Abstract
The complex belief system of the Brethren places them in the present Church Age, when the spiritual relationship of the church with Christ is paramount. This relationship is expressed as one of marriage, with the church as His submissive bride. Church practice should reflect this relationship, they assert, and so the sister should be submissive to the brother and cover her head in the assembly as a symbol of his headship. This belief in male headship is reinforced by St Paul’s admonitions to early churches that women should remain silent in the assembly. It is further reinforced by the strongly counter-cultural nature of these beliefs and practices, since the worldly criticism they arouse indicates that the Brethren must be right. Lurking in the shadows are the premodern archetype of woman as Eve the temptress, and the fear of sexuality which it expresses. More generally, patriarchal attitudes to women are typical of premodern societies. They are simply another example of assumed authority justified by reference to the Bible.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
With Christ. The Believer’s Magazine, May 2013.
- 2.
Question Time. Precious Seed, November 1947.
- 3.
Question Box. The Believer’s Magazine, June 2009.
- 4.
Letters. Christian Brethren Research Fellowship Journal, vol. 14, 1962.
- 5.
Christian Brethren Research Fellowship Journal, vols. 27, 1975 & 33, 1982 passim.
- 6.
Arbuthnot, Stephen. Distinctions in Service. Precious Seed, May 2013.
- 7.
Hay, J. Why I believe that sisters should cover their heads in assembly gatherings (2). The Believer’s Magazine, May 2010.
- 8.
Scammell, Peter. Women priests: An ecclesiastical debate. Precious Seed, May 1995.
- 9.
Question Time. Precious Seed, November 2011.
- 10.
Oakes, Mike. The assembly prayer meeting. Precious Seed, February 2015.
- 11.
Question Box. The Believer’s Magazine, July 2016.
- 12.
Question Box. The Believer’s Magazine, November 2007.
- 13.
Summers, A. New Testament symbols, Paper 6, The head covering, Part 2. Assembly Testimony, September/October 2013.
- 14.
Question Box. The Believer’s Magazine, April 2008.
- 15.
McBride, Samuel. The local church and its conflict. Assembly Testimony, 2008, Book 3, ch 12.
- 16.
Campbell, J. Headship (continued). Assembly Testimony, November/December 1980.
- 17.
Vallance, D. Christian apologetics (3): Marriage (1). The Believer’s Magazine, July 2012.
- 18.
Brown, D. Christian courtship. The Believer’s Magazine, February 2010.
- 19.
Gibson, J. The first epistle to Timothy: Praying, dressing, and teaching (1 Tim 2). The Believer’s Magazine, March 2012.
- 20.
Browne, M. Dress for Christians in today’s world. The Believer’s Magazine, October 2007.
- 21.
Brown, D. (op. cit.).
- 22.
Beck, Gordon. The biblical viewpoint of sexual relationships. Precious Seed, vol. 62, issue 2, 2007.
- 23.
Coles, Howard. What does the Bible say about same-sex marriage? Precious Seed, vol. 62, issue 4, 2007.
- 24.
Grass, Tim (2006). Gathering to his Name: The Story of the Open Brethren in Britain and Ireland, ch 4. Milton Keynes: Paternoster.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Herriot, P. (2018). The Authority of the brother. In: The Open Brethren: A Christian Sect in the Modern World. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03219-7_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03219-7_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03218-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03219-7
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)