A controversial Christian church eyes the Philly suburbs for expansion
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A controversial Christian church at the center of investigations into excommunication and rigid control of its members is finding a foothold in the Philadelphia suburbs.
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has about 54,000 members worldwide and a history shy of 200 years.
The evangelical group has long been known for imposing boundaries on outside life, with some former members going as far as comparing Brethren life to that of a “cult.”
Those allegations have reached larger audiences in recent years following investigations by leading news organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia, where the Brethren’s influence is strongest.
Earlier this month, the Telegraph detailed a former member’s account of being shunned after her departure from the church, where “fear overruled my life, really, from about the age of four,” she recounted.
Those who speak out say the process can sever long-standing relationships between mothers and sons, grandmothers and grandchildren.
The Plymouth Brethren have categorically denied those allegations, and no comparable accounts have been shared in major American news outlets. The church has touted something of a modernization in recent years, loosening restrictions and integrating more members into public life.
And even as church membership dwindles across the country, the Brethren — in Delaware County, at least — are growing.
Content retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-controversial-christian-church-eyes-the-philly-suburbs-for-expansion/ar-AA1B0Yja?ocid=iehpat.
