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The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian Evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren . They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848 . The Exclusive Brethren movement has evolved into two main parties. The first encompasses a number of different historical branches including those known as Kelly-Lowe-Continental Brethren and Darbyites, Elberfelder Brethren and in the Americas the Tunbridge Wells or Natural History Hall Brethren. The doctrine and practice within these assemblies today is similar to that of the early Brethren and they are found throughout the world. The second party consists of the Raven-Taylor-Hales Brethren who are found mainly in the English-speaking world and who constitute a very small proportion of the wider Brethren movement. These Brethren hold an uncompromising 'separatist' doctrine and their practice has steadily evolved into something very different from other Brethren groups and also from mainstream Christianity. Most recent media reporting of the Exclusive Brethren relates only to the Raven-Taylor-Hales Brethren. GENERAL OVERVIEW All Exclusive Brethren groups believe that there is a necessary unity of the local church or assembly. This is expressed practically in different ways by the different groups, but matters of fellowship and church discipline are generally not merely questions of local responsibility; such decisions must be accepted in all meetings. Exclusive Brethren are therefore sometimes described as Connexional Brethren, as they recognise an obligation to recognise and adhere to the disciplinary actions of other associated assemblies. For example, where one of their branches has excluded a person from Christian fellowship, that person remains excluded from all other branches, who must then treat the excluded person as a ). In contrast, Open Brethren allow each assembly to make its own decision about membership. 'Needed Truth' Brethren are connexional (believing in the unity of all assemblies) even though they are historically associated with Open Brethren. Excepting assembly unity, there are common threads throughout all Plymouth Brethren groups, most notably the centrality of the Lord’s Supper in the weekly calendar and the format of meetings and worship. Often the distinctions between the many groups are not well understood by other Christians and the general public. The adjective "exclusive" has been applied to the group by others, partially due to their determination to separate from and exclude what they believe to be evil. Exclusive Brethren usually disown any name and simply refer to themselves as "Christians", "brethren", "those with whom we walk", "those in fellowship with us", or "the saints". However, the Raven-Taylor-Hales group has specifically adopted the term "Exclusive Brethren" and registered an internet domain in this name, www.exclusivebrethren.com The term "exclusive" does not refer to whether a local church is free to welcome other Christians or ''known believers'' to the Lord's Supper, or whether a letter of commendation is expected. Instead these practices which vary throughout the world in both so-called Open and Exclusive assemblies. However, meetings amongst the Raven-Taylor-Hales group are generally closed to all non-members. This has generated significant discussion about why locked meeting halls should be supported by public money through tax exemption. Numbers | ||||||
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