It reads: “I forsake all that I have to follow Christ, renouncing forever all personal ownership of houses, lands money and all other possessions. Whatever I own, I now give to the poor and needy of this world or share with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
“I give the overseeing shepherd of our Church Communities the absolute and unfettered right to administer and use all the property, assets and money of the Christian Community Trust for the benefit of everyone within these communities.”
One of the plaintiffs signed the document on December 7 1977.
It’s explained that any person can apply to join the Gloriavale community and as a term of joining they complete the application.