Free church
Encyclopedia
The term "free church" refers to a Christian denomination
that is intrinsically separated from government
(as opposed to a theocracy
, or an "established" or state church
). A free church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seeks or receives government endorsement or funding for its general mission. The term is especially relevant in countries with established state churches.
Protestant historians would typically argue that this is historically what the Christian
church was before Emperor Constantine and the State church of the Roman Empire
, see Early Christianity
, and did not appear again until the Protestant Reformation
in groups such as the Calvinists and some particular radical
movements such as the Anabaptist
s.
and Northern Ireland
, mainly of the presbyterian tradition, have used the name 'Free Church'. The most important of these to persist at the present time is the Free Church of Scotland
.
the largest free churches are the True Jesus Church
,
Local Churches and Born Again Movement. Possibly several millions of persons in China belong to isolated radio churches.
in Europe
in Germany
in Iceland
in Norway
in Scotland
in South Africa
in the United States
is so called because it does not rent out pews to its parishioners. Thus, parishioners may sit at church free of charge.
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
that is intrinsically separated from government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
(as opposed to a theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
, or an "established" or state church
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
). A free church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seeks or receives government endorsement or funding for its general mission. The term is especially relevant in countries with established state churches.
History
The Free Church is a pattern that evolved in the Americas, while much of Europe maintains some government involvement in religion and churches via taxation to support them and by appointing ministers and bishops etc., although free churches have been founded in Europe outside of the state systemProtestant historians would typically argue that this is historically what the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church was before Emperor Constantine and the State church of the Roman Empire
State church of the Roman Empire
The state church of the Roman Empire was a Christian institution organized within the Roman Empire during the 4th century that came to represent the Empire's sole authorized religion. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches claim to be the historical continuation of this...
, see Early Christianity
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
, and did not appear again until the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in groups such as the Calvinists and some particular radical
Radical Reformation
The Radical Reformation was a 16th century response to what was believed to be both the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church and the expanding Magisterial Protestant movement led by Martin Luther and many others. Beginning in Germany and Switzerland, the Radical Reformation birthed many radical...
movements such as the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s.
Presbyterianism
A number of churches in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, mainly of the presbyterian tradition, have used the name 'Free Church'. The most important of these to persist at the present time is the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
.
China
Within present-day ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
the largest free churches are the True Jesus Church
True Jesus Church
The True Jesus Church is a non-denominational Christian church that originated in Beijing, China, in 1917. The current elected chairman of the TJC International Assembly is Preacher Yong-Ji Lin. Today, there are approximately 2.5 million members in fifty three countries and six continents...
,
Local Churches and Born Again Movement. Possibly several millions of persons in China belong to isolated radio churches.
See also
- Constantine I and ChristianityConstantine I and ChristianityDuring the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine, also known as Constantine I, had a significant religious experience following his victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312...
- Free Church FederationFree Church FederationFree Church Federation is a voluntary association of British Nonconformist churches for cooperation in religious social work. It was the outcome of a unifying tendency displayed during the latter part of the 19th century...
- Separation of church and stateSeparation of church and stateThe concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
- Church covenantChurch covenantThe church covenant is a declaration, which some churches draw up and call their members to sign, in which their duties as church members towards God and their fellow believers are outlined...
in Europe
- Evangelical Lutheran Free ChurchEvangelical Lutheran Free ChurchThe Evangelical Lutheran Free Church is an orthodox Lutheran Church holding to the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession...
in Germany
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church is a small confessional Lutheran denomination based in Germany and western Austria. It currently consists of 1,470 members in 15 congregations, primarily located in former East Germany...
- Independent Evangelical-Lutheran ChurchIndependent Evangelical-Lutheran ChurchThe Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran church body of Germany. It is a member of the European Lutheran Conference and a member of the International Lutheran Council . The SELK synod has about 36,000 members in 200 congregations...
- AltApostolische Kirche (see Old Apostolic ChurchOld Apostolic ChurchThe Old Apostolic Church is a Christian religious community, with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church...
in Iceland
- Reykjavík Free ChurchReykjavík Free ChurchThe Reykjavík Free Church is a church in the Free Lutheran congregation of Iceland. Its head priest is Hjörtur Magni Jóhannsson....
- Hafnarfjordur Free ChurchHafnarfjordur Free ChurchHafnarfjordur Free Church is a church in the Free Lutheran congregation of Iceland, located in Hafnarfjordur. The church was founded on 22 April 1913. It's Iceland's third largest religious body, after the Reykjavik Free Church and the Church of Iceland....
in Norway
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of NorwayEvangelical Lutheran Free Church of NorwayThe Evangelical Lutheran Free Church, or the Free Church as it is commonly known, is a nationwide Lutheran church in Norway consisting of 81 congregations and 21,817 baptized members. It was founded in 1877 in Moss. It should not be confused with the Church of Norway, though both churches are...
in Scotland
- Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)
- Free Church of Scotland (post-1900)
- Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)The Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which was formed in January 2000...
in South Africa
- New Apostolic ChurchNew Apostolic ChurchThe New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
- Old Apostolic ChurchOld Apostolic ChurchThe Old Apostolic Church is a Christian religious community, with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church...
in the United States
- Lutheran Free ChurchLutheran Free ChurchThe Lutheran Free Church was a Lutheran denomination that existed in the United States from 1897 to 1963 mainly in Minnesota and North Dakota...
, 1897 to 1963 - Association of Free Lutheran CongregationsAssociation of Free Lutheran CongregationsAssociation of Free Lutheran Congregations is the fifth largest Lutheran church body in the United States. The AFLC includes congregations in 27 different states, as well as four Canadian provinces. The AFLC is not an incorporated synod, but a free association. Each local congregation is a separate...
, 1962–Present
Free Methodist Church
Among the Methodist Churches, calling a church "free" does not indicate any particular the relation to a government. Rather the Free Methodist ChurchFree Methodist Church
The Free Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination within the holiness movement. It is evangelical in nature and has its roots in the Arminian-Wesleyan tradition....
is so called because it does not rent out pews to its parishioners. Thus, parishioners may sit at church free of charge.