When did the Exclusive Brethren come to NZ?
The Exclusive founder, John Nelson Darby, believed the secular world was corrupt and the way for believers to obey God was to keep to themselves. The Brethren faith was introduced to New Zealand in 1850, and is now led by Greg Mason.
How many Exclusive Brethren are there in NZ?
In New Zealand there are at present at least 6,000 Exclusive Brethren, which is about three times their estimated numbers in 2006, although exact figures are not available. The majority of local Exclusive Brethren live in Wellington’s northern corridor.
Where did the Exclusive Brethren come from?
The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848….Exclusive Brethren.
| Brethren Church | |
|---|---|
| Founder | John Nelson Darby |
| Origin | 1848 London |
What are the beliefs of the Exclusive Brethren?
The Exclusive Brethren share some of the same beliefs as other evangelical Christian groups: The Bible is the inspired and literal word of God. People are saved only by faith in Christ. God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Do Brethrens pay tax in NZ?
Which is what makes the National Party ties with the Exclusive Brethren so breathtakingly brilliant. Not only do they not pay tax; the public purse has to subsidise (around $15 million) for their private school system because the mainstream one isn’t really good enough for their kids.
Do Exclusive Brethren celebrate Christmas?
No carols or Christmas stories, not even the one about Jesus’ birthday. Christmas Day felt cold and empty, void of any joy. Exclusive brethren say they know Jesus was God’s son, but do not celebrate his birthday as it is believed to be a worldly occasion. Instead, they choose to ignore the day.
Who is the leader of the Exclusive Brethren?
Bruce Hales
The current leader is an Australian, Bruce Hales – a businessman who inherited the top job from his father, John Hales, after convincing membership of his leadership ability. The Exclusive Brethren is one of the strands of the Protestant family that developed a separate identity in the early 19th century.
Do the Exclusive Brethren celebrate Christmas?
Do members celebrate Easter and Christmas? We look forward to and appreciate Public Holidays just like every other Australian as an opportunity for family time. However, we don’t religiously observe any particular holidays. Instead, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) each week.
Do brethren celebrate Christmas?
Traditionally, many Brethren groups did not celebrate Christmas or Easter, arguing that there is no Biblical command to do so. There are still some assemblies that take this stance, but many Brethren churches today do celebrate these festivals, and sometimes use them as an occasion to evangelise in the community.
Why do Exclusive Brethren not eat with others?
Exclusive Brethren cannot eat or drink with non-members, because their rules require them to be utterly separate. As one Melbourne theologian noted, the key verse in the Bible for them seems to be Matthew chapter 18, verse 17, “let (them) be unto thee as a heathen and a publican (tax collector)”.