Australian Free Church
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Australian Free Church is a
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
denomination in Australia.


History

The Australian Free Church was established in 1979 when Eric Turnbull (1928-2013) was removed from being a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. According to Rowland Ward and Robert Humphreys, this was for "refusing to desist from teaching that the King James Bible is the very Word of God to the exclusion of other translations,"Rowland Ward and Robert Humphreys, ''Religious Bodies in Australia'', 3rd edition ( Wantirna, Victoria: New Melbourne Press, 1995), 88. such as the NIV or NASB, although the church's website states that it was formed "out of a desire to maintain the standards of doctrine, worship and church government held by our Scottish spiritual forebears." The church website also states they "use the Authorised Version (KJV) as the most faithful English translation."Australian Free Church
/ref> Turnbull was the minister at
East St Kilda St Kilda East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Glen Eira and Port Phillip local government areas. St Kilda East recorded a population of 1 ...
and took the more active part of the congregation with him. After several moves a church building was purchased in Chadstone in 1988. A number of people in Hamilton also adhered to the Australian Free Church. In 1994 the Australian Free Church applied to join the
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ( gd, An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach, ) was formed in 1893. The Church identifies itself as the spiritual descendant of the Scottish Reformation. The Church web-site states that it is 'the constitutional he ...
but their application was declined. They have fraternal relations with the
Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor Leantainneach) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which was formed in January 2000. It claims to be the true continuation of the Free Church of Scotland, hence its ...
. The first Presbytery of the Australian Free Church was constituted in 2002.


Statistics

There are currently congregations in Chadstone, Beaufort and
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...
,. The Rockhampton congregation was received in 2009 and had previously been a congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church that had withdrawn from that body, but subsequently broke up. The Deep Lead/Stawell Congregation was established in early 2012-but disassociated in 2014, the minister subsequently being called to a Reformed and Presbyterian Congregation in Rockhampton. The total following is about 30 people including three ministers, one with seven children residing in Beaufort (Vic).


Theology

The Australian Free Church holds to the historic Presbyterian confessions, these are: *
Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" ...
*
Westminster Shorter Catechism The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a catechism written in 1646 and 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, a synod of English and Scottish theologians and laymen intended to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Sco ...
*
Westminster Larger Catechism The Westminster Larger Catechism, along with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, is a central catechism of Calvinists in the English tradition throughout the world. History In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster As ...
Standards
, Australian Free Church


See also

*
List of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in Australia A number of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations exist in Australia. List Active Notes: * "Bible translation" column refers to versions of the Bible accepted. See also: King James Only movement * "Singing" column refers to the manner in ...


References


External links


Official site
Christian denominations in Australia Christian organizations established in 1979 Presbyterian denominations in Australia Presbyterian denominations established in the 20th century King James Only movement Reformed denominations in Oceania {{Christian-denomination-stub