Plymouth Brethren Christian Church

{{christianity}}
The '''Plymouth Brethren Christian Church''' (PBCC, formerly the '''Exclusive Brethren''') is a [[cult]] based in [[Australia]] but also active in the [[UK]] and elsewhere.<ref name=echo/><ref name=smh/> It grew out of the wider Brethren movement, which is generally a more benign [[Christian]] movement of autonomous low church [[Protestant]] congregations.

The PBCC bans members from any close friendship with non-members, and has shielded [[child sexual abuse]]rs from the authorities; as a result [[Australian Labor Party]] ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called it "an extremist cult" (although its leadership did donate money to his [[political]] rivals — [[Hypocrisy|despite a church rule prohibiting political activity]]).<ref name=smh/>

==History==
The Brethren movement originated in [[Ireland]] in the early 19<sup>th</sup> century, with prominent figures Anthony Norris Groves, Edward Cronin, John Nelson Darby, and John Gifford Bellett. It soon spread to the rest of the (then) United Kingdom; in early years it was often known as the '''Plymouth Brethren''', owing to the importance of that city in its development (the term is still sometimes incorrectly used for all types of Brethren). In 1848, the Brethren movement split in two, with factions led by Darby and George Müller, over the issue of whether congregations should be separate (Müller's view) or had a fundamental loyalty to each other (Darby's connexionalist view). Müller's followers are the Open Brethren, and Darby's the Exclusive Brethren.<ref name=bbc/> The former took a fairly innocent path of people getting together to [[pray]] and worship; the latter were not so nice. Darby was one of the inventors of the theological system called [[dispensationalism]], and as such one of the authors of the [[end-times]] speculations that run through [[evangelical Christianity]] in the United States.

==Cult==
John Nelson Darby's Exclusive Brethren split from the Open Brethren in 1848 (sources differ on who left whom). Today it is known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), and is led by Australian businessman Bruce Hales. It requires a strict policy of separation from non-members (anyone that they do not celebrate [[Eucharist]] with): practitioners cannot eat meals with outsiders, watch television or radio, go to the cinema, go to university, have any involvement in politics, keep pets (a distraction from [[God]]), or live in a semi-detached house next to non-practitioners or a house with a drain shared with non-members.<ref name=echo>[https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/mans-escape-bizarre-cult-stopped-17542419 Man's escape from 'cult' that stopped members from keeping pets or speaking to family], Liverpool Echo, 11 Jan 2020</ref><ref name=bbc/> Hales's church has been accused of abuse and [[bullying]], enforcing separation within families.<ref name=thirdsector>[https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/open-brethren-write-charity-commission-stress-differences-exclusive-branch/governance/article/1166486 Open Brethren write to the Charity Commission to stress differences with Exclusive branch], ''Third Sector'', 14 January 2013</ref><ref name=bbc>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/exclusivebrethren_1.shtml Exclusive Brethren], BBC Religion</ref> Hales told members to maintain an "utter hatred" for non-members and advised one member who was upset over not being able to see his unbeliever family to drink poison.<ref name=smh/> They also made payments to cover up child sex abuse, and reinstated a member who while a school trustee had abused two young girls who were living with him and attending his school.<ref name=smh/> They are also very very [[homophobic]].<ref name=smh/> Basically your standard [[cult]].

The PBCC grew out of John Nelson Darby's Exclusive Brethren. Darby was succeeded by Frederick Raven, and then James Taylor Sr. A prominent figure in the mid 20<sup>th</sup> century was the latter's son James Taylor Jr (1899–1970): in 1959, following a long dispute over leadership, Taylor Jr [[excommunicate]]d his rival, Gerald Cowell, and issued a series of edicts banning members from associating with non-members. Many members left during Taylor's leadership, in some cases joining other Brethren groups. In 1970 there was a controversial incident where Taylor apparently showed up drunk at a meeting in Aberdeen. Taylor died shortly after the Aberdeen incident and was succeeded by James H. Symington. Symington died in 1987 and was succeeded by the Australian John S. Hales. He died in 2002 and leadership passed to his son Bruce David Hales.<ref name=wppbcc/> Hales' movement was rebranded as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in 2012.<ref name=echo/>

Although PBCC members are not supposed to vote or participate in politics, in 2004 senior Australian members donated US$370,460 to [[right-wing]] politician John Howard, and in 2010 they donated AU$67,000 to his party, the [[Liberal Party of Australia|"Liberal" Party of Australia]].<ref name=smh>[https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/revealed-how-exclusive-brethren-members-secretly-donate-to-the-liberal-party-20160615-gpk0nd.html Revealed: how Exclusive Brethren members secretly donate to the Liberal Party], Sydney Morning Herald, June 17, 2016</ref>

The PBCC claims to have "300 autonomous assemblies in 18 countries".<ref name=wppbcc>{{wpa|Plymouth Brethren Christian Church}}</ref>

==Brethren movement==
While the PBCC represent one particular offshoot of the original Plymouth Brethren movement, there are other more benign churches with a similar origin. '''Brethren''', '''Christian Brethren''', '''Open Brethren''', and '''Gospel Halls''' are all names used for a movement of [[Christian]]s who have no central authority and believe that they shouldn't give themselves a [[sectarian]] name (which makes it hard to identify them as a denomination). Their places of worship are commonly known as "Gospel Chapel", "Gospel Hall", "Bible Chapel", or "Christian Assembly".<ref name=wpob>{{wpa|Open Brethren}}</ref> The term Gospel Halls Movement is often used for the more conservative Open Brethren congregations, who tend to call their places of worship Gospel Halls, while Bible Chapels is the name preferred by the liberal congregations, although there is little doctrinal difference.<ref name=wpgha>{{wpa|Gospel Hall Assemblies}}</ref>

The Brethren movement in general claims to represent [[Paul of Tarsus|Pauline]] Christianity, and typically believe in ''[[sola scriptura]]'' and [[Biblical literalism|Bible inerrancy]]. Their doctrines include justification by grace, that [[baptism]] is not required for [[salvation]], [[dispensationalism]], and eternal [[Heaven]] and [[Hell]] for believers and nonbelievers respectively. They believe each congregation should be independent and autonomous, and oppose salaried clergy (similar to the [[Quakers]] and some other low church sects).<ref name=wpgha/> They prefer simplicity in their places of worship, not even using crosses, and rejecting stained glass and other typical Christian accoutrements; many congregations oppose hymns (other than [[psalms]]), musical instruments, and formal liturgies, although some more liberal churches have modern hymns with accompaniment.<ref name=wpob/>

Today, Brethren churches are popular in [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], with Scottish publisher John Ritchie Ltd producing a lot of material, but the movement has spread to Europe, North America and elsewhere.<ref name=wpgha/> There is a website gospelhalls.co.uk which lists chapels and halls in the UK, but it has no official status.<ref>[http://www.gospelhall.org.uk/who.htm Who runs this site?], Tim McShane, gospelhalls.co.uk, accessed 19 May 2021</ref>

==OneSchool Global==
OneSchool Global is a large group of Brethren schools, located primarily in Australia but also located throughout the world. The schools tightly control and constantly monitor students. In Australia, they have receive substantial government subsidies of $130 million in 5 years.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/08/why-guardian-australia-is-investigating-exclusive-brethren-schools Why Guardian Australia is investigating Exclusive Brethren schools] by Sarah Martin (7 Jul 2024 11.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/09/students-under-near-constant-surveillance-at-exclusive-brethren-linked-schools-insiders-claim-oneschool-global-ntwnfb Students under near constant surveillance at Exclusive Brethren-linked schools, insiders claim] by Sarah Martin (8 Jul 2024 11.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/08/years-at-exclusive-brethren-school-were-darkest-moments-of-my-life-says-former-student-ntwnfb Brethren school were ‘darkest moments of my life’, former student says] by Sarah Martin (7 Jul 2024 11.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

==External links==
*[https://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/who-we-are/ Plymouth Brethren Christian Church website]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Cults]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

Categories: Australia, Cults, United Kingdom