The former president and 27 other presbyters who remained loyal to him walked out of the General Conference session, taking with them about a sixth of the original Free Church membership.

[5] The STT provisional committee confirmed the appointment of a retired Presbyterian pastor, the Reverend Robert Gordon-Kirgan ('Misa Kēkane'), who was the last non-Tongan minister to assume the presidency within the denomination.

Despite the break, the STT continues to perpetuate the laws, practices, doctrines and writings of the pre-1885 Wesleyan Methodist Church from which its forerunners seceded.

Following in the traditional Methodist polity, the Church prescribes the election and appointment of congregational, circuit and district sētuata (Stewards) to assist in the spiritual and logistical oversight of parishes, a historical solution to the shortage of ordained ministers.

A key feature of ministerial candidacy within the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is its insistence on the old practice of having the local congregations decide the worthiness of an individual for holy orders.

[8] This process can be arduous at times, and may result in the overlooking of an industrious - yet unknown - individual, a possibility that is checked by the privileges of the Board of Theological Studies, which may bypass the endorsement of local congregations in order to recommend a candidate directly to the Presbyters' Conference, provided that the person has satisfied certain criteria.

[8] Supernumerary officers are under the jurisdiction of the President, an emergency provision that ensures the immediate appointment of replacements to fill in unexpected vacancies instead of having to postpone for confirmation by the General Conference at its next annual session.

Like its other evangelical counterparts, the Free Wesleyan Church permits its clergy to be married,[8] and even encourages it, since married clergy have historically displayed a greater efficiency in their ministry and mission, their spouses often proving to be instrumental in encouraging and assisting their work, whether it be in the founding of women's departments, the establishment of schools or the teaching of trades and basic crafts to the local community.

Graduates from other theological institutions may be eligible for ministry in the Free Wesleyan Church, but all confirmed ministerial candidates must complete a year-long residency programme at the college with their families (if married).

Both child and adult baptisms are permitted, as the Church recognises that God may call individuals to faith in Him at any age, and that Christ died for all people.

The ministers for each congregation, circuit and district are stationed by the President and confirmed by the General Conference, the latter of which is the highest decision-making body within the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

[8] In the event that the Presidency is prematurely vacated, whether by death, resignation, deposition or chronic incapacitation of the incumbent, the immediate former-president may be appointed as provisional moderator of the Church until the next General Conference, in which a new successor will be elected.