Free churches: Difference between revisions

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A '''free church''' is any [[Christian denomination]] that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a [[state church]]). A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work. The term is only relevant in countries with established state churches. Notwithstanding that, the description "free" has no inherent doctrinal or polity overtones. An individual belonging to a free church is known as a '''free churchperson''' or, historically, '''free churchman'''. In [[wikipedia:Scandinavia|Scandinavia]], free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority [[national church]], such as the [[Lutheran]] [[Church of Sweden]]. In [[wikipedia:England|England]], where the [[Church of England]] was the established church, other Protestant denominations such as [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], [[Congregationalists]], [[Baptists]], the [[Plymouth Brethren]], [[~~Methodist~~]]s and [[~~Quaker~~]]s are, accordingly, free churches. In [[wikipedia:Scotland|Scotland]] it might be used regarding any Protestant denomination, including the [[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] etc., in distinction to the established [[Church of Scotland]].

A '''free church''' is any [[Christian denomination]] that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a [[state church]]). A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work. The term is only relevant in countries with established state churches. Notwithstanding that, the description "free" has no inherent doctrinal or polity overtones. An individual belonging to a free church is known as a '''free churchperson''' or, historically, '''free churchman'''. In [[wikipedia:Scandinavia|Scandinavia]], free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority [[national church]], such as the [[Lutheran]] [[Church of Sweden]]. In [[wikipedia:England|England]], where the [[Church of England]] was the established church, other Protestant denominations such as [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], [[Congregationalism (tradition)|Congregationalists]], [[Baptists]], the [[Plymouth Brethren]], [[Methodists]] and [[Quakers]] are, accordingly, free churches. In [[wikipedia:Scotland|Scotland]] it might be used regarding any Protestant denomination, including the [[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] etc., in distinction to the established [[Church of Scotland]].

==History==

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	A '''free church''' is any [[Christian denomination]] that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a [[state church]]). A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work. The term is only relevant in countries with established state churches. Notwithstanding that, the description "free" has no inherent doctrinal or polity overtones. An individual belonging to a free church is known as a '''free churchperson''' or, historically, '''free churchman'''. In [[wikipedia:Scandinavia\|Scandinavia]], free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority [[national church]], such as the [[Lutheran]] [[Church of Sweden]]. In [[wikipedia:England\|England]], where the [[Church of England]] was the established church, other Protestant denominations such as [[Presbyterianism\|Presbyterians]], [[Congregationalists]], [[Baptists]], the [[Plymouth Brethren]], [[~~Methodist~~]]s and [[~~Quaker~~]]s are, accordingly, free churches. In [[wikipedia:Scotland\|Scotland]] it might be used regarding any Protestant denomination, including the [[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)\|Free Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] etc., in distinction to the established [[Church of Scotland]].		A '''free church''' is any [[Christian denomination]] that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a [[state church]]). A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work. The term is only relevant in countries with established state churches. Notwithstanding that, the description "free" has no inherent doctrinal or polity overtones. An individual belonging to a free church is known as a '''free churchperson''' or, historically, '''free churchman'''. In [[wikipedia:Scandinavia\|Scandinavia]], free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority [[national church]], such as the [[Lutheran]] [[Church of Sweden]]. In [[wikipedia:England\|England]], where the [[Church of England]] was the established church, other Protestant denominations such as [[Presbyterianism\|Presbyterians]], [[Congregationalism (tradition)\|Congregationalists]], [[Baptists]], the [[Plymouth Brethren]], [[Methodists]] and [[Quakers]] are, accordingly, free churches. In [[wikipedia:Scotland\|Scotland]] it might be used regarding any Protestant denomination, including the [[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)\|Free Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] etc., in distinction to the established [[Church of Scotland]].

	==History==		==History==