Help Needed with Denomination: Plymouth Brethren

Last updated on: July 10, 2016 at 8:26 am by Roger E. Olson

Help Needed with Denomination: Plymouth Brethren 2016-07-10T08:26:57-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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As many of you already know, I volunteered to edit the 14th edition of the Handbook of Denominations in the United States for Abingdon Press. This is a popular reference work that has been in publication every few years for many years. (It’s roots actually go back to before it acquired the current name.)

I have always had a keen interest in denominations–which is strange to many people who think we live in a post-denominational age. Actually, there are more denominations now (in the United States) than ever! Denominations are proliferating like crazy. However, many of them insist they are “not a denomination.” Whatever.

I recently heard a leader of a “network of congregations” call hers a “denominetwork.” New word–at least for me (and I’ve been studying denominations for many years).

So how many distinct denominations (including “denominetworks”) are there in the United States? Well, that’s impossible to say. Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religion (8th edition) lists and describes well over a thousand. I seem to recall that someone once counted about 1,250 distinct religious bodies in the U.S. that have more than just two or three congregations.

One of the most difficult denominations (although they insist they are not but are instead a “movement”) is the so-called Plymouth Brethren who call themselves “Christian Brethren” or just “Brethren.” So far as I can tell the 2012 Yearbook of Churches in the United States and Canada does not include them at all. The 2010 Religion Census includes a group called “Christian Brethren” but cites only 183 distinct congregations. I’m sure there are many more “meetings” than that among all the different groups scholars lump together as “Plymouth Brethren.”

Melton’s Encyclopedia lists and describes several distinct Plymouth Brethren bodies in the United States and Canada (e.g., “Ames Brethren”) but offers very few current statistics for any of them.

Why bother? Well, the Plymouth Brethren, as any student of British and North American, Australian and New Zealand Christianity can tell you, has had a disproportionate influence on Western evangelical Christianity. Disproportionate to their numbers. Some of the most influential scholars of evangelical biblical studies and theology have been Brethren (e.g., F. F. Bruce).

Over the years I have met many evangelical scholars who grew up among the Brethren.

I don’t recall when or how I first became aware of this movement, but one of my first research papers in seminary (1975 or 1976) was about it. I have always found relatively unknown (no value judgment implied) Christian sects (again, no value judgment implied) very interesting. I grew up in one and some of my relatives belonged to some (e.g., my uncle the “Two-By-Two”).

My problem now is that the information about the Plymouth Brethren/Christian Brethren in the Handbook seems a bit outdated and possibly needing some correction. Especially with regard to the individual movements within the larger movement and their numbers (“meetings” and members).

I am aware of the basic facts such as the difference between “open” and “exclusive” Brethren. I have perused numerous web sites hosted by individual Brethren about the Brethren, but none give me the information I need which is stated above.

I’m aware of Emmaus Bible College in Iowa, but I have no direct contacts there and the college seems to be downplaying its Plymouth Brethren roots. (I can find no reference to that at its web site!)

What I am hoping someone “out there”–among my readers–can do for me is put me in touch with a very knowledgeable Plymouth Brethren scholar or historian who can give me the information I need.

Years ago when I wrote my seminary paper I corresponded with a man named Loiseaux (last name only remembered). As I recall he owned a publishing house somewhere on the East Coast of America that published Plymouth Brethren literature. I believe he is now deceased. He was extremely helpful all those years ago. He indicated to me (as I recall) eleven distinct groups of Plymouth Brethren in the United States and demarcated them with Roman numerals (e.g., Brethren X). Melton, in his Encylopedia, demarcates them with names of leaders (e.g., Ames, Taylor, etc.).

Is there someone “out there” who can serve as my contemporary Loiseaux willing to answer my questions about the Plymouth Brethren in the United States in as objective a way as possible?

I asked this here before and several people pointed me to other individuals who never answered my e-mails! I am going to give it one more try (at least). If you are such a person or know one who would be willing to help, please say so here or e-mail me directly. Thank you.

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