For over a year BCC has been in a dialogue with documentary filmmakers at NRK, and recently received a list of questions from the program’s creators. Here are the responses from our members.
By: Johanne Reiersrud
On Friday, Information Manager Berit Hustad Nilsen sent the questions, which concern experiences in the faith community, to all adult members. She explains why.
When it became known that NRK Brennpunkt was working on a documentary about BCC, the program’s creators were given an option early in the process to conduct an anonymous BCC membership survey. Members could answer NRK’s questions about what it is like to be a member in BCC.
NRK Brennpunkt first said yes, but then later rejected this offer. Their story is instead based on a few selected sources, who will be the only ‘spokespersons’ for the entire BCC faith community.
“We perceive this rejection from NRK Brennpunkt as an evasive measure so it can keep its angle on the history of BCC as an unhealthy religious community. I doubt this angle will be recognizable, neither for our members nor those who are acquainted with us,” says Berit Hustad Nilsen.
She feels a great responsibility when representing the over 8,800 Norwegian members on national TV. She points out that during this process NRK has made grave allegations against BCC, its local church branches and members which can and have been refuted.
Despite the fact BCC and its local churches have presented good documentation in response to these allegations, the Brennpunkt journalists have failed to withdraw their claims. Unfortunately, NRK Brennpunkt is also in direct contact with parties who have paid huge sums of money to conduct influence operations, and it has been known since 2019 that BCC is a target of such an operation.
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The program’s air date is still unconfirmed, but BCC has received a list of questions from NRK with serious allegations. Hustad Nilsen wants to share these questions publicly, along with members’ answers.
Do you understand that sharing the questions this way can be perceived as BCC being intolerant of criticism?
“We can tolerate criticism; we know that we are not perfect in BCC. And when we have done something wrong, we will of course correct it. This is how it is for all organizations. But it is unbelievable that Norway’s government-owned channel claims they can make a program based on documentation from criminal sources, mixed with a choice selection of personal stories,” says Hustad Nilsen.
She points out the story of a religious community must be based on facts, and where it concerns the experience of being part of such a community, it is the members themselves who know it best.
Context
BCC is aware that the survey is conducted in connection with NRK Brennpunkt’s focus on BCC, which can affect the results. The results can be interpreted as frustration over Brennpunkt’s approach to our community. This survey is therefore not a replacement for the annual member survey.
Facts:
- Anonymous survey
- Sent to all Norwegian members over the age of 18
- Completed October 2-5th, 2020
- Platform: Questback
- Response rate: 56%
- Language: Norwegain
The following responses are translated from the original Norwegian survey, therefore linguistic differences can occur.
Results:
Age distribution
Article was updated on 15.10.2020.