Open Brethren

The Open Brethren are a branch of the Plymouth Brethren tradition of evangelical Christianity. The Open Brethren originated in Ireland and in the British Isles; today they have an estimated 26,000 assemblies worldwide. The Open Brethren form independent, autonomous assemblies and the name "Open" is given to them to distinguish them from "Exclusive Brethren", with whom they share historic roots. The division of the Plymouth Brethren into the Open Brethren and the Exclusive Brethren took place in 1848. Open Brethren are also commonly known as "Plymouth Brethren", especially in North America. Many Open Brethren outside North America, however, less frequently use the "Plymouth Brethren" designation to avoid confusion with the related Exclusive Brethren, particularly the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which is known for its rigid interpretation of the doctrine of nonconformity to the world. The Brethren are committed to missionary work and they also hold the view that the Bible is the first authority in matters of faith and practice. Each assembly (or congregation) is independent of the others in doctrinal matters, yet there is a high degree of communication and cooperation among those who share a similar doctrine and practice. Open Brethren assemblies form a continuum, from tight gatherings that extend fellowship only to those who have first left other denominations, to very loose gatherings that receive into fellowship any stranger without question. A number of the Plymouth Brethren practices are recorded in the text Gathering Unto His Name (1997), authored by Norman W. Crawford. A building associated with a group of Open Brethren is usually called a "Gospel Chapel", "Gospel Hall", "Bible Chapel", "Christian Assembly" or other similar term, not "church." A sub-set of the Open Brethren are the Gospel Hall Assemblies, who tend to be more conservative than their fellow Brethren in their practices. Theologically, however, they...