How do non denominational churches work

One of the things that you usually find absent from non-denominational churches is voting rights. Many churches give its members a voice in the church and the right to vote on issues and things that will affect the church. This does not usually happen in a non-denominational church, at least not with the members.

Whatever is the leadership structure of the church, that is where the decisions are made and then those decisions are passed down to the members. Again, this does not mean a non-denominational church is bad, but you want to make sure, as with any church, that there are solid leaders. In the churches that I attended that were associated with a denomination, we would have annual business meetings. During these meetings the books were opened, there was accounting given of the financial statements and records of the church.

You knew how much money came in, where it went, how much was left over, how much was saved in the bank. In short there was a much higher level of transparency and information as to where your donations went. This was done because it was usually a requirement of the denomination the church was formed under. In a non-denominational church, no such requirement exists. They can choose to do it, or they can choose not to do it. And even if they do, the amount of information they share is up to them.

Again, this does not make this type of church good or bad, it is just simply a reality of how the church is run. The process for choosing a church is the same regardless of what type of church you go to, whether it is tied to a denomination or not.

Let me give you some simple steps to help you. Visit a church, or a couple of churches, and experience the church culture, the atmosphere, the worship, the preaching, the teaching, and what they believe. When you are looking for a church, the denomination or non-denomination of that church should not be the most important factor. Whether God is leading you there or not is what matters most. By the way I am not picking on Baptists this is just an illustration. At the end of the day, where God is leading you is what matters more than anything else because he typically leads you to a church where he wants to develop you and use you.

I will put it to you in this language — there is something you need in the church God leads you to that they will provide for you. Likewise, there is something the church God leads you to needs that you will provide for them. When those two things align, then you are in the place God wants you to be, whether it is tied to a denomination or not. There is nothing inherently good or bad about non-denominational churches.

As with all churches there are some good ones and some bad ones. Some of the good ones are non-denominational and some of the bad ones are tied to a denomination and the reverse of this is true as well. I guess the bottom line is simply this, go where God is leading you. It also means that these churches are dynamic and responsive, and have a low risk of getting stuck in dogmatic considerations that may not have any relevance in the lives of their congregants.

Non-denominational churches can attract members from mainline churches who no longer agree with specific practices and traditions while remaining within the broader Christian church sphere. By attending a non-denominational church, they can continue to worship outside of the frameworks they have come to doubt or dislike. Unfortunately, independent non-denominational churches may not have access to the resources that a larger organization can access.

These resources include financial contributions but extend to leadership and teaching experience, mentorship and support, and notability and influence.

All of these aspects can help a congregation to grow, reach more potential members, and become a sustainable entity. Non-denominational churches may suffer when there are clashes within the organization, whether it be about practical matters concerning the operations in the church or more substantial questions of belief, practice, and dogma.

If different preachers within a non-denominational church disagree substantially from each other, the church may be split into factions because there is no larger organizational structure to assist in settling contentious issues in a congregation.

The hope is that such disputes can be settled by recourse to the Bible itself, but differences in interpretation can often be more difficult to solve. While this does demonstrate a laudable openness to discussion and debate among the elders of non-denominational churches, at its extremes it could possibly result in fragmentation and a lack of unity.

One major strength of Christianity has always been its ability to maintain its central principles while continually adapting to the shifting needs of Christians as times change. In our current times, the year-old beliefs of Christianity have to contend with the post-modern, free-flowing and often technocentric mindsets of the millennial generation, which has little patience for ritual and tradition.

Millennials are defined by a general distrust of established rules and institutions — or at least an extreme flexibility towards them — that exceeds that of any previous generation. The attraction of non-denominational churches for millennials thus stems from the view that these individuals often have about society. Because millennials are less likely to hold fast to traditions and enjoy having the freedom to make choices, they can find a congregation that resonates with them.

Non-denominational churches have the freedom to worship in different ways. These churches often worship with modern forms of music and are more likely to engage with congregants beyond the physical church space on social media and other church-organized events. There are also usually leaders within the church who specialize in interacting with younger generations and relating to their concerns and life challenges as peers, rather than as authority figures. This holds a great deal of appeal to millennials, who may otherwise feel that their thoughts and questions are not understood by priests and church elders.

The appeal for the millennial church-goer is understandable because the focus is more relational and less institutional. Congregants can break away from traditions and live out their individualism in their worship and religious affiliations. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. As mentioned before, non-denominational churches are regularly established by individual pastors or communities seeking to practice a unique approach to Christian worship.

Some others are established to perform a particular social benefit as an independent Christian organization. Below are some examples of independent churches and organizations with their purpose and principles:. Non-Denominational Churches are continually created as communities decide to establish their own churches, beliefs, and practices however unique to their own within the Christian religion.

Pros : Being independent congregations, Non-Denominational churches can customize their beliefs and practices to whatever doctrine and creeds they deem appropriate and righteous.

This provides the opportunity to deviate from certain traditions of established denominations and appeal to modern or more classical interpretations of Christianity. Non-denominational churches could theoretically adapt more easily to an ever-changing world. Cons : Diverging from larger existing denominations, Non-Denominational Churches can lack the resources or influence to gain a sustainable or growing fellowship.

Also as the diversity of churches expands, confusion and misunderstandings between congregations could increase having an expanding number of theological interpretations and views.

Boston University theology scholar Stephen Prothero contends that nondenominationalism ignores the primary theological and spiritual issues that originally drove the division of Christianity into denominations behind a cover of "Christian unity. Non-denominational Christianity Wikipedia.