| Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches | |
|---|---|
 Lisnaskea Independent Methodist Church is a local church belonging to the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches | |
| Classification | Methodism |
| Orientation | Conservative holiness movement |
| Polity | Connexionalism |
| Origin | 1973 |
| Separated from | Methodist Church in Ireland andFree Methodist Church (1973) |
| Official website | http://www.fimc.info/ |
TheFellowship of Independent Methodist Churches (FIMC) is aMethodist denomination aligned with theconservative holiness movement that is based in theBritish Isles, with missions around the world.[1] The history of the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches is a part of the larger history of Methodism in the British Isles, with theconnexion forming as the result of a number of congregations departing both theMethodist Church in Ireland and theFree Methodist Church in 1973 due to what they perceived as the rise ofModernism in those denominations.[2][3][4] The connexion is theologically conservative, aiming to uphold the original ethos of early Methodism.[5] Though each congregation calls its ownminister, a General Council of ministers and laypeople meets monthly to manage the work of the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches.[3] Local congregations use the abbreviation "IMC" after their name, e.g. Omagh IMC, representing the full name Omagh Independent Methodist Church.[6] The Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches adheres toWesleyan theology, teaching two dominical sacraments,Baptism andHoly Communion, in addition to observing theordinance ofheadcovering.[7][8] It promulgates the Methodist doctrines of theNew Birth (first work of grace) andentire sanctification (second work of grace).[8][9] A periodical calledThe Alert is regularly published by the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches.[7]