Why we are not Exclusive Brethren

Why we are not Exclusive Brethren

We are sometimes called ‘The Exclusive Brethren.’  This name was first coined back in the 1960’s by members of the media.  It suggests that we keep ourselves to ourselves and do not contribute to the communities where we live, work and worship.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The thing is, we do hold certain faith-based principles which set us apart in our worship and daily lives. But these principles are not about exclusion – they are about following the teachings of the Holy Bible.

Fellowship

At its heart, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) is a congregation of believers who are committed to living in close communion with God and with each other. This is not an act of exclusion but an expression of a desire to strengthen the unity of believers in a world that often pulls people apart. Fellowship within the church is based on shared faith, common values, and a desire to live according to Scripture.

In this sense, the structure of our church is like that of the early Christian church, as described in the New Testament. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

This is a cornerstone of our identity. We come together frequently to break bread (Holy Communion), worship, and support one another in our daily lives, just as early Christians did.

This is why we don’t eat with those outside our Community because the act of eating is ‘breaking bread,’ – which is ‘fellowship’ – and we only do this with members of our own Community.

The Doctrine of Separation

One of the reasons people sometimes perceive us as exclusive is our practice of “separation from the world” or The Doctrine of Separation.

This term is often misunderstood.

Separation from the world does not mean separating from people or society. Rather, it means we choose to distance ourselves from what we see as the values and practices of the world that contradict the teachings of Christ. The Bible calls us to live lives of holiness, and for us, that requires careful consideration of the influences we allow into our lives.

This is why our children who pursue tertiary education do so online, and don’t attend a campus. It’s why we tend to avoid social media, and when we do use it, it’s usually to support our business endeavours.  It’s why we don’t tend to listen to the radio or watch television.

However, this doesn’t mean we cut ourselves off from relationships, charity, or dialogue with others outside of our fellowship. On the contrary, we work, live, and interact with others every day, as we strive to embody Christian principles in all we do.

Engagement with Society and the Wider Community

Contrary to popular belief, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is not withdrawn from society. Members are actively involved in business, education, and charitable endeavours.

Many of our members are professionals, small business owners, and volunteers who serve their communities in practical and meaningful ways.

We live in ordinary houses, in ordinary street all over the world, and are just like any other neighbours.

Charity

Our commitment to living by the principles of Christianity extends to our work ethic, our conduct, and our willingness to help others outside our Community.

Over 14,000 of our members volunteer and run The Rapid Relief Team  – our global charity which supports local and global communities.  For example, disaster relief efforts – the Ukraine war;  community welfare programs – during droughts; fires and other natural and manmade disasters; and educational initiatives, including supporting children who go to school hungry.

We view acts of charity and service as central to the Christian faith, in accordance with the biblical command to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) and  Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men’.  Serving others, whether they share our faith or not, is an essential aspect of our identity.

Education

Many outside our Church think that we don’t believe in education.  But this is not so.

We founded a global network of independent schools called OneSchool Global which is one of the most advanced schooling systems in the world. Pedagogy at OneSchool Global is based on the principle of ‘learning to learn’ and follows the curriculum of the regions where they are based.  It also supports a lifelong journey of learning, with students encouraged and supported to continue learning after leaving school.

No religion (other than that prescribed by the local educational curriculums) is taught at school.  All the teachers come from outside our Community and are professional educators in their own right.  Our students use technology and work with classmates and teachers in other countries using ZOOM and other educational technology.

Our schooling system produces bright, thoughtful, caring, and contributing members of society.

Living

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is not an exclusive group in the way some people imagine. Rather, we are a Church committed to living in close communion with one another and with God, seeking to live lives that reflect Christ’s love and teachings.

Our separation from the world is about avoiding the corrupting influences of sin, not about cutting off relationships or isolating ourselves from society.

At the heart of our faith is the desire to follow Christ faithfully, not to exclude or be excluded, but to live as faithful Christians in a complex and challenging world.