"Plymouth" brethren?

[Mick116]

Anyone on here belong to the so-called "Plymouth" brethren? "Open", or "closed"/"exclusive"? Any experiences, whether positive or negative?

I attended an "open" assembly for about 5 years, between 1997 and 2001 (I still regularly attend a Bible study group with them). I am grateful for the nuturing I received in the Christian faith amongst these believers.

[No Swansong]

I do not attend but what do you mean by so-called?

[Mick116]

By "so-called", I simply mean that they do not call themselves "Plymouth brethren", and certainly did not choose this name for themselves. This is what others have traditionally called the group, with Plymouth in England supporting a relatively large and well-known congregation. They were actually founded in Dublin from a small group of Christian believers who rejected the state churches, official church membership, and denominational names, among other things, and advocated simplicity of belief, the priesthood of all believers, and (later) a strong expectation for Jesus' return (usually, but not exclusively, with dispensational and pre-millenial beliefs). They met simply to remember Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread, without the requirement of a priest or minister presiding. They prefer simple Biblical names such as "Christians", "Believers", "Christian Assembly", "Christian Brethren", and later, "Gospel Chapel", or "Gospel Hall". Today, many prefer "Community Church" or similar.

Others called them "Plymouth" Brethren.

[No Swansong]

Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity what led you out of this congregation?

[Mick116]

There were a few reasons I left.

In no particular order,

1. I studied science at uni, and somewhere during my second year I began finding it hard to reconcile what I was learning at uni, with what I was being taught about the scriptures. The result was, that I began to doubt the accuracy of Bible. I had always been taught that the Bible was the "Word of God", and now this was being severely challenged. Also, I was finding it more and more difficult to take seriously the "young earth creationist" position, which was so prevalent in those circles. This, I suppose, reflects an underlying difference in how we approach scripture.

2. My faith in the scriptures was strengthened through reading some articles from an Eastern Orthodox website; I was also introduced to the idea of "Holy Tradition" in the early church and in the formation of the canon.

3. I became more involved in the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ than in my local assembly.

4. I began a dialogue with the university chaplain (a Catholic), mostly for help with my study of Eastern Orthodoxy and the early Church Fathers. He put me in touch with some young members of a "Forward in Faith" parish (i.e. Anglican Catholic). I was impressed with the power and effectiveness of the preaching from the parish priest, as well as the traditional, sacramental worship.

5. My mother began attending a local Presbyterian church, much closer to home. We are the only 2 Christians in our entire extended family, so I decided to move there myself. I attended this Presbyterian church for a year between my involvement with the brethren assembly, and with All Saint's Anglican.

[No Swansong]

Funny thing is the further I advance my education (working on graduate degrees) the further away from Anglicanism and the closer to Fundamentalism I grow. (no it's not a Bible School, in fact it is one of the most humanistic schools in the country)

Anyway thanks for the response.