Editing Hutterites (section)

=== Major branches ===
Three different branches of Hutterites live in the prairies of North America: the [[Schmiedeleut]], the [[Dariusleut]] and the [[Lehrerleut]]. Though all three "leut" are Hutterites, there are some distinctive differences, including style of dress and organizational structure.{{Clarify|date=July 2009}} However, the original doctrine of all three groups is identical. The differences are mostly traditional and geographic.

There are two other related groups. The Arnoldleut—also referred to as the [[Bruderhof Communities]] or currently, Church Communities International<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://christlife.org/blog/learning-from-the-bruderhof-an-intentional-christian-community|title=Learning from the Bruderhof: An Intentional Christian Community|work=ChristLife|access-date=May 23, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407004601/https://christlife.org/blog/learning-from-the-bruderhof-an-intentional-christian-community|url-status=dead}}</ref>—is a group of more recent origin which, prior to 1990, were accepted by the Dariusleut and Lehrerleut groups as a part of the Hutterite community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/inside-the-bruderhof-review-a-look-into-a-british-religious-commune-a4198496.html|title=Inside the Bruderhof review: A look into a British religious commune|date=July 25, 2019|website=London Evening Standard|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> The Schmiedeleut were divided over the issue; one group(Group 1) is called the 'oilers', because of an issue over an oil well and the other group(Group 2) is called the 'Gibbs'. The other is the [[Prairieleut]] – Hutterites that lived in separate households rather than in colonies after settling on the American prairies. At the time of immigration the Prairieleut amounted to around 2/3 of the Hutterite immigrants. Most of the Prairieleut eventually united with the Mennonites.

Since 1992, the Schmiedeleut, until that point the largest of the three "leut," have been divided into "Group One" and "Group Two" factions over controversies including the Arnoldleut/Bruderhof issue and the leadership of the Schmiedeleut elder. This highly acrimonious division has cut across family lines and remains a serious matter almost three decades later. Group One colonies generally have relatively more liberal positions on issues including higher education, ecumenical and missions work, musical instruments, media, and technology.