The Plymouth Brethren maintain strict separation from the outside world, with practices including avoiding non-members, limited media access, and strict restrictions on education and employment outside their community. Brethren members typically work for community-owned businesses, marry within the sect, and require approval for major life decisions from church elders. Community meeting rooms, funded by charitable host multiple gatherings each week. The sect has approximately 54,000 members and are based in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Argentina and the Caribbean.
The brethren operate a global 'ecosystem' all under the leadership of Sydney based businessman Bruce Hales. At the heart of the system is the Global Advisory Panel (GAP) and the Universal Business Team (UBT). The system then breaks down into five different areas: Maintaining their way of life, Improving the profits of community businesses, Funding education and welfare needs, Protecting and educating their young and finally Elevating circumstances. The whole ecosystem is extremely wealth and money orientated with the Brethren despite their tiny following being worth billions. It is supported by the associated benefit of charitable status with more than 200 registered Brethren charities and by the 3,000+ businesses owned by their members, delivering £20 billion+ in revenue/sales each year.
Operating their own education, the brethren run schools called OneSchool Global with over 120 campuses. They operate retail stores for brethren members only under the banner of Campus & Co. They have their own investment fund known as Vision, this is ran by members of the Global Funding Team (GFT). Other operational entities include, Onemedifund, providing brethren private medical insurance. BCF pensions offer pensions for brethren members and companies owned by brethren members. National Assistance Fund (NAF) is the central charity for which funding is funnelled for the benefit of OneSchool Global. Rapid Relief Team, the brethren "Public facing or Public relations" charity that provides free catering in emergencies and at events. UBT household is the advisory service for running a brethren household. Orbit is the brethren travel booking service. The aim for the system is to enable the brethren to be a self-sustaining organisation.
Critics accuse the Brethren leadership of coercion, controlling members' lives from birth and making it difficult to leave, coupled with their use of litigation to stifle any criticism. Ex-members report abuse, mental health issues, and manipulation by church leaders. The insular practices, wealth, charitable status, allegations of coercion, the practice of separation, and abuse underscore concerns about their overall contribution to society. It is of note that brethren members are unable to serve in any public sector role. You will not find a qualified nurse, or doctor, or firefighter. Nor will you find someone serving in the armed forces, working as a solicitor or any public servant.
Open & Candid have investigated the Plymouth Brethren, it is our belief that under the leadership of Bruce Hales and his disciples, that the brethren is nothing more than a 'Cult' and in reality it is nothing more than a commercial operation focused on wealth accumulation, and uses religion as a coercive tool to facilitate vast wealth for the leader, his family and a select few.
The brethren operate a global 'ecosystem' all under the leadership of Sydney based businessman Bruce Hales. At the heart of the system is the Global Advisory Panel (GAP) and the Universal Business Team (UBT). The system then breaks down into five different areas: Maintaining their way of life, Improving the profits of community businesses, Funding education and welfare needs, Protecting and educating their young and finally Elevating circumstances. The whole ecosystem is extremely wealth and money orientated with the Brethren despite their tiny following being worth billions. It is supported by the associated benefit of charitable status with more than 200 registered Brethren charities and by the 3,000+ businesses owned by their members, delivering £20 billion+ in revenue/sales each year.
Operating their own education, the brethren run schools called OneSchool Global with over 120 campuses. They operate retail stores for brethren members only under the banner of Campus & Co. They have their own investment fund known as Vision, this is ran by members of the Global Funding Team (GFT). Other operational entities include, Onemedifund, providing brethren private medical insurance. BCF pensions offer pensions for brethren members and companies owned by brethren members. National Assistance Fund (NAF) is the central charity for which funding is funnelled for the benefit of OneSchool Global. Rapid Relief Team, the brethren "Public facing or Public relations" charity that provides free catering in emergencies and at events. UBT household is the advisory service for running a brethren household. Orbit is the brethren travel booking service. The aim for the system is to enable the brethren to be a self-sustaining organisation.
Critics accuse the Brethren leadership of coercion, controlling members' lives from birth and making it difficult to leave, coupled with their use of litigation to stifle any criticism. Ex-members report abuse, mental health issues, and manipulation by church leaders. The insular practices, wealth, charitable status, allegations of coercion, the practice of separation, and abuse underscore concerns about their overall contribution to society. It is of note that brethren members are unable to serve in any public sector role. You will not find a qualified nurse, or doctor, or firefighter. Nor will you find someone serving in the armed forces, working as a solicitor or any public servant.
Open & Candid have investigated the Plymouth Brethren, it is our belief that under the leadership of Bruce Hales and his disciples, that the brethren is nothing more than a 'Cult' and in reality it is nothing more than a commercial operation focused on wealth accumulation, and uses religion as a coercive tool to facilitate vast wealth for the leader, his family and a select few.
