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

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.

Free Church

The proper noun Free Church may refer to: