Exclusive Brethren

From BrethrenPedia

Until about 1960, the people now referred to as the Exclusive Brethren or EB, comprised a quiet, conservative, fundamentalist, Christian group who desired to remain spiritually separate from the world surrounding them, and also from the divisions and confusion they perceived in Christendom. They did not support 'clericalism', the making of a distinction between those who teach or lead and those who serve other functions within the church, but recognised John Nelson Darby, J B Stoney, F E Raven, C A Coates, James Taylor and others as gifted of God to help "recover the truth" as to Christ and His Assembly (Church), although none of these men would ever presume himself be considered as "world-wide leader" nor would any have tolerated any one person to assume any official position.

The EB never used the name "Exclusive" for themselves, but it derived from their strict interpretation of the rules of membership of their "assemblies". EB believe that once one of their assemblies has excluded a person from Christian fellowship, that person remains excluded from all other assemblies. The adjective "exclusive" became a way to distinguish between those meetings which had separated over the Bethesda division of 1848, where the Plymouth Brethren became divided into two camps, one known as Open Brethren and the other as 'Exclusive'. (Open Brethren allow each assembly to make its own decision about membership.)

Contents 1 Taylorite branch 2 1959 Central Hall conference 3 JTJr era 4 Aberdeen Incident 5 Recent developments 6 Politics 7 External links

[edit] Taylorite branch

One group of Exclusive Brethren are called 'Taylorites' after James Taylor Senior and James Taylor Junior, who led the church for much of the twentieth century.

This group is now noted for its secrecy, so most of the information about the church comes from those people who have left it. As a result, the Exclusive Brethren (along with other branches of the Brethren) get negative press, and commentators tend to refer to them to using phrases like "an exclusive and secret religious sect" or "a secretive church".

After the death in 1953 of the influential James Taylor Sr., the organisation drifted. Several "strong men" existed, but not one of them predominated. The members, largely bland, lower middle-class people with good intentions and good works, became increasingly "subverted" by the rising wealth and "lax morals" of the western world. JT.Snr's son, 'Big Jim' (JT.jr) took the reins of control and was recognised by the group as the 'Elect Vessel' and their leader. The devotion of members to "separation" is widely practiced. Unwritten rules forbade radio, television, cinema, Internet, cell phones and smoking for EB. Most orthodox, conservative brethren of all kinds will, according to their personal consciences also abstain from some or all of these. Taylorite members usually remain content to have the respectability and sense of community that the EB system provides. Most members profess strong religious belief.

[edit] 1959 Central Hall conference

The annual summer conference at the Methodist Central Hall in London functioned as the de facto policy forum. At the Central Hall conference in 1959, a decisive confrontation took place between Gerald R Cowell of Hornchurch and the New York son of James Taylor (known as Jim Taylor, James Taylor Jnr, or just JTJr). The members regarded Cowell as a saintly type with fine words and sermons in the best English tradition of Brethrenism, whereas JTJr had a reputation as a brash American, with his late father as his only virtue. The conference chose a small point of doctrine as the ostensible point of conflict, but with the world EB leadership as the real prize. JTJr won the battle, and not long afterwards the EBs ejected Cowell - almost certainly on a false charge.

[edit] JTJr era

From 1960 JTJr consolidated power by surrounding himself with bright young men from the English-speaking world, and introduced an increasingly "hard line" of teaching. EB meetings moved beyond old men raking over their biblical knowledge, and took on a more gladiatorial atmosphere. Young people found this much more interesting. JTJr's teachings took people away from the comfort and laxity of post-World War II society by banning membership of associations, banning eating with non-members, and eventually separating families into members and non-members who could not even speak to each other ever again. The JTJr era resulted in a huge increase in alcohol (especially Scotch whisky) consumption among EB. The new leadership encouraged rather than proscribed certain 20th-century inventions: good cars, travel by jet aeroplanes and international telephones.

Two natural Hales brothers from Sydney, Australia were amongst the brightest and most devoted JTJr followers. The elder was John Stephen Hales (JSH), and the younger, more charismatic, was William Bruce Hales (WBH), who married JTJr's daughter Consuelo. These Hales brothers toured EB meetings throughout the world and preached and enforced the JTJr revolution. They also were very keen on helping EB with business matters. This latter activity increased and in 1965 JTJr appeared to call a halt by arranging for the Sydney meeting to expel JSH and WBH for "commerce in the assembly." However about a year later the Sydney EB were forced to admit their "error" in expelling the Hales brothers and readmitted them to the fold.

A substantial number of the EB faithful left the flock in support of G R Cowell, and a constant stream followed them through the 1960s. Not all these people agreed with each other, so various "rival fellowships" resulted. JTJr called these people "profitable losses."

[edit] Aberdeen Incident

In 1970 JTJr exhibited erratic behaviour in meetings. This came to a head at Aberdeen in Scotland, where he called people "bums" and other offensive names during services. After one of these Aberdeen gatherings, JTJr was found in bed with a married EB woman. This discovery divided the EB flock. The traditionalists said that Taylor's behaviour was immoral, whereas others (i.e. his supporters) said that it was just "the Lord testing the Brethren with an ambush." The two groups split, and this was echoed around the world, with suppression of information resulting in less schism in more distant parts.

[edit] Recent developments

JTJr died a few months later in New York and thus ended a turbulent decade. A new leader named James H Symington (JHS) rose up from Neche, North Dakota, and continued from where JTJr left off. Symington died in 1987 and shortly after, the leadership passed to John S Hales (JSH). In 2002, JSH died, and his son Bruce David Hales (BDH) succeeded to the leaderhip. For the second time in EB history the position of "man of God," "the Lord's Servant" became filled by inheritance.

Under the leadership of BDH, the rules of separation have relaxed slightly and Brethren may have limited contact with family members who have left. During Symington's reign, EB people were forbidden to own fax machines, mobile (cell) phones or computers as these were all "tools of the devil". Conveniently, the absence of these devices allows the EB leadership to control information flow to suit their purposes. Internet information such as this article is forbidden, but is surreptitiously accessed by young EB people in schools and public libraries. To "protect the young from the world", EB parents are expected to school their children at home, or send them to one of the EB schools. This has accentuated an educational deficency amongst the brethren as tertiary education has not been permitted since the 1960s and so the parents have little formal knowledge to pass on. There is still a strong sense of belonging to a desirable community amongst EB members.

The EB have a reputation for good entrepreneurial skills and for their low rate of dependency on state welfare programs. There is little membership possibility for those not born into the EB world and relatively few of those born into EB families ever leave the EB world. They learn to live with the EB system and get on with life. Marriage and reproduction is encouraged. Meetings are held once a day Monday through to Saturday, and five times on Sunday, which leaves little time for reflection.

Reports from those leaving the EB organisation, and the limited transcripts of their meetings that have been published, overwhelmingly show that it has become a cult devoted to magnifying the "man of God" rather than God. Dissent is not allowed and pressure to conform is intense. The poorly educated followers accept this in an almost mediaeval fashion. The priests have great power, but painful expulsion and cutting off from family and employment have replaced the auto da fe.

In 2005, a website appeared, claiming to be "The only site endorsed by the Exclusive Brethren". The site provides basic information about the Exclusive Brethren way of life, but no contact or location details to verify that it is official. If genuine, however, the appearance of such a website is distinctly at variance with their teaching on the subject, as mentioned above. It is unclear as to whether "the faithful" are allowed to view the site. The site is notable, as it is the first time the EB has accepted the title "Exclusive Brethren".

[edit] Politics

EBs have eschewed the politics of government. They do not vote, even in countries where voting is compulsory. However, in 2004 the EBs held prayer meetings and donated money for the re-election of George W. Bush as President of the United States. In this they aligned themselves with the "religious right" of that country. A committee formed by EBs in Florida raised $530,000 for the reelection of Bush and of United States Senator Mel Martinez of Florida. $377,262 of this amount came from a single donor, Bruce Hazel, from England. None of the money was raised in Florida, according to a report filed with the Federal Elections Commission. [1]

In the 18 months leading up to the 2005 New Zealand General Election, a group of EB met with and lobbied many members of Parliament, particularly MPs of the conservative New Zealand National Party but also including the parliamentary leaders of the centrist New Zealand First and United Future parties and the right wing ACT party. Late in the election campaign they spent between NZ$500,000 and NZ$1 million producing and distributing to letter boxes at least eight pamphlets attacking the policies of the socially liberal and left-leaning Labour and Green parties. Though not mentioning the National Party, the wording and colour of the pamphlets hinted at support for National. The pamphlets caused some controversy and seven EB held a press conference in front of television cameras to explain themselves. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

[edit] External links

• The Exclusive Brethren - this site claims to be the only site endorsed by the Exclusive Brethren, although the claim is unverified.
• Peebs.Net - A website for existing or ex-Exclusive Brethren
• BBC Religion & Ethics- The Exclusive Brethren
• My Brethren - History and Ministry of the 'Exclusive Brethren' (so-called). Premier resource for their origin, progress and testimony 1827 - 1959 on — with biographies, doctrine, studies, memorabilia, poetry, answers to inquiries and extensive correspondence with guests
• UK Education Dept report
• Times article
• Website for EBs