{"id":11733,"date":"2026-02-05T20:46:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org\/?post_type=resource&p=11733"},"modified":"2026-02-10T14:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T04:57:23","slug":"what-really-happens-when-you-leave-the-plymouth-brethren-christian-church","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org\/sv\/resource\/what-really-happens-when-you-leave-the-plymouth-brethren-christian-church\/","title":{"rendered":"What really happens when you leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is both a Training and Archive Document resource.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this article, we aim to answer some frequently asked questions and dispel common myths around what happens when leaving the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9511,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"resource-type":[429],"class_list":["post-11733","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-type-pbcc-articles"],"acf":{"content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"module_section","row":[{"column_gap":"","column":[{"module":[{"acf_fc_layout":"rich_media_block","image":false,"header":{"":null,"title":"","heading_level":"h2","header_styles":{"":null,"background_colour":"","background_image":false,"text_colour":"black"},"make_separator":false},"content":"

What really happens when you leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

When an individual decides to leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church they are free to follow whatever path they choose. No one is prevented from leaving and former members are not controlled, told what to do, or treated as \u2018outlaws\u2019.<\/p>\n

Although most members are born into the church, remaining a member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is voluntary, and people are free to leave at any time. But this process is often misrepresented in the media, with some claiming they have to \u201cescape\u201d. This is often accompanied with labelling the church incorrectly as the Exclusive Brethren, or as secretive, controversial or even as a cult.<\/p>\n

These descriptions make for sensationalist headlines \u2013 but they do not reflect the true reality of the Brethren faith, what it is like to be in fellowship, or the real-life experiences of those who choose to stay or leave.<\/p>\n

In this article, we aim to answer some frequently asked questions and dispel common myths around what happens when leaving the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.<\/p>\n

Can you leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church?<\/h2>\n

Yes, you can leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church although it\u2019s rare that persons do.<\/p>\n

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is an evangelical Christian community. There is a fellowship of around 55,000 parishioners across the globe and it is rare that someone chooses to leave the church.<\/p>\n

Occasionally, people do make the decision to leave. While those in the Church are always sad to see an individual leave, we all believe it is a personal choice. Being in the Brethren fellowship is a commitment each person has to choose to make.<\/p>\n

If a man, woman, or family chooses to leave, we wish them well. If someone leaves the Church, but then wants to return to fellowship, they will be supported to do so if they are willing to recommit to living within the principles of the faith<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When a member makes the decision to leave the Church, there is no formal exit process but eventually that person would be excommunicated. This means they would no longer be able to attend church meetings. Additionally, those remaining in the Church will no longer eat or drink with them as Brethren only eat or drink with those we are in fellowship with.<\/p>\n

What happens to family relationships when you leave?<\/h2>\n

It can be a challenging transition for men and women who have been born into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church if they have chosen to pursue a different path. The Church will always seek to offer support wherever it can, but it is up to individual families as to how they manage and respond to these situations.<\/p>\n

The Church would never stand in the way in the way of families communicating with each other and it is up to people to navigate those changes individually. The Church encourages its parishioners to always act with kindness and compassion towards all men and women whether they are a member of the church or not. (Galatians 6 v 10).<\/p>\n

Brethren beliefs, Brethren rules and life after leaving the Church <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Searching for Brethren Rules online suggests that Brethren men and women operate under a strict or enforced system. However, in reality, members are guided by shared beliefs<\/a>, which are rooted in the Bible and Christian teachings.<\/p>\n

These are expressions of faith and are followed by choice, not enforced as rules.<\/p>\n

If someone chooses to leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, they may join other churches, or continue to practice Christianity in other ways, and some may pursue a different path altogether.<\/p>\n

If someone wanted to return to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, amend their ways and recommit to our way of life, they would be welcomed back wholeheartedly by the community.<\/p>\n","enable_button":true,"button":{"button_text":"","button_url":"","open_in_new_tab":false,"button_class":""},"class":""}],"columns_sm":"12","columns_md":"12","columns_lg":"12"}],"row_class":"pt-0","module_padding":{"":null,"padding_top_xs":"","padding_bottom_xs":"","padding_left_xs":"","padding_right_xs":"","padding_top_md":"","padding_bottom_md":"","padding_left_md":"","padding_right_md":"","padding_top_lg":"","padding_bottom_lg":"","padding_left_lg":"","padding_right_lg":""},"module_margin":{"":null,"margin_top_xs":"","margin_bottom_xs":"","margin_left_xs":"","margin_right_xs":"","margin_top_md":"","margin_bottom_md":"","margin_left_md":"","margin_right_md":"","margin_top_lg":"","margin_bottom_lg":"","margin_left_lg":"","margin_right_lg":""}}],"section_heading":"","section_class":"","module_padding":{"":null,"padding_top_xs":"","padding_bottom_xs":"","padding_left_xs":"","padding_right_xs":"","padding_top_md":"","padding_bottom_md":"","padding_left_md":"","padding_right_md":"","padding_top_lg":"","padding_bottom_lg":"","padding_left_lg":"","padding_right_lg":""},"module_margin":{"":null,"margin_top_xs":"","margin_bottom_xs":"","margin_left_xs":"","margin_right_xs":"","margin_top_md":"","margin_bottom_md":"","margin_left_md":"","margin_right_md":"","margin_top_lg":"","margin_bottom_lg":"","margin_left_lg":"","margin_right_lg":""}}],"resource_listing_image":false},"yoast_head":"\nWhat really happens when you leave the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church? 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