Do the Brethren break up families?
The Brethren as a group hate the break up of families. The statistics show the incidence of this among brethren is lower than societal norms. However adherence to the doctrine of separation prevents normal relations between family members when one of them leaves the fellowship. Fortunately this is rare. For example in Sydney there is an average population of 700 Brethren. Over the past 20 years 10 members have left while an additional 8 former members have returned after a considerable time away. Where family breakdown occurs this is always tragic, however this usually occurs when sin brings in irreconcilable difference. The Brethren have never claimed to be immune from marital breakdown although the rate within the church is 1/20th of what we see in general society.
