*Warning this story mentions accounts of child sexual abuse
Despite a former 2x2 church worker being convicted and jailed on child pornography charges, the connections of the church continue to run deep in the Comox Valley.
The 鈥淐hurch with No Name,鈥� 鈥淭he Truth,鈥� 鈥淭he Way,鈥� or 鈥淭wo by Twos鈥� (2x2), is an evangelical Christian group that was founded by William Irvine in 1897. At the time, Irvine was involved with the Faith Mission, an evangelistic movement in Scotland, when he began preaching a new doctrine inspired by Matthew 10 in the Bible. He moved his work to spread the word to Ireland.
According to the history of the sect, Irvine began preaching a new order in which the hierarchy that had developed within the church would have no place. This teaching became controversial within the church and led to his expulsion by church overseers around 1914.
Overseers are in charge of a geographical area within countries where 2x2s operate. They are in charge of the brother and sister workers who move from home to home as if they were ministers. The overseers are also in charge of the funds collected from host families. The current overseer of British Columbia and the Comox Valley is Merlin Affleck. He has been the overseer of the region since 2018.
Lyndell Montgomery of the Comox Valley, was adopted at six weeks old and put into the church immediately. Her family were devout second and third generation devotees to the 2x2s. Her parents held weekly meetings in their home and had workers stay with them on occasion. She left the church when she was 14, after alleged sexual abuse at the hands of a sister worker. After the alleged incident, Montgomery wanted nothing to do with the 2x2s.
鈥淚 can tell you that it runs under the same format that it's run under for a century,鈥� says Montgomery. 鈥淚t's harder to keep that super tight control, as technology develops and people have access to it. I grew up without radio, newspaper, TV - nothing from the secular world.鈥�
On April 6, 2023, a meeting was held in Kelowna B.C. by Affleck regarding CSA and sexual assault (SA) within the 2x2s. The notes from the meeting mention allegations against a former overseer, Walter Birkenshaw. The notes also mention sister worker Lee-Ann McChesney, who is currently going through the B.C. court system for charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. Birkenshaw is presently in Alberta and continues to attend meetings.
The 2x2s take many beliefs from the Faith Mission; their ministry is conducted in pairs, rejecting material possessions, and forming communities that avoid church buildings, formal names and paid clergy. Ministers are called brother workers or sister workers and are to engage in celibacy. Workers are regarded as modern-day apostles with authority equal to the Bible.
鈥淚 can tell you that the way it's set up is entirely about hierarchical control, where you and I, as members of this church, have that much of a voice and we can't get to heaven,鈥� adds Montgomery. 鈥淚t doesn't exist for us unless we go through the workers. So the way that has been set up really puts them [workers] in a position of ultimate authority over you.鈥�.
The qualifications for all workers are the same. Before entering work, they give away all their possessions except what fits into a suitcase, including their money, homes and vehicles. They become unhoused and rely on host homes for their housing. They travel in same-sex pairs, stay in 2x2 households, and hold gospel missions to attract converts. Workers also visit the sick, care for the members in their fields, and help prepare for their annual conventions. They enter the work for life but can leave if they choose, often to get married and move up to Elder roles.
Due to allegations of CSA towards members of the 2x2, overseers and workers are closing the ranks on things such as the large conventions. Friends used to be able to phone in to hear the gospel if they were unable to make the journey to a convention. Now however, only approved phone numbers can get through as the 2x2鈥檚 do not want outsiders gaining information about them.
Members deny having a church name. Doctrine of the church teaches that salvation is reached by attending the group's home meetings, accepting the preaching of its itinerant, unsalaried ministry workers, and "professing.鈥�
Once a person professes their belief in God as they relate to the 2x2s, they are baptized into the religion.
The 2x2s teach that salvation is not achieved through faith alone, but only through a combination of faith and "works." Works are considered acts of self-denial such as women only wearing modest skirts and long hair in a bun or attending all meetings regardless of how far away they are. The church does not do any outreach programs or encourage its members to participate in charities.
The 2x2s do not acknowledge an official headquarters or official publications. They do not publish any doctrinal statements, insisting that such tenets may only be shared orally by its workers. Printed invitations and advertisements for its open gospel meetings are the only written materials that those outside the church are likely to encounter.
As of 2021, B.C. workers are presented with a written document to sign before they begin their work inside host families' homes. The document states 鈥淐hildren (under the age of 19) are a vital part of our fellowship. All Workers are responsible for promoting their safety, protection and well-being of children while conducting themselves appropriately in every situation.鈥�
鈥淭here is a worker's code of conduct that was created. I have no idea if it is being enforced or if any workers have signed it,鈥� notes Montgomery.
In a letter obtained by a member of a 2x2 survivor support group on Facebook, a deep denial is the rhetoric of those still in the 2x2鈥檚 regarding the allegations of CSA being brought against the church despite the over 995 accusations across the globe, stemming from at least 39 countries.
鈥淲e currently are being assailed by a barrage of confusion and evil. The confused and/or evil ones would magnify the existing Child Sexual Abuse problem to immense proportions to satisfy the agenda of the enemy. The data they have solicited and purport to possess is greatly exaggerated. It is also collected and interpreted in a manner that is very questionable at best and fraudulent at worst.鈥�
The unknown writer of the letter, who simply refers to himself as a brother member of the church, dismisses mental health workers and states that no one is above God's law and instruction. He continues to disregard those who have reported historic SA and deny them as part of the 2x2 church. If one speaks out about abuse they have suffered at the hands of a worker, they are no longer part of the 2x2s or 鈥淕od鈥檚 family.鈥�
鈥淭he statistics provided by 鈥渕ental health professionals鈥� have absolutely no application to members of God鈥檚 family. These stats/data have been based entirely on individuals who are not a part of God鈥檚 family.鈥�
Members of the 2x2 church meet weekly in homes, schools and other public places all over the world, including the Comox Valley.
In Feb. 2024, the (FBI) it was investigating the 2x2s in the United States, and issued an appeal for victims to come forward. Currently, there are more than r 995 allegations against workers and overseers within the 2x2 sect, many of which are historical cases, reaching as far back as but there are cases as recent as 2023 that are related to possession of child pornography.
The Comox Valley Record will take a deeper look into Montgomery鈥檚 account of CSA against a former sister worker who worked in the Comox Valley. This is the second part of a three-part series on the 2x2 church. For the first part of the series and an extended version of this story, visit .
The abuse is a global problem and cases are continuously reported in various media outlets around , , and .
If you have experienced sexual abuse or are currently in crisis, please visit these resources:
If you are a former 2x2 member who is looking for support visit:
If you have an instance of abuse to report regarding the 2x2 church visit:
