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Whether they are known as non-denominational churches, independents or Independent Fundamentalist, Interdenominational or perhaps take on a generic all-encompassing name such as “Christian,” they are stand alone congregations generally without official ties to a larger body of believers. There are many within Sierra Vista and throughout Cochise County. Many of the storefront congregations fit that description. Still others are stalwart bastions of faith with extensive ministries and fine buildings.
Faith Communities Today, a unit of Hartford Institute for Religion Research, identifies such congregations as “Protestant Christian churches, often with a conservative theology, that intentionally stand apart from explicit ties to an organized religious group.” The number of such congregations is only a guess, but it is thought there exist some 35,000 parishes with 10 million members nationally.
Without denominational allegiances, independent congregations can run the gamut in theology, worship methods, parish programs and staffing. Their clergy can vary in the amount of education they have. Hartford Seminary reports “22 percent had no training or a certificate, 35 percent went to Bible college or had some seminary training and 43 percent had a seminary degree or better.”
A few of those independents “reject the term (Protestant), for etymological reasons, stating they are not protesting anything,” reports an online text. Yet their stance is Bible-built, and their sermons proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.
  
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Where are such congregations located? Eighteen percent are in small towns, while 16 percent are in rural areas. The remainder are found in cities or their suburbs with populations larger than 10,000 residents. One-third of these congregations were founded before 1950, 20 percent between 1950 and 1975, with 15 percent established in the last decade. Two thirds of these churches moved to their current locations since 1980. Some are mammoth mega churches, like Houston’s Lakewood Church headed by Joel Osteen, while most are exceedingly small. In Cochise County, there are several of the former, that is they are large and well-staffed, but there exist dozens of the latter. In Sierra Vista’s West End are many such small congregations.
An online encyclopedia identifies the theology of many non-denominational churches as being “loosely Baptist in doctrine and often borrow from charismatic, Pentecostal, Calvinist or fundamentalist ideas and practices ...”
Baptism is a “believer’s baptism” by immersion and identified as an “ordinance” rather than a sacrament. Holy Communion may make use of grape juice rather than wine. Celebrations of the Lord’s Supper vary from frequently to quarterly.
It’s not possible to profile all independent churches in our area, but we can examine at least two superficially. One is nearly 40 years old: First Christian Church, 55 King’s Way in East Sierra Vista. Another is fairly young at only 11 years old: Life in Christ Church at 2300 Las Brisas Way, off N. Coronado near the Civic Center.
Jeff Anselmi, is the pastor at the older congregation, while Pastor Mark C. Browning is the founder of the newer one.
Although Anselmi says his congregation is “totally autonomous,” there is a loose relationship with others identifying themselves as a Christian Church–Church of Christ. Anselmi refers to them as the “brotherhood,” and most of these congregations resulted from the Restoration Movement. They share historical roots with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the a capella Churches of Christ. Anselmi’s parish’s accountability, however, is to the congregation alone. A 14-member board, comprised of deacons, elders and trustees is elected by the membership. A treasurer presides over the books, which are open to the membership. Appropriate bookkeeping methods are used as well as regular audits made to insure finances are in order. The congregation is housed in a handsome complex of buildings with an annual budget of $240,000. With two Sunday services, attendance averages around 175, said the pastor.
Life in Christ Church is part of a Kentucky organization founded by Pastor Browning’s father that bears the same name. Although not a denomination, the group carries on the senior Browning’s ministry.
Mark Browning says his parish is a “collection of people who haven’t fit elsewhere,” but have found the ministry of this church to their liking. A charismatic himself, Browning is a fan of the late Pentecostal evangelist Kenneth Hagin, founder of the “Word of Faith” movement.
A seven-member board, which includes the pastor, oversees the congregation’s mission. Browning, who is a full-time CPA and the church founder, attended a workshop on congregational accountability that led him to re-think the initial structure of the young organization. “We’ve seen growth,” he says, attributing part of that to the standards the accountability training taught him.
Starting in a small house on North Carmichael, the group grew and moved to another location prior to building their octagonal church building at their present site in 2005. Seating up to 285 worshipers, the current attendance averages about 130, which gives them plenty of room for growth.
Both congregations use “praise bands” in worship, although Anselmi is taking its use slowly so the older membership can better appreciate it as a means of sincere worship. Traditional hymns as well as popular new ones are used in the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services, although the earlier service will continue to be styled as more traditional. Carolyn and Pete Wilkins lead the unit at Life in Christ Church’s 10 a.m. worship service.
Both congregations have phrases to identify their mission. First Christian has a welcoming sign that announces “The Church Where Love Happens All the Time.” Life in Christ Church’s bulletin assures worshipers that the parish is “Teaching the Living Word.”
Out of America’s many non-denominational churches, 21 percent say they are fundamentalists; 31 percent claim to be evangelical; 11 percent are Pentecostal; 19 percent charismatic; while 18 percent style themselves as either moderate, liberal, new age or something else.
What links the two local churches together with most of the other independents is their emphasis on biblical preaching. Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord is paramount. Although that is certainly an aspect of most Christian denominations as well, with these two congregations that theme is underscored.
In addition, these congregations emphasize volunteerism. Some 87 percent of non-denominational churches strongly encourage new members to get involved in the congregation’s varied ministries, reports Hartford. It is this working together that builds strong bonds and fellowship. A whopping 74 percent of the members of non-denominational congregations “describe their church as a close-knit family.”
“It is exciting to see more and more people involved in the ministry of First Christian Church,” wrote Anselmi in his August newsletter. He added, “As our church continues to grow, it becomes even more important for each one of us to find an area of service. What a blessing it is to serve with you!”
“Congregations won’t make it without sincere volunteers,” said Browning. “Churches must have a viable children’s ministry to provide a sound family ministry,” he remarks as he reflects on all the positions in education, youth work, visitation and other tasks that require all out efforts by the membership.
As Browning maintains his CPA office during weekdays, he finds colleagues in 15 percent of independent churches’ pastors who supplement their income with outside secular employment. A huge 94 percent of those congregations have a full-time senior pastor, while many others have large staffs. First Christian Church will welcome a “home-grown” associate pastor, as Anselmi puts it, Aug. 12. Jerry Barraclough is the newcomer with two family members among the deacons, and many friends already in his home congregation.
Non affiliated churches are usually not self-serving. They find social ministries they share with other Christians regardless of doctrinal ties. They do not ignore the community, but seek to be a part of it in order to encourage the neighborhoods by providing after school programs, recreational opportunities and meeting space for AA, Scouting or similar youth groups and family-oriented courses.
For many independent congregations, it is obvious that the membership identifies closely with the minister. They like him or her. The independent congregations provide communities with more than “competition” to the denominations, but a joint witness to the Gospel and another resource for spiritual growth, which the two branches gladly share.
Dick Andersen is a writer for the Herald/Review and a retired minister living in Cochise County.
