The other body of Methodists in Malaysia is the Methodist Church in Malaysia which had been established since 1885.
History
The Free Methodist Church was first organised in Pekin, New York, in 1860 by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church who had been expelled for too earnestly advocating what they saw as the doctrines and practices of authentic Wesleyanism. The church was initially led by the Rev B. T. Roberts, a graduate of Wesleyan University. The primary points of dissent was on the issue of slavery, the theology of Sanctification and pew rental, a practice whereby the best seats in a church was auctioned to the highest bidder as a means to raise funds, that was prevalent in the Methodist Episcopal Church then.[2]
In 2002, the Free Methodist Church in Malaysia was dedicated and officiated in Ipoh, Perak as a mission of the Free Methodist World Missions. In 2008, the Free Methodist Church in Malaysia was recognised as a mission district of the Free Methodist World Missions and now has 6 organised churches with the main church in Ipoh having English, Chinese and Malay speaking congregations.[1]
Generally, Free Methodists tend to be considered more conservative than the mainline Methodists.
Organisation
Governance
The Free Methodist Church's highest governing body is the Free Methodist World Conference.[3] The Free Methodist Church in Malaysia is organised as a mission district of the Free Methodist World Missions and has yet to attain full autonomy as an Annual Conference or General Conference. As such it is ecclesiastically accountable to the Free Methodist World Missions as well as the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America.[1]