Exclusive Brethren

Often referred to mistakenly as 'Plymouth Brethren', the Exclusive Brethren is in fact an extremist offshoot of the former. Founded in 1825 by a clergyman dissenter called John Nelson Derby, the Plymouth Brethren always had strongly predeterminist views - it was the duty of God's chosen to avoid all contact with the ungodly. Friendship, business or even eating with those outside the Brethren was forbidden.

The founders of Exclusive Brethren believed that this isolationism should not be compromised in any way - today's members are not allowed television, radio, newspapers, fax machines or computers.

They do not vote, join unions, take civil office or allow their children to take part in sports or social activities at school. Men wear jacket and tie; women must have long hair, modest clothes and no make-up. Sunday worship begins at 6am in Brethren Meeting Rooms (which have blocked-out windows) and goes on all day. There are shorter meetings each night of the week. The cultic elements of the movement are those of isolationism rather than recruitment. Members are not allowed to communicate with relatives who have left the movement.

There are estimated to be 10,000 members of the Exclusive Brethren in the UK. The movement has enjoyed a string of strong leaders and is currently under the command of an Australian called John Hales.

 

Footnote on the Brethren movement:

The Plymouth Brethren are a community of Christians whose first congregation was established in Plymouth, Devon, Eng., in 1831. The movement originated in Ireland and England a few years earlier with groups of Christians who met for prayer and fellowship. Biblical prophecy and the Second Coming of Christ were emphasised.

John Nelson Darby, a former clergyman in the Church of Ireland (Anglican), soon became the dominant personality in the movement. He founded groups of Brethren in many parts of the British Isles and in continental Europe, especially in French Switzerland, where he spent the greater part of the period 1838-45.

After Darby returned to England in 1845, disputes over doctrine and church government split the Brethren.

Darby's followers formed a closely knit federation of churches and were known as Exclusive Brethren; the others, called Open Brethren, maintained a congregational form of church government and less rigorous standards for membership. Exclusive Brethren have suffered further divisions.

Brethren of all parties recognise no order of clergy or ministers as distinct from the laity. A communion service is celebrated every Sunday. Practically all groups practice believer's Baptism, although some Exclusives, following Darby's practice, baptise children of members.

The Plymouth Brethren have been active in foreign missionary work, principally in Central Africa, India, and Latin America. Brethren are found throughout the English-speaking world and in most European countries.

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