What Is An Independent Church?

• Chin Eng

  22 Feb 09, 15:36

  How would anyone define the words: INDEPENDENT CHURCH?

  1. All churches are independent churches because they do not depend on each other? ie Catholics are independent from the Protestant churches? Methodists are independent from the Presbyterians? Therefore, all churches are independent churches?

  2. Some churches that do not follow the traditional denominations and start their own non-affiliated organsations? Therefore, churches like FCBC, CHC, and NCC are independent churches while others that belong to a larger organisation are NOT independent churches?

  3. Churches that belong to a denomination but do not contact or work with those within the denomination?

  What do you think....?

• [J]erry

  22 Feb 09, 15:38

  good question

• Smarty Boy

  22 Feb 09, 16:27

  Originally posted by Chin Eng:

  3. Churches that belong to a denomination but do not contact or work with those within the denomination?

   

  Which one? Example? and Why?

• dukedracula

  22 Feb 09, 20:26

  what independence are your referring to? the denominational churches have their dioceses or executive council bodies to report to administratively...replacement and transfer of pastors are usually directed by the these bodies headed by a bishop...each church is free to conduct certain practices but by and large their liturgy are strictly adhere to...the independent groups like the mega churches and the free evangelical churches do not have a collective authority....it's basically own time own target....even the conservative bible presbyterians have pretty much moved away from collective authority after some dissension decades ago..
• TehJarVu

  22 Feb 09, 20:47

  Independent churches are churches that do not belong to any denominations like AG, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, Brethren etc

  They are usually Charismatic churches.

  The pastors usually came out from some traditions eg Brethren, but now they have a slightly different orientation, so they came out and form their own Charismatic, Independent church. 

  Charismatic churches don't have a denomination. So each one is independent.

  Unless they join the Assembly of God denomination and set up an AG church, then they will belong to the AG denomintaion, which is Pentecostal.