Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 33, Number 10. 8 July, 1970

Exclusive conventions

Exclusive conventions

One of the main things that has held Exclusives together all over the world is the great amount of travelling from place to place undertaken by the sect's leaders. There have always been annual 'conventions' at each so-called 'locality', where a leader is invited to suggest the subject of discussion, and Exclusives are invited to come to hear him. The meetings last three days—usually Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Until recently, the right to such travel was reserved for those with means, but the whole scale of conventions has changed. Now specific invitations (which can only be turned down for a very good reason), are issued only to those considered worthy of attendance. The Exclusives pool their resources to enable these people to travel to distant convention. The most important convention is an annual one held by Jim Taylor in England or in the United States. It is attended by about 30 New Zealand Exclusives, whose air fares are paid by the community. Those leaders who spread the word are also given grants of money frequently ("administered to"), regardless of whether they need financial assistance, to encourage them in their work for the Lord. There are weekly collections of funds to pay for rent of halls, heating and such expenses, and a special collection each month solely for the purpose of levying funds for travel and the printing of Exclusive literature. In Wellington in 1969, about $500 was collected each month from the three hundred and fifty members of the sect, the majority of whom are less than twenty years old.