Free church

A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work.

In 16th century Europe, within the radical movements such as the Anabaptists were free churches with small exceptions like the Münster Rebellion.

Rather the Free Methodist Church is so called because of three, possibly four, reasons, depending on the source referenced.

However, according to World Book Encyclopedia, the third principle was "freedom" from secret and oathbound societies (in particular the Freemasons).

Denominations belonging to the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches trace their roots to the Radical Pietist movement.

However, many churches in the United States have requested tax-exempt status under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

This includes relatively new denominations like Baptists, Methodists, etc., as well as older ones like the Mennonites and Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany).