The basics about Deer Valley Church...
Affiliation
We are part of the Free Methodist Church. Free Methodism was born on August 23, 1860 in Pekin, NY. Influenced by the holiness movement, Pastor Benjnamin Titus Roberts and others in the Methodist Episcopal Church (the name of Methodism in America at that time) encouraged a return to the doctrines and practices of early Methodism and its founder, John Wesley. Their views were unwelcome and and new denomination was formed: the Free Methodist Church. Several key issues of the day helped give the new denomination its name:
- "Free" Methodists opposed slavery, championing every individual's freedom
- "Free" Methodists opposed the renting and selling of church pews a common practice that effectively disenfranchised the poor, relegating them to benches in the back of the sanctuary. Free Methodists called for free seats for all and emphasized tithes and offerings - not income collected for renting of seats.
- "Free" Methodists supported freedom in worship, in contrast to the deadening formalism so prevalent in the Methodist Episcopal churches of the day.
The newly formed "Free Methodists" sought to maintain the heritage of original Methodism with its warm-hearted, Biblical message and lifestyle.
Free Methodism today continues to follow in the footsteps of its founders, emphasizing faithfulness to the Biblical message, personal and social holiness, a deep devotion to Bible study and discipleship, and a conservative outlook that translates into active concern for the poor and lost everywhere.
By the end of 2003, our denomination included some 1000 churches with more than 73,000 members and a worldwide membership of nearly 800,000.