Our values
Learn more about our values and the culture of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC).
Core values of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
For our members, the Holy Bible is an essential companion and authoritative guide throughout life. From the earliest age, young members are read and taught Bible stories that have inspired millions down through the ages.
We believe that the Bible is no ordinary book, but rather that it is the absolute, infallible, inspired Word of God, provided by God for man. All members of the Church are expected to have the highest levels of moral integrity, and to act in accordance with the teaching of the bible at all times.
We gather daily to pray together and read from the Holy Bible. We also congregate every Sunday in our Gospel Halls to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and to preach the Gospel.
Core values of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
- Proactive engagement with society, actively contributing to the local communities where we live, work and serve.
- Seeking opportunities to support local, regional and global initiatives with care and compassion.
- Education is important to us. OneSchool Global (OSG) is attended by families of our Church and has over 120 campuses in 20 countries, teaching 8,000 students and employing over 1,800 teachers and staff from outside our Community.
- Not recruiting new members. People are welcome to join us if values align, but members are generally born into our Church.
Plymouth Brethren faith and The Bible
For our members, the Holy Bible is an essential companion and authoritative guide throughout life. From the earliest age, young members are read and taught Bible stories that have inspired millions down through the ages.
We believe that the Bible is no ordinary book, but rather that it is the absolute, infallible, inspired Word of God, provided by God for man. All members of the Church are expected to have the highest levels of moral integrity, and to act in accordance with the teaching of the bible at all times.
We gather daily to pray together and read from the Holy Bible. We also congregate every Sunday in our Gospel Halls to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and to preach the Gospel.
Our culture
Modesty & humility
The bible is very clear about the virtues of humility, including at 1 Peter 5:5 which says “ all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
The men and women of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church dress neatly and modestly, with the men wearing long pants and avoiding facial hair, and the women wearing dresses and minimal makeup.
And the men and women of our Church value community participation, ownership and decision-making. In business and in the home, we will work together to come to mutual decisions wherever possible.
Family & community
Family is central to the lives of the members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Brethren families spend a lot of time together – not just immediate families but extended families. In particular, Brethren families often spend their free time together, playing music and singing, cooking together and enjoying outdoor activities.
Brethren families remain close knit as their children grow, and young Brethren adults remain living at home until they marry.
Brethren also value being helpful, caring and compassionate members of their communities. Members of our Church will not hesitate to help their neighbours, and many volunteer and do charitable work.
Business & entrepreneurship
There are 55,000 members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church across the globe and they come from all walks of life. Many are working, one or two jobs, or running a business, trying to buy a home, or pay off a loan, just like anyone else. It is perhaps more common among the Plymouth Brethren to start a business or join a family business. Many of the younger Brethren will begin employment while studying – “earn while you learn” – and this approach helps them get a good start in life.
In general, members of the Plymouth Brethren have strong work ethic and good business sense, but like anyone they can also come into financial difficulties. When this happens, our community will rally around them to offer support to help them get back on their feet.