Business and the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church

A lot of the people who know the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church know that a lot of us like to start or get involved with business. This is much more of a cultural trait rather than anything to do with our religion.

Beyond our church, we are a community of people with shared values, and two of those values are a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit – which perhaps unsurprisingly will often see them decide to start their own businesses.

Whilst it’s true that some members have been successful in business, these businesses are completely independent of the Church, they just happen to be owned and operated by members of the PBCC.

Another trait is generosity and lifting each other up, which is why many people within our church give their time and, those who can, give their money to support the education of our children and  fund charitable work, such as through the Rapid Relief Team (RRT).

The entrepreneurial nature of our members, their work ethic, and their driving motivation to help others, have helped strengthen the Church community.

Some critics of our church have unfairly and disparagingly referred to this as a so-called “money-go-round”, though in reality it is just a community supporting both itself and others.

The not-so-exclusive Brethren

Much of the media coverage that is critical of our Church refers to us as being the “Exclusive Brethren” in an attempt to suggest our community is insular and doesn’t contribute to society.

We prefer the name Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, and through our members’ businesses, and their charitable work, they make an active contribution to the well-being of the wider community – an expression of faith in action.

Far from being exclusive, our members are deeply embedded in the communities where they live, work and worship.

Along with strengthening our own PBCC community, our members’ success in business makes a significant contribution to the prosperity of the locations our members’ businesses are based, by driving economic growth and providing opportunities for local employment. Approximately 70,000 people from outside of our community work for the independent companies owned or operated by members of our Church.

Brethren Charity and Philanthropy

A by-product of the success of some of our members’ in business is that it enables them to contribute to society through other means. This could be through volunteering their time via RRT, the Church’s charitable arm, or by giving directly to worthwhile causes through grant-making charities such as the Grace Trust or other non-Church related charities of their choice.

As responsible stewards, our members ensure all charitable entities associated with our Church hold legitimate charity status and operate in full compliance with the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they are registered.

Within our Church community, charity is a direct reflection of our Brethren values. Donations of time and money are rooted in a sense of moral duty, guided by scripture, and in our obligation to support others with care and compassion.

Work and Family Life

Hard work is not just something we choose to do, we see it as a moral obligation and something we take from scripture, such as 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “if any would not work, neither should he eat”, reinforcing the importance of personal responsibility. Our work ethic, therefore, becomes another expression of our faith in action.

The importance of family life is equally central to our Brethren beliefs and it is closely tied to work. We place a strong emphasis on caring for our families and providing for our households. Hard work helps our members fulfil this responsibility, ensuring financial security and stability. With that security and stability comes an opportunity to help others, both within and outside of our PBCC community.

Universal Business Team – Our Business Advisory Firm

The Universal Business Team (UBT) is a practical extension of our way of life, operating as an innovative organisation that helps the independent businesses owned and operated by members of our Church to grow by providing them with a range of business advisory, coaching, consulting and training programmes.

The income generated by UBT is then used to provide sustainable funding for the education of our children, and to support charities such as the RRT. This means that UBT plays a key role as a crucial part of the cycle of faith, family, business and charity that defines our culture.

Ultimately, the importance of hard-work and business within the PBCC community should be seen as a practical demonstration of Brethren beliefs and values about how life should be lived. Our faith and the Holy Bible provide the guiding principles, family and the strong connections within our fellowship give us purpose and stability, and hard work and business serve as the mechanism that holds everything together.