Free church

A "free church" is a Christian denomination or independent church that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a theocracy, or an "established" or state church). They operate under the guidelines of complete separation of church and state. A free church does not define government policy, and a free church does not 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 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 system [1][2]

Protestant historians would typically argue that this is historically what the Christian church was before the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (see Early Christianity) and before the later setting up of the state church of the Roman Empire, and did not appear again until the appearance, within the Protestant Reformation, of groups such as the Calvinists and radical movements such as the Anabaptists. However some Calvinist churches were also state churches, such as the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands. This is also a somewhat Eurocentric perspective, as there were many thriving Christian communities in the Far East (India and China) during medieval times, yet none of these communities ever wielded control of a state.

Anglicanism

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.[3]

Presbyterianism

A number of churches in Scotland 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.

United States

In the United States, because of the 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 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.[4]

China

Within present-day China the largest free churches are the "underground" element of the Catholic Church (see Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association#CPCA and the Catholic Church), the true Jesus Church, local churches and the Born Again Movement. Possibly several millions of people in China belong to isolated radio churches.

Sweden

In Sweden, the term Free Church (Swedish: frikyrka) often means any Christian Protestant denomination that is not part of the Church of Sweden. This includes Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists etc.

Free Methodist Church

Among the Methodist Churches, calling a church "free" does not indicate any particular relation to a government. Rather the Free Methodist Church is so called because of three, possibly four, reasons, depending on the source referenced. The word "Free" was suggested and adopted because the new church was to be an anti-slavery church (slavery was an issue in those days), because pews in the churches were to be free to all rather than sold or rented (as was common), and because the new church hoped for the freedom of the Holy Spirit in the services rather than a stifling formality. However, according to World Book Encyclopedia, the third principle was "freedom" from secret and oathbound societies (in particular the Freemasons).

See also

in Europe
in England
in Germany
in Iceland
in Northern Ireland
in Norway
in Scotland
in South Africa
in the United States

Notes

  1. ↑ http://anglicanhistory.org/misc/freechurch/ Project Canterbury: The Free Church Movement
  2. ↑ http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/jhhbrown/free1857.html What "Free Church" means and Why Churches should be Free. (1857)
  3. ↑ The Pilgrim"s Progress by John Bunyan- HarperCollins
  4. ↑ De Sanctis, Fausto Martin (March 28, 2015). Churches, Temples, and Financial Crimes. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-3-319-15680-4.

External links

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