Introduction
The Exclusive Brethren
The Exclusive Brethren are an Evangelical Protestant Christian church distinct from the Christian or Open Brethren.
Members follow a rigid code of conduct based very strictly on Bible teaching, which provides a firm moral framework and is focussed on a strong family unit.
They keep themselves separate from other people (including other Christians) as far as possible, because they believe the world is a place of wickedness. They regard 'exclusiveness' as the only way to keep away from evil.
The main group of Exclusive Brethren is called 'Taylorites' after James Taylor Senior and Junior who led the church for much of the twentieth century.
Most of the information available about the group comes from people who have left it. As a result the Exclusive Brethren often gets a bad press and is referred to using phrases like "an exclusive and secret religious sect" or "a secretive church".
There are thought to be approximately 43,000 (2008 figure) in the Taylorite branch of the Exclusive Brethren worldwide.
There are up to 16,000 Exclusive Brethren in Britain, with congregations throughout the country.
Structure
The Exclusive Brethren is not a democratic movement, nor do individual congregations have any autonomy. For most of the last 100 years, it has been ruled by a series of single individuals. This is different to the Open or Christian Brethren, whose churches are largely independent.
Lifestyle
Like many closed groups, the Exclusive Brethren provide a warm, loving, family-centred way of life to its members that most find fulfilling and rewarding. The intention is to provide a safe way of life that protects members from the corrupt world outside.
Criticisms
Members who leave or are expelled from the group have, in the past, often been treated with what outsiders may regard as great cruelty.
Leavers are avoided by members of the group because they are seen as having chosen the world and the devil against God and because they could bring members into contact with the sinful world.
Until recently (early 2002) Brethren who left the church were completely ostracised. Members would not speak, eat or live with those who had left and this caused families to break up.
Since many Exclusive Brethren work in Brethren-owned companies they have to give up their jobs as well as their family and their home if they leave the faith.
Recent developments
Brethren representatives are visiting former members, including those who'd been ejected, some of whom left more than 30 years previously. Families were allowed to make contact with members who have left.
In some cases, local priests made apologies where the church acted unwisely, too hastily, or without thorough investigation and failed to display "the spirit of the glad tidings" or "the mercy of God".
Contact with family members will probably now only be absolutely banned where a person is actively hostile to the Exclusive Brethren and their way of life.