Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches

{{Infobox Christian denomination

|name = Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches

|image = File:Independent Methodist Church, Lisnaskea - geograph.org.uk - 1820275.jpg

|alt =

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|caption = Lisnaskea Independent Methodist Church is a local church belonging to the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches

|main_classification = Methodism

|orientation = Conservative holiness movement

|polity = Connexionalism

|founder =

|founded_date = 1973

|founded_place =

|separated_from = Methodist Church in Ireland and Free Methodist Church (1973)

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|website = http://www.fimc.info/

}}

The Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches (FIMC) is a Methodist denomination aligned with the conservative holiness movement that is based in the British Isles, with missions around the world.{{cite book |last1=Megahey |first1=Alan |title=The Irish Protestant Churches in the Twentieth Century |date=17 August 2000 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-28851-5 |page=154 |language=en}} The history of the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches is a part of the larger history of Methodism in the British Isles, with the connexion forming as the result of a number of congregations departing both the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Free Methodist Church in 1973 due to what they perceived as the rise of Modernism in those denominations.{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Rex Dale |title=Timetables of History for Students of Methodism |date=2007 |publisher=Abingdon Press |isbn=978-0-687-33387-5 |page=231 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Cooney |first1=Dudley Levistone |title=The Methodists in Ireland: A Short History |date=2001 |publisher=Columba Press |isbn=978-1-85607-335-6 |page=120 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Free Methodist Church |url=http://dmbi.online/index.php?do=app.entry&id=1063 |access-date=4 June 2023 |language=English|work=A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland|year=2008|author=John Vickers}} The connexion is theologically conservative, aiming to uphold the original ethos of early Methodism.{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Paul |last2=Vanderbeck |first2=Robert |title=Law, Religion and Homosexuality |date=9 May 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-05518-9 |language=en}} Though each congregation calls its own minister, a General Council of ministers and laypeople meets monthly to manage the work of the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches. Local congregations use the abbreviation "IMC" after their name, e.g. Omagh IMC, representing the full name Omagh Independent Methodist Church.{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=James|last2=Brown|first2=Katie |chapter= Outreach in Ipswich|title=The Alert: 2021 - Oct |date=2021 |page=10-12 |language=English}} The Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches adheres to Wesleyan theology, teaching two dominical sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion, in addition to observing the ordinance of headcovering.{{cite web |title=Statement of Faith |url=http://fimc.org.uk/doctrine.htm |publisher=Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches |access-date=3 August 2022 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |language=English |date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131142239/http://fimc.org.uk/doctrine.htm }} It promulgates the Methodist doctrines of the New Birth (first work of grace) and entire sanctification (second work of grace).{{cite journal |last1=Turley |first1=F. J. |title=Holiness |journal=The Alert |date=2012 |volume=2 |issue=29 |page=14-15 |language=English}}{{cite web |title=Brief Description |url=http://fimc.org.uk/about_us.htm |publisher=Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches |access-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126234944/http://fimc.org.uk/about_us.htm |archive-date=26 January 2022 |language=English |date=26 January 2022}} A periodical called The Alert is regularly published by the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches.