Brethren

Ross Woods, 2022

The Brethren movement began in Ireland and then England in abut 1820 as a reaction to the dominance of clergy in the Church of England, and a desire to be truly biblical. People established a network of fellowships. They later split into two separate movements the Open (or Plymouth) Brethren and the Exclusive Brethren.

The most influential leader at the time in England was Darby, who also produced a very good new translation of the Bible. Watchman Nee of China came under their influence, and the network of churches associated with him is called the Little Flock.

They have been strongly premillenialist, and dispensationalism originated in Brethren circles. Their other theological views are generally mainstream evangelical.

They have some peculiar customs: only men may speak during worship, women must wear head coverings, and they give their church buildings names like “Gospel Hall” or “Chapel.” Churches are autonomous, but maintain relationships with other like-minded churches. The main characteristic of the Open Brethen has been their belief that all members are equal and any man who was a member could participate in open worship. In many cases, however, they did not live up to this ideal:

1. Groups of people naturally set up hierarchies, so the same senior men did most of the speaking, and senior elders held almost absolute power in the church.
2. For many years, they did not employ pastors at all, although progressive churches eventually did so when they were too big for laypeople to do all ministry duties.

Extreme forms

They have had two extreme forms:

1. They wanted to reject denominationalism, and did not think of themselves as a denomination. They tended to think of other Christians as “the sects,” as if the Brethren assemblies were the true church. They have disliked the term “church” and instead they used the term “assembly.”
2. Several movements have been known as “Exclusive Brethren.” One of them is a cult:
1. It is run by a small secretive group, with one person at the top.
2. Its church meetings are closed to the public.
3. It has strict rules for tithing.
4. It has strict rules about what members may read.
5. It bans (or at least discourages) television ownership.
6. Members are discouraged from university study.
7. Members may not partner with unbelievers.
• Members may not eat with people who are not Exclusive Brethren.
• Members may not have business partnerships with people who are not Exclusive Brethren.
8. Women and girls must wear some kind of head covering at all times.
9. If any member wants to leave their organization, the church cuts them off completely and they may never meet their families again.