One of the two principal divisions of the Plymouth Brethren (the other is the Exclusive Brethren), formed in 1849 as a result of doctrinal and other differences. The Open Brethren are less rigorous and less exclusive in matters such as conditions for membership and contact with outsiders than the Exclusive Brethren.
Definition of Open Brethren in US English:
Open Brethren
proper noun
One of the two principal divisions of the Plymouth Brethren (the other is the Exclusive Brethren), formed in 1849 in Plymouth, England, as a result of doctrinal and other differences. The Open Brethren are less rigorous and less exclusive in matters such as conditions for membership and contact with outsiders than the Exclusive Brethren.