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Open Brethren (Christian Brethren)
Classification
Protestant
Orientation
Plymouth Brethren
Polity
Congregationalist
Region
c. 130 countries
Founder
George Müller and others
Origin
1848 Bristol, England
Separated from
Plymouth Brethren (N.B. The Open Brethren and the Exclusive Brethren, which emerged from the schism, dispute which party was responsible for it)
Separations
Needed Truth Brethren, 1892
Congregations
25,000[1]
Members
2 million est.[1]
The Open Brethren, sometimes called Christian Brethren, are a group of Evangelical Christian churches that arose in the late 1820s as part of the Assembly Movement within the Plymouth Brethren tradition. They originated in Ireland before spreading throughout the British Isles, and 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.[2] Open Brethren are also commonly known as "Plymouth Brethren", especially in North America. Many Open Brethren outside North America, however, are unwilling to use the "Plymouth Brethren" designation because it is associated with the Exclusive Brethren, particularly the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which is known for its rigid interpretation of the doctrine of separation from 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.[3] 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.[4]
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. 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.[5] Theologically, however, they differ very little.
^ abCite error: The named reference partnershipuk.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Open Brethren customarily adhere to dispensational concepts like other historically related groups, though the Open Brethren's congregational polity tolerates various personally held views of biblical prophecy and other issues.
^"History Since 1870". Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
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