John Stephen Hales
John Stephen Hales (born January 14, 1922 in Thirroul , Australia , † January 12, 2002 in Sydney ) was an Australian businessman and head of the Raven brothers from 1987 until his death .
Life
John S. Hales was the second son of bank branch manager William Hales. When his father died in 1931 at the age of 35, his mother moved to Sydney with John and his siblings.
Hales did an apprenticeship with a chartered accountant and attended evening classes at the University of Sydney , from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics . He started out as chief accountant in a company and later opened his own law firm as an auditor.
Hales was married to the teacher Helen Dietrich from Manildra and had three sons and a daughter. His younger brother, William Bruce Hales, became the son-in-law of James Taylor Jr. , then leader of the Raven brothers.
Between 1965 and 1979, Hales was expelled from the Raven Brothers' community three times because of his commercial cessation. Nevertheless, after the death of James Harvey Symington in 1987, he was recognized as the new global leader of the Raven brothers within a few months.
Hales introduced a number of other innovations among the Raven brothers. Between 1990 and 1996, photo books were created by every Raven congregation, which were primarily intended to help find partners (on a worldwide basis). Hales drafted a prenuptial agreement which was read out at Raven weddings and which u. a. the promise included raising the children in the fellowship of the Raven Brothers. Separations resulting from the exclusion of a spouse were also contractually regulated. The isolation from the "world" was further promoted by the promotion of home tuition and the establishment of private schools (from 1994). All Raven brothers were advised to only work in their fellow believers' companies or to start their own businesses.
Hales was considered by his followers as the "embodiment of the Holy Spirit "; his decisions were binding. All of his lectures and conferences have been recorded, transcribed and published in a number of books.
Hales' successor was his son Bruce David Hales .
Web links
- Bernard Doherty: Plymouth Brethren Christian Church . In: World Religions & Spirituality Project , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hales, John Stephen |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Australian leader of the Raven Brothers |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 14, 1922 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Thirroul , New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 12, 2002 |
| Place of death | Sydney , New South Wales, Australia |