Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding? | The Jackal

15 Apr 2025

Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?

National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private matter.”

A recent Doc Studios video rips the veil off, featuring former members exposing the sect’s control and disturbing practices that seem designed to protect child molesters. As a member of Parliament, why’s Campbell still cozy with a group linked to such horrendous crimes? His evasive responses scream cover-up, not candor.

Time for answers, Hamish—voters deserve transparency, not political sidestepping from a member of a religious cult that has all the hallmarks of a pedophile ring.


Here's some research on the Two By Twos "church" that is awash with child abusers.
 

Key Points:

  • National Party MP Hamish Campbell is associated with the Two By Twos church, which is under FBI investigation for child sexual abuse.
  • It seems likely that over 900 alleged perpetrators and numerous victims are linked to the church, with reports spanning decades.
  • The evidence leans toward the church's structure, like ministers living in homes, enabling abuse and cover-ups.

Background

Hamish Campbell, MP for Christchurch’s Ilam, has family ties to the Two By Twos, a secretive Christian sect also known as The Truth or The Way. This group is currently under scrutiny by the FBI and New Zealand Police for allegations of child sexual abuse, with reports highlighting a history of systemic failures.

Allegations and Scale

Investigations, such as those by ABC News, suggest over 900 alleged perpetrators have been identified across 30 countries, with victims reported from at least 34 U.S. states. A hotline in Australia and New Zealand received allegations involving about 130 people, and the BBC noted over 700 names reported for abuse.

Church Structure and Abuse

The church’s structure, with ministers living in members' homes and no central authority, seems to facilitate abuse. Reports indicate abusers were often moved to new locations instead of being reported, as seen in cases like Sheri Autrey’s, abused by a minister who was relocated rather than prosecuted.

Detailed Analysis of Hamish Campbell’s Association with the Two By Twos Church

This note provides a comprehensive examination of National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s association with the Two By Twos church, focusing on the church’s allegations of child sexual abuse, the scale of the issue, and how its structure may enable such crimes. The analysis is informed by recent investigations and reports, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in the political and social implications.

Context and Campbell’s Connection

Hamish Campbell, the MP for Christchurch’s Ilam electorate, has publicly acknowledged his association with the Two By Twos, a Christian sect also referred to as The Truth or The Way. According to NZ Herald, Campbell has family ties to the group and has hosted study meetings in his home. He described the church as “a non-denominational Christian group just trying to live the best way possible,” but emphasized he has no personal knowledge of individuals involved in abuse allegations. RNZ News confirmed he was born into the group and still attends meetings when in Christchurch, highlighting a deep personal connection.

The Two By Twos church is currently under investigation by the FBI, New Zealand Police, and Australian authorities for child sexual abuse claims, as noted in ABC News Australia. This investigation, launched in February 2024, follows widespread reports of abuse, prompting concerns about Campbell’s association with a group facing such serious allegations.

Scale of Child Abuse Allegations

The scale of the abuse within the Two By Twos is alarming. San.com reported that survivors have identified allegations against more than 900 different abusers in 30 countries, with the abuse spanning generations. ABC News spoke to dozens of alleged survivors from at least 34 U.S. states, with one victim reporting abuse as early as 1955. In Australia and New Zealand, a hotline received allegations involving about 130 separate people, as per ABC News Australia. Additionally, the BBC noted over 700 names reported to a hotline set up for abuse claims, as seen in BBC News, indicating a global issue.

Specific cases, such as Raymond Zwiefelhofer’s conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material and sentencing to 120 years in prison, underscore the severity, as reported by ABC News. In New Zealand, Newstalk ZB mentioned a former minister admitting to 55 child sex abuse charges over three decades, further highlighting the extent of the problem.

Church Structure and Enabling Abuse

The Two By Twos’ structure appears to facilitate abuse, as detailed in various reports. Ministers, or “workers,” live with congregants, moving between homes, sometimes with just one suitcase, as noted in an ABC News investigation. This practice, combined with no official church buildings and meetings held in homes, creates opportunities for grooming and abuse. The church has no central leader, governed by overseers, which complicates accountability, as seen in CBS News.

Reports suggest a culture of cover-up, with alleged abusers moved to different states or countries instead of being reported, as evidenced by the case of Steve Rohs, who abused Sheri Autrey and was relocated rather than reported and prosecuted, according to ABC News. Former workers like Sara Knauss stated the church “pretended [child abuse] didn’t exist,” and attorney Mitchell Garabedian noted ministers groom families, with parents’ trust misplaced, as seen in the same report. This culture, combined with a disdain for “worldly” authorities like police, as mentioned in NZ Herald, has allowed abuse to go unreported and unpunished.
Table: Summary of Abuse Allegations and Church Practices

Implications for Campbell

Campbell’s association with the Two By Twos, given its history, raises serious questions about his judgment. While he claims no personal knowledge of the abusers, his hosting of meetings and deep family ties, as reported by 1News, suggest a level of involvement that could be seen as complicit. The church’s secretive practices, contrast starkly with Campbell's public role, showing clearly that a politicians’ so-called religious beliefs, particularly if they are involved with a cult like religion exhibiting a disproportionate amount of child abuse cases, shouldn't be hidden from public scrutiny.

As the investigation continues, Campbell faces pressure to clarify his stance. The church’s pledge to cooperate with police, as seen in The Economic Times, may not mitigate the damage to his reputation, especially with over 50 alleged perpetrators reported in New Zealand alone by Brave Truth Australia New Zealand.

Conclusion

The Two By Twos church’s structure, with ministers living in homes and a culture of moving abusers, has enabled a significant abuse scandal, with over 900 alleged perpetrators and numerous victims. Campbell’s association, while familial, places him at the center of a controversy that demands transparency and accountability, especially given his public role.

 

Key Citations:

Secretive Christian sect ignored sexual abuse for decades, congregants allege
National MP Hamish Campbell associated with Two by Twos, a religious sect under investigation by FBI for sexual abuse
National MP part of secretive religious sect
FBI investigating Two by Twos for historical child sexual abuse claims, including in Australia
Child sex abuse allegations emerge against Christian 'Two by Twos' sect
NZ victims of child sexual abuse in Two by Two church want answers amid FBI investigation
Member of secretive Christian sect sentenced to 120 years in prison
BBC confronts man who abused boy in secretive Christian church
My beliefs are a private matter - National MP part of underground sect probed by FBI
Two By Twos: Religious historian unpacks secretive sect
Ilam MP part of underground religious sect
New Zealand religious sect Two by Two accused of child abuse, MP Hamish Campbell admits family link with group
John MacDonald: Do politicians' religious beliefs matter to you?
Hamish Campbell - Wikipedia
FBI probing alleged child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect
Inside the secretive Church With No Name sect that’s under FBI investigation over decades of child sex abuse claims
Disturbing' details emerge about Bay Area religious sect, Two by Twos at center of FBI child sex abuse investigation
FBI investigating Two By Twos (2x2) religious sect operating in Bay Area following alleged child sex abuse