Twelve Tribes communities

The Twelve Tribes, formerly known as the Vine Christian Community Church, the Northeast Kingdom Community Church, the Messianic Communities, and the Community Apostolic Order, is a new religious movement^: 155 founded by Gene Spriggs that sprang out of the Jesus movement in 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The group calls itself an attempt to recreate the 1st-century church as it is described in the Book of Acts. The group's origins in Chattanooga led to planted churches in surrounding areas. In the late seventies, the group began a community in Island Pond, Vermont. As their relationship with the Chattanooga community deteriorated, the group eventually left Tennessee and moved primarily to Vermont.

The Twelve Tribes's beliefs resemble those of Christian fundamentalism, the Hebrew Roots movement, Messianic Judaism, and the Sacred Name Movement; however, the group believes that all other denominations are fallen, and it therefore refuses to align itself with any denomination or movement. The group has strict courtship rules, and their views on child rearing have been a source of controversy. The group supports itself through the operation of several businesses, most of which revolve around agriculture, as well as cafés and restaurants, all using unpaid and often child labor.

The group has ignited controversy and garnered unfavorable attention regarding their child labor practices and accusations of abuse. They have been criticized for their beliefs and practices, including for their supremacist views towards black and Jewish people outside of their membership. The group's teachings have been characterized as "racist, misogynistic and homophobic", and ex-members report excessive corporal punishment, failure to stop child sexual abuse, and exploitation of followers for labor. Some governments and advocacy groups have labeled the group a cult.