Week 18 Preview–Evangelical Free

The Evangelical Free Church Association is a part of the National Association of Evangelicals, so don’t let the name fool you, this denomination is not free of Evangelicals. The word Free in the Church's name actually refers to its system for church governance. The EFCA local churches are all independent and autonomous. The governing body for the denomination is made up of delegates from these churches, both clergy and laity.

This denomination has only been around since 1950, and is the product of merging Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish church groups. They currently have nearly 1,500 churches in the United States, including one just a few blocks down from my house.

After reading their Statement of Faith, I’m not expecting anything too crazy when I visit. This group seems to have navigated itself safely in the middle of the road on the straight and narrow path. It was difficult to find much controversy with this denomination—one blogger does refer to the EFCA as “A Smorgasbord of Heresy,” and its most well known pastor Charles Swindoll as having a "résumé of heresy." I personally think that blogger needs a new hobby and a vacation.