Free churches: Difference between revisions

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 Scandinavia, free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority [[national church]], such as the Lutheran [[Church of Sweden]]. In 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 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]].

One church in England in the [[Anglican]] tradition, has used the name 'Free Church', known as the [[Free Church of England]].

John Gifford had founded a free church in Bedford, England in 1650.<ref>The Pilgrim"s Progress by John Bunyan- HarperCollins</ref>

Some churches in Scotland and Northern Ireland, mainly of the splinter off  [[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 (post 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]].The mainline  Church of Scotland is the national church which is Presbyterian and the mother kirk for Presbyterianism all over the world,  and is not part of the "Free Church".

In England and Wales in the late 19th century the new terms "free churchman" and "Free Church" started to replace "dissenter" or [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformist]].<ref>Owen Chadwick, ''The Victorian Church, Part One: 1829–1859'' (1966) p 370</ref>

Denominations belonging to the [[International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches]] trace their roots to the [[Radical Pietism|Radical Pietist movement]].<ref name="MeltonBaumann2010">{{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |last2=Baumann |first2=Martin |title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes] |date=2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781598842043 |language=en}}</ref> Radical Pietists separated from the [[Lutheran Church]]es, which held the status of [[Christian state|state churches]] in Europe.<ref name="MeltonBaumann2010"/>

In the United States, because of the [[wikipedia:First Amendment]] forbidding the government establishment of religion, all churches are by definition free churches. However, many churches in the United States have requested tax-exempt status under section [[wikipedia:501c3]] of the Internal Revenue Code. This subjects the churches to certain additional regulations to maintain the tax exemption. Churches that are structured under 501(c)(3) face restrictions in the area of political speech: no substantial part of the church's activities may consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. A 501(c)(3) organization is also restricted from participating or intervening in any political campaign for or against any political candidate.<ref>{{cite book|last1=De Sanctis|first1=Fausto Martin|title=Churches, Temples, and Financial Crimes|date=28 March 2015|publisher=Springer International Publishing|location=Switzerland|isbn=978-3-319-15680-4|pages=16–17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJy1BwAAQBAJ&q=501%28c%29%283%29+church&pg=PA17}}</ref>

In Germany, Protestant churches outside the [[Evangelical Church in Germany]] are put under a common label of, and collectively referred to, as "free churches" (''"Freikirchen"'') or "Protestant free churches" (''"Evangelische Freikirchen"''). This includes relatively new denominations like [[Baptists]], [[Methodists]], etc., as well as older ones like the [[Mennonites]] and [[Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)]].

Pew Research Center estimated in early 2010s that China has 35 million [[Non-denominational church|independent]] [[Protestants]] (mainly in [[House church (China)|house churches]]) and 3.3&nbsp;million [[Underground church|underground]] [[Catholics]].

In Sweden, the term ''free church'' (''"frikyrka"'') often means any Christian Protestant denomination that is not part of the [[Church of Sweden]], which was the Swedish state church up to 1 January 2000. This includes Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, etc.

* Altapostolische Kirche (see [[Old Apostolic Church]])