With the establishment of Stichting De Deur Uit (The Door Out Foundation), there is, for the first time, a central safety net for former members of the evangelical church De Deur (The Door). They can turn here after years of control, exclusion, and, according to some, even abuse in the church.
Those who leave the church De Deur can expect misunderstanding, loneliness, and sometimes even threats. This is according to founder Joel Crosby (31) of Stichting De Deur Uit, speaking to NU.nl. He left the organization six years ago. “When I stepped out, there was no place I could go. Aid workers didn’t understand what was going on. They often thought of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder, ed.), but that’s not all. You lose an entire identity and your social network.”
For years, De Deur, with over sixty churches in the Netherlands managed from Zwolle, was largely unspoken territory, writes de Stentor. According to former members like Crosby, there are profound abuses within the organization, ranging from (sexual) abuse to manipulation, exclusion, and financial exploitation.
“It doesn’t matter what label is put on it, cult or not. The structure of the church ensures that problems repeat themselves,” says Crosby. “Nobody knows all the stories. With the foundation, we want to organize fellow sufferers and document our experiences. We’re not crazy.”
In the closed Facebook groups of De Deur Uit, there are now three to four thousand (former) members. “There are also current members among them who are secretly watching us,” Crosby says. “We receive reports of serious situations: sexual abuse, financial exploitation, and rumors being spread about you. It is a fundamental break with your old life.”
Threats at the door of former members: ‘Smeared with graffiti’
The foundation helps former members regain control of their lives. “We connect people to aid workers who do have experience with this specific problem, involve the police where necessary, and ensure that stories are shared,” says Crosby. “One of the most important things: document stories of former members as proof that we are not crazy.”
But not everyone reacts with understanding. Former members have been the target of threats, intimidation, and vandalism since their openness, both on social media and in real life. “Houses are smeared with graffiti, and eggs are thrown.”
The church itself rejects all criticism. The pastor of De Deur recently responded in de Stentor. “I have no comment on the untruths that are declared about us. It says nothing that there is a foundation of former members who are fighting us. Anyone can start a foundation.”
Crosby disagrees. “By establishing this foundation, I am putting myself in the sights of this cult. Why would I do that if they are untruths? I’m putting my safety at risk. As long as nothing changes within the organization, there will be new former members who will also speak out.”
Support and recognition for victims is slowly growing
Meanwhile, there is more national attention for victims of closed groups. Since this month, they can contact the Onder Controle (Under Control) support point, which is subsidized by the Ministry of Justice and Security.
The support point meets a growing need. Research from the Open University shows that people can struggle for years with psychological complaints as a result of psychological violence and manipulation, and that the right help is often difficult to find.
Crosby hopes that Stichting De Deur Uit will quickly find solid ground. “We are there for former members, current members with doubts, and especially family and friends who are worried. We can refer to appropriate aid workers. The conversation about abuses must continue to be held.”