A block of land has become a battleground between a secretive church group and a council in a 12-month war of words, court action and legal threats.

It also has led to the unprecedented gagging of at least four councillors who cannot speak publicly or privately about a local 100-strong sect known as The Exclusive Brethren.

The strange stand-off began last March in Mt Gambier when the religious organisation applied to build a meeting hall in a suburban street.

The Brethren already has two meeting halls in the Lower South-East city and the building of the third would have gone quietly ahead but for a surge of public opposition.

The sudden public airing of the building application led to an unholy fight and dragged the usually secretive church into the spotlight through local newspaper headlines and legal threats.

Said Mt Gambier mayor Don McDonnell: ``This has been difficult, but through it all we as a council have acted with dignity and respected their opinions.'' Another senior council member put it much more strongly -
``This has been absolutely nerve-racking.'' The Brethren's comment: ``We don't want to comment.''

It hasn't been the first time The Brethren has made news in small country towns. Reports dating back as far as the mid-1980s have brought allegations of strange behavior, unusual practices and family breakdowns.

The Exclusive Brethren numbers about 250,000 world-wide with an estimated 30,000 adherents in Australia. By choice they are a closed church with strict rules and private worship. Membership is restricted.

The Australian leader, and current world leader of the church - called The Elected Vessel - is John Hales, in Sydney.

What has brought The Brethren into the open in Mt Gambier was the proposed building of a meeting hall in a leafy suburban street called Canavan Road.

Council knocked back the March application, which The Brethren then took to the Planning Tribunal. The Tribunal upheld council's decision but The Brethren, undeterred, took their case to the Land and Valuation Court of The Supreme Court where a decision is pending.

Fiery council meetings, late night phone calls and a barrage of letters ensued, with four councillors eventually receiving legal threats from The Brethren if any further comments about the church were made.

Organiser of the 60-odd residents opposing the new Canavan Road meeting hall, Mr Chris Annear, refused to speak out, claiming he also was facing a threat of legal action.

Councillors Heather Ollrich, Owen Drinkell, Eugene Coscarelli and Richard Lester were warned of legal action if any more ``false'' Brethren criticism was made.

The Sunday Mail, pursuing comment from Brethren oversight, found meeting halls were out of bounds, with both places of worship surrounded by security fences and gates padlocked. The sect abides by more than 100 rules, ranging from not watching TV or listening to radios to a strict dress code which prohibits voting,
colored clothing, and make-up on women.

Other rules affecting members include forbidding the use of computers, faxes and mobile phones and schoolchildren not being allowed to participate in competitive sport or mixed swimming after primary
school.

Tolerance towards such an exclusive religious organisation in a small city, let alone a suburban street, has led to friction, fear and feuding.

The Brethren have bought a home alongside the vacant land on Cavanan Road.

Cr Drinkell, the most outspoken against the group, would only speak off the record, indicating he faced litigation.

``I have been gagged,'' he said bitterly. ``Muzzled'' Crs Owen Drinkell and Eugene Coscareli alleged they were followed, badgered and harrassed as part of an intimidating letter campaign, and the target of late-night phone calls.

The allegations, made in council, led to a boilover, with The Brethren demanding the allegations be withdrawn.
It fell to city mayor Don McDonnell - who has not been legally gagged - to hose down the escalating ``silent war''.

``All I want council to do is go straight down the middle on this one, as we represent the people of Mt Gambier. The Brethren have done nothing wrong - they are a church which has, shall we say, strict and strong feelings about their method of worship. We must respect that.''

Caption:  Above: Mount Gambier Owen Drinkell: ``I have been gagged''.
Below: A Brethren church behind locked gates at Mt Gambier,
and Mayor Don McDonnell.

Illus:  3 photos: owen drinkell; brethren church; don mcdonnell

 Library Heading:  Mount Gambier, South Australia , Sects