自由教會
自由教會,亦稱獨立派基督徒、獨立教會,是基督新教分支之一。獨立教會與宗教改革沒有歷史淵源,近年來更發展出獨立於傳統宗派的教會組織和信仰實踐模式。
其常見形式包括撒哈拉以南非洲境內不屬於任何主流宗派的教會、中國國內不屬於官方宗教組織的教會和美國的非宗派教會[1]。英格蘭不從國教(不信奉英格蘭教會)的派別也是自由教會[2]。
參考文獻
- ^ Liu, Joseph (2011), Christian Traditions (頁面存檔備份,存於互聯網檔案館), Pew Research Center
- ^ Armentrout, Don S. An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians. Church Publishing. 1 January 2000: 209. ISBN 978-0-89869-701-8 (English).
In England, the term has been applied to Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Quakers, and Baptists. There has also been a Free church tradition in Scotland relative to the established Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian; and in Sweden, Norway and Denmark relative to the established Lutheran churches in those countries.