Open and closed Brethren

Open and Closed Brethren

The Closed Brethren is more “exclusive” than the open Brethren, and is therefore harder to get into. The Closed Brethren are generally smaller groups of Brethren and are usually closed off from their society in their extreme isolationist worlds. Some closed Brethren’s are the “Taylor-Hayes Brethren” and the “Raven” Brethren, both named after their founding members. These groups are very exclusive and isolated, however they still allow visitors to attend Gospel meetings and other gatherings.

The Closed Brethren are often completely isolated with the world around them. They do this to try and stay away from the evils of the modern world. Therefore they can only eat and drink in the company of other closed Brethren members, and only go on outings if accompanied with many Brethren members for “protection” from the evils of the world. All the members of the Brethren become very reliant on each other.

The open Brethren are still allowed to mingle with other people in the world but do so with caution as to keep away from the evil. Children in the open Brethren are a lot more social and socially aware than the members of the closed Brethren.

Open Brethren have less strict rules than the closed Brethren. For example a member of an open Brethren could gamble and stay in the open Brethren (if repented) but a member in the closed Brethren could be asked to leave if caught only lying.

Closed Brethren often take very precise translations of the bible to make their daily rules. As an example of this the women in the closed Brethren are second to the man, and have to do whatever they say. Whereas the rules in the open Brethren are a lot more flexible as they do not take the translations of the bible as literally as the closed Brethren. For example the women are still second to man, but man and women have to serve each other alike.

A clearer difference between Open and Exclusive assemblies is in the nature of relationships between meetings. Open Brethren meetings are generally local assemblies that are autonomous but often informally linked with each other. Exclusive Brethren are generally "connexional" and so feel under obligation to recognise and adhere to the disciplinary actions of other associated assemblies.