What is a Non-Denominational Church?

In this article, we explore the origins, similarities and differences between denominational and non-denominational churches in Australia, and pros and cons.

Many local churches are part of a broader group or denomination. Think about local Baptist, Anglican, Lutheran or Uniting Churches in communities all over Australia.

But there are also individual churches that simply do their own thing, so to speak, and are known as non-denominational churches. In this article, we’ll explore their origins, the similarities and differences between denominational churches in Australia and non-denominational churches, and some pros and cons. We’ll also highlight a few examples here in Australia.

What is a Non-Denominational Church?

Put simply, a non-denominational church is any individual church that is not part of a broader denomination or group.

Church denominations have developed over many years and bring tradition, shared practice and an agreed theology or doctrine. Many church denominations are global (like the Baptist, Lutheran or Anglican Church) while some are unique to Australia (like the Uniting Church).

Denominations tend, along with shared doctrine and customs, to have systems of support and accountability, defined governance and leadership structures and so on.

There are also groups of local churches that voluntarily cooperate in a network – like Churches of Christ or the Australian Christian Churches network. Local churches that participate in these networks retain a sense of autonomy but can access the systems, support and services of the broader network. There are some oversight and accountability measures in place too and generally, these networks tend to operate similarly to the more traditional denominations.

... any individual church that is not part of a broader denomination or group.

A non-denominational church, however, is genuinely independent. It has no structural or governance relationship with a broader denomination or network. They’re most often single individual churches, or sometimes a larger church operating at several locations. They establish their own systems of governance and accountability, determine their own leadership and staffing requirements and standards, and agree on their own doctrine, beliefs and practices.

That’s not to say that non-denominational churches don’t have relationships with the broader Christian church. Many such churches work together in mission with other local churches, and their leaders are sometimes trained in colleges run by denominations. All churches, together, make up the body of Christ.

From a theological or doctrinal perspective, it’s reasonable to suggest that non-denominational beliefs are generally more aligned with evangelical, or conservative denominations and are almost always informed by protestant theology and practice. Like most Christian churches, they seek to live according to their understanding of what the Bible reveals about God and about the Christian life. While they prioritise their beliefs about biblical teaching over denominational tradition, they do share core beliefs with other churches. To be a non-denominational Christian is, after all, to be Christian, part of the body of Christ.

History of Non-Denominational Churches

Elements of the non-denominational movement emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the US. Two groups, led by Barton Stone and Thomas Campbell respectively, sought to bring the church back to what they understood as the early, biblical models of the church in what became known over time as the Restoration Movement. Some consider it to have been primarily a movement to unify the church around visible patterns of the 1st Century church.

Some churches that grew as a result of this movement later formed voluntary networks – such as Churches of Christ mentioned earlier – that have grown in size and practice such that they are akin to denominations in many ways.

Modern Non-Denominational Churches

In recent decades there has been significant growth in the number of local churches identifying as genuinely independent, a more contemporary form of non-denominationalism. This has happened in the US and other parts of the world, including Australia where many churches operate independently of any denomination or networks.

Non-denominational churches in this era tend to have developed due to the conviction of their core leaders that God is calling them to emphasise a particular aspect of Christian belief or practice differing from other churches. Sometimes this formation happens after a local denominational church determines that it wants to leave its denomination over a difference of opinion. Sometimes though, the non-denominational church is a new church plant emerging from the convictions of a single church planter, or small group of leaders. What is in common with the early restoration movement is a determination to follow observed biblical and 1st C patterns for the church.

The Pros and Cons of Non-Denominational Churches

As with any church, there are pros and cons of non-denominational churches. We’re all human, after all, and none of us manage to get it quite right. Here’s a look at some of the unique pros and cons of independent churches.

Self-Determining

Non-denominational churches, by nature of their independence from denominational systems, can be agile, and quick to react to opportunities for mission within their local communities. This capacity to be self-determining and speedy to respond can be a real strength.

On the other hand, without systems of denominational support (things like church welfare agencies, or funding through denominational channels etc) the independent church might not be able to muster all the resources it needs.

Governance

Non-denominational churches are independent in terms of governance – with each church establishing its own leadership and governance patterns and systems. Most typically they use a congregational and somewhat democratic system of governance, but in other cases might be led by the individual pastor, or a small, select group or board, leaving the congregation with little say. Denominational churches, on the other hand, use well-known and articulated governance systems, usually defined in a constitution and regulations. There is certainty about how the church operates, and quite often strong oversight from a denominational body can be helpful during periods of internal disagreement, or when a pastor or leader behaves inappropriately.

Theology

We’ve already explored how doctrinal or theological differences can lead to the formation of non-denominational churches. This can, at worst, lead to the formation of churches where doctrine and theology are unhelpfully influenced by the perspectives of an individual, rather than the accumulation of shared wisdom and discernment. There is an obvious danger here of drifting from the core beliefs of Christianity. On the flip side, denominations are certainly not immune from error, and theological or mission drift of their own and the independent church can be quicker to course-correct when error becomes apparent.

Practice

Today there are many challenges to small organisations that come from the climate of accountability and expectation set by our broader society. Systems of child safety, for example, have been given a much higher profile in the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. A non-denominational church will need to establish and implement its own systems in response to this community expectation – where a denominational local church may be able to draw on the systems established within the border movement. Other examples of this nature might include insurance requirements or the local church’s transparency, registration and activity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). Many non-denominational churches work hard to meet these community expectations but have to do so without the broader support of a denominational body.

What is wise, if you’re considering joining an independent church, is to seek to understand as well as you can the perspectives that the church has on:

doctrine
theology
leadership
governance
practice

It’s good to learn why, how and when the church came into being, and to understand what its relationships are like with other local churches in the neighbourhood. The answers to these questions can help you determine if you’re joining a healthy local church that is a genuine part of the broader Christian family.

Examples of Non-Denominational Churches

There are non-denominational churches of all sizes, and many different flavours in communities right across Australia. Just a few examples include:

New Hope Church, Brisbane is a vibrant, non-denominational evangelical church serving the city of Brisbane.
iSeeChurch is a large church now operating at multiple locations in Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.
Cornerstone Bendigo is an innovative faith community embedded in the town of Bendigo, Victoria.
Vision Church serves the city of Canberra, growing from a small group of seven in 1989 to around 400 today.
Grace Church International is a multicultural, multigenerational church with two locations in Sydney (Kogarah and Sutherland).
UniChurch Bentley is a church designed to serve the uni needs of Uni Students. It’s based at Curtin University in WA

To find a local church that’s right for you, whether non-denominational or part of a wider denomination, visit our directory.

Scott Guyatt is a writer, speaker, trainer, and facilitator who has served the church in Australia for more than two decades. Scott’s experience includes helping the church explore mission, discipleship and leadership practices in local communities across the country.