Cathedral – wish to address the congregation – would they demand of them to divest themselves of their customary apparel? I think not.
One of the ‘caretakers’ said they welcome all religions to their meeting including Christians and Moslems, Jews weren’t mentioned, in a little speech at the close of the service. I asked afterwards whether a Moslem woman Spiritualist would be asked to take off her headscarf if serving the congregation. Well it’s their religious requirement I was told. No more than my collar I said.
There are points of agreement between the old LEADS and the SNU – the Seven Principles – upheld by most Spiritualists as appropriate, and not expounding theories from the Spiritualist platform, such as reincarnation. So – on Thursday June 7th 2012 we had a request by the ‘caretaker’ chair for the night of the serving medium, to take off her clerical collar – to which under protest but for the sake of the assembled attendees she complied – but then the reading, by another ‘caretaker’ expounded reincarnation – and even living again in another body on a different planet.
The founder/mother of British Spiritualism that she brought back here from America after the Civil War,Emma Hardinge Britten, must have been jumping up and down, not to mention Spiritualist scholar Arthur Findlay himself!
However, nil desperandum, don’t despair, help for the beleaguered Spiritualist citizens of Littleport and District is close at hand, under the auspices of the New Spiritualists’ Society.

And now, only a few months later, that SNU supervised group has left Littleport, changed its name, and moved to Ely.
The Greater Littleport And District New Spiritualists’ Society that is called GLADNeSS for short is now very much up and running on every Thursday evening and one Sunday a month.The Senior Minister is Reverend Nick Brown assisted by a loyal and dedicated crew of Spiritualists including Ms Jacqui Burford, Mr Mike Goodall from the original LEADS formation and Ms Wendie Perry.
The very first meeting of GLADNeSS was marked by the inclusion of the Ordination Service for Rev Nick Brown!
For more information please see the website www.NewSpiritualistsSociety.com