[12] The Plymouth Brethren were distinguished from the beginning by a refusal to accept ministers or priests, believing that all members were saints, although in practice, John Nelson Darby became increasingly dominant in the exclusive branch of the movement during his lifetime.

[24] Brethren businesses and schools use computers, mobile phones and the internet, but websites the PBCC considers "harmful" are blocked by the Streamline3 software that must be installed on all devices.

Despite the apparent publicity-driven nature of the partnership, the WPS defended their actions, emphasizing the immediate need for food assistance and their broader role in connecting individuals with community resources.

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) Limited (ACN: 166 059 392) financial data and trustee information available from the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission website.

Revenue reported for 2023 was $5,838,781.00 (10% of this derived from government sources) UBT is the global consulting, training and group buying businesses operated by members of the PBCC.

)[39] As of 2023 OneSchool Global Australia Limited (ACN : 613 500 182) reported revenues of $40,018,704.00 [40] Companies linked to the brethren, Sante Group and Westlab Pty Ltd, won British and Australian government contracts worth over 1 billion dollars to supply COVID-19 tests.

[41] Further Financial Data regarding the nexus of Oneschool Global and related entities (including employee statistics, and government grants) is available on the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission website The PBCC Brethren have been the subject of quite widespread controversy and adverse publicity, at various times since the mid-1960s.

Shortly after its airing, Michael Powell submitted a complaint to the television station (TV3) stating that "the programme had breached the privacy of members of the Brethren, and was unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair."

Historically, in accordance with the dispensational teachings of John Nelson Darby, they view an apocalyptic future for humanity after the rapture of all Christians (Brethren and non-Brethren).

On the basis of religious conviction they have since the 1940s asked for and obtained exemptions to trade union legislation (both membership and representation in brethren businesses), compulsory voting laws and lobbied on abortion and homosexuality.

[51][52] In September 2006, Prime Minister John Howard confirmed that he met with the Brethren, stating he has no problem with the group and that they are "entitled to put their views to the Government".

[55] The Brethren also approached the then Federal Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd who refused to meet with them saying that he believes they are "an extremist cult and sect" that "breaks up families".

[59] The programme revealed that the Brethren had a vigorous and largely untold political history going back at least to 1993, and provided evidence of a trail spelling out how its members have spent millions in state and federal elections and overseas, including the USA.

[65][34] PBCC members have been linked to funding third-party political groups, such as the Canada Growth Council, which ran ads attacking Justin Trudeau and Liberal candidates in the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gerry Brownlee expressed concerns about the Brethren's lack of political sophistication and loss of female voters for the New Zealand National Party at the 2005 general election.

[72] In September 2006, Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Prime Minister, Helen Clark alleged that the Brethren had been involved in spreading "baseless rumour, slander and lies" after accusations that her husband, Peter Davis, might be homosexual appeared in The Sunday Star-Times newspaper.

[citation needed] Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark accused the sect of hiring a private detective to gather dirt on her and husband Peter Davis, who was photographed kissing one of the couple's oldest friends, Ian Scott, who is gay.

[78] Controversy over the Brethren in Britain revolves around the alleged practice of "shutting up", where families or persons are confined to their homes, and is used to punish members who break rules.

The church asserts that such measures are infrequent and only come about after long periods of pastoral care, and only when persons persist in behaviours which are against the principles set out in the Holy Bible.

Faced with the prospect of massive legal costs, Wyman decided to settle, taking down the site and promising never to start another or pass on the information, while the Brethren paid him some compensation.

A new site peebs.net was started up by a database specialist Tim Twinam, who lived in a log cabin in Vermont and took advantage of the possibility of anonymous ownership of websites in California.

It had several levels of security allowing for greater privacy, an emergency button for those considering leaving or committing suicide with a worldwide panel of volunteers who could be contacted, and provided a clearinghouse for news about the Brethren.

Eventually they found out and launched a copyright violation suit against Twinam in Vermont in 2007 over obscure documents that were allegedly published on the site, claiming $500,000 damages.

[93] Despite his earlier criticism, in 2009 Rudd wrote the foreword for a book published by the group (as a fundraiser for the Country Fire Authority) and described the Brethren school, as a 'resilient community coming together in response to this crisis'.

[94] Leaving the PBCC involves significant sociological changes, including the termination of family and social support, psychological, cultural and identity issues, the loss of employment, and in many cases disinheritance.

[97] Within the PBCC, those who leave are regarded as having chosen the world and the devil against God, and separation is required because they could bring members into contact with differing views and behaviours.

In that year, opposition to Taylor Jr personally came to a head in meetings at Aberdeen in Scotland on 25 July, at which he appeared to be drunk, and was subsequently discovered to be engaging in an affair with a married Brethren woman.

[102] In 2012, the Preston Downs Trust (a Plymouth meeting room in England) attracted considerable media attention when the Charity Commission rejected an application for charitable status on the grounds that it could not be sure that it met the criterion for public benefit.

[106][107] In 2019, Mr Marsh published allegations that a director of Specialist Hygiene Solutions, a PBCC elder named Warrick Fentiman, had hacked his email and social media accounts.

On 14 February 2020 Specialist Hygiene Solutions Ltd was renamed Inivos Ltd.[109] In early 2021 an audio recording was published on social media, in which a Canadian private investigator named David Wallace said that he had been hired by PBCC elders to locate, restrain, and possibly kidnap Mr Marsh.