Free Methodist Church

Free Methodist Church is a Christian denomination that originated in the United States in the mid-19th century, influenced by the Wesleyan theology of John Wesley and the Holiness movement led by Charles Finney and Phoebe Palmer. The church was founded by Benjamin Titus Roberts in 1860, after he was expelled from the Methodist Episcopal Church due to his advocacy for abolitionism and women's rights, supported by William Lloyd Garrison and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The Free Methodist Church is part of the broader Methodist tradition, which also includes the United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Church of the Nazarene, and has been shaped by the Second Great Awakening and the Social Gospel movement, led by Charles Sheldon and Walter Rauschenbusch.

● History

The Free Methodist Church has its roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, from which it separated in 1860, influenced by the American Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln. The new denomination was formed by a group of Methodist ministers and laypeople who were dissatisfied with the Methodist Episcopal Church's stance on issues such as slavery and women's ordination, and were inspired by the Underground Railroad and the Women's Loyal National League, led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The first General Conference of the Free Methodist Church was held in 1860 in Buffalo, New York, and was attended by Benjamin Titus Roberts, Luther Lee, and other prominent Methodist leaders, including Daniel Steele and Hannah Whitall Smith. The church experienced significant growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States and Canada, and was influenced by the Azusa Street Revival and the Pentecostal movement, led by Charles Parham and William Seymour.

● Beliefs

The Free Methodist Church is a Christian denomination that adheres to the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, and is part of the broader Evangelicalism movement, which also includes the Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and Presbyterian Church in America. The church's theology is rooted in Wesleyan theology and emphasizes the importance of personal holiness and social justice, inspired by the Social Gospel movement and the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Free Methodists believe in the authority of the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives, and have been influenced by the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, led by Martin Luther and John Calvin. The church also affirms the importance of baptism and the Lord's Supper as sacraments, and has been shaped by the Anabaptist movement and the Puritan movement, led by Menno Simons and John Owen.

● Organization

The Free Methodist Church is a connexional denomination, meaning that it is governed by a system of conferences and councils that connect local churches to the broader denomination, similar to the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA). The church is divided into several annual conferences, each of which is responsible for overseeing a group of local churches, and is led by bishops and district superintendents, such as Bishop Matthew Thomas and Bishop David Kendall. The Free Methodist Church also has a number of general agencies that provide support and resources for local churches, including the Free Methodist World Missions and the Free Methodist Church Foundation, and has partnerships with other denominations, such as the World Methodist Council and the National Association of Evangelicals.

● Worship

Free Methodist worship is characterized by a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, and is influenced by the Charismatic movement and the Worship movement, led by John Wimber and Saddleback Church. The church's worship services typically include a mix of hymns and contemporary Christian music, as well as prayer, preaching, and communion, and have been shaped by the Liturgy and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Free Methodists also place a strong emphasis on personal devotion and spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, fasting, and Bible study, inspired by the Desert Fathers and the Puritan movement, led by Anthony of Egypt and John Bunyan.

● Missions

The Free Methodist Church has a strong commitment to missions and evangelism, and has sent missionaries to numerous countries around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and has partnerships with other mission organizations, such as the Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Samaritan's Purse. The church's mission statement emphasizes the importance of sharing the Gospel with all people and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ through acts of service and compassion, inspired by the Great Commission and the Sermon on the Mount. Free Methodists also support a number of humanitarian initiatives, including disaster relief and community development projects, led by organizations such as the Red Cross and the Habitat for Humanity, and have been influenced by the Social Gospel movement and the Emerging church movement, led by Brian McLaren and Tony Jones.