BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Free Methodist Church: holiness, freedom and community
Religious Values guide · Updated
The Free Methodist Church is a Wesleyan Christian denomination that began in 1860 under the leadership of B. T. Roberts. It connects holiness with freedom from sin and with opposition to practices such as slavery and rented church pews. Its name carries that religious and social history rather than simply describing an informal service.
This profile draws on Free Methodist Church USA resources. It is a distinct denomination, not a local branch of the United Methodist Church.
The meaning of free
The church's history emphasizes freedom from slavery, access to worship without purchasing a seat, room for the Spirit's work and participation in ministry. Roberts challenged practices he believed contradicted the gospel. These themes help explain why the denomination connects Christian holiness with the treatment of people and the organization of church life, rather than treating freedom as absence of any common discipline.[1]
Wesleyan faith and life-giving holiness
Free Methodist teaching places the work of God's grace at the center of salvation and growth. Holiness concerns a transformed relationship with God that bears fruit in love for others. The Free Methodist Way also emphasizes mercy, mission and collaboration across cultures. A congregation's teaching should explain how these commitments connect with Scripture, worship and ordinary choices rather than presenting them only as organizational slogans.[2]
Belonging to a connected church
Free Methodist congregations belong to a wider denomination with ministerial oversight and shared teaching. Local worship styles and ministries vary, but the church's historical identity gives them a common context. An inquirer can ask about baptism, Communion, preparation for membership and opportunities to serve. Questions about leadership participation are especially useful in a tradition that includes freedom to use one's gifts among its founding concerns.[1][2]
Common questions
Does free mean there are no membership commitments?
No. The word comes from particular theological and historical concerns. The denomination has shared beliefs and expectations for Christian life. Ask a local church to explain them and the process for learning before joining.[1][2]
How is it related to other Methodist churches?
It shares the Wesleyan emphasis on grace and holiness but has its own history, governance and teaching documents. Comparing those particulars is more useful than assuming every church with Methodist in its name has the same policies.[1]
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Free Methodist Church USA: History
Explains the 1860 founding and historical meanings of free.
- 2.Free Methodist Church USA: About and the Free Methodist Way
Its current account of holiness, ministry and shared values.