Christian Cyclopedia

Formed 1950 by merger of the Swed. Ev. Free Ch. and the Ev. Free Ch. Assoc.

A fellowship was organized 1884 at Boone, Iowa, by indep. congs. and some congs. of the Swed. Ev. Luth. Mission Syn. and of the Swed. Ev. Luth. Ansgarius Syn.; did not join in the organization of the Swed. Ev. Mission Covenant Ch. of Am. 1885 (see Evangelical Covenant Church, The); inc. 1908 as Swed. Ev. Free Ch.

The Ev. Free Ch. Assoc. began with a cong. organized 1884 in Boston. A western miss. assoc. was formed 1891, an eastern miss. assoc. 1898. The 2 merged 1912 to form the Norw. and Dan. Ev. Free Ch. Assoc. (later called Ev. Free Ch. Assoc.).

The Ev. Free Ch. of Am. tries to be fundamental without being fanatic; no decision bet. Arminianism and Calvinism; Zwinglian on Lord's Supper; mode of baptism and age for baptism open; receives mems. not by baptism but by personal confession of faith.

A. T. Olson, Believers Only: An Outline of the History and Principles of the Free Evangelical Movement in Europe and America Affiliated with the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches (Minneapolis, 1964) and This We Believe (Minneapolis, 1961).