Free Will Baptists believe in free grace, free salvation, and free will. Although they have lost their majority status among Baptists, they have formed a variety of national organizations.
The Free Will Baptist movement goes back to the 17th century General Baptists in England, and Free Will Baptists have also been known as General Baptists. The General Baptists were Arminian-minded Baptists who migrated to the American Colonies from England. Contrary to Calvinists, Arminians hold that Christ died for all people, and every individual has the freedom to choose salvation. They reject the doctrine of predestination, teaching that people have free will in all matters of faith.
Free Will Baptists originated before the now larger Particular or Regular Baptist bodies, and they did not have a particularly easy time of it in colonial times. Americans are often taught that the continent was settled by people seeking freedom of religion. To a point that was true, but they weren't necessarily in favor of allowing others that freedom.
The first Baptists, followers of Thomas Helwys in England, were General Baptists. They believed that the atonement of Jesus Christ was for everyone rather than for an elect, as the Particular Baptists would come to believe. This was the beginning of the divide between Arminians and Calvinists. General Baptists were Arminian, while Particular Baptists were Calvinist.
The first Free Will Baptists originated with the English General Baptists in the Carolinas. Named "freewillers" by those who opposed them, they later adopted the name for themselves.
By the early 1800s, two distinct branches of Free Will Baptists were in place. The first was the original General Baptist movement, described above, which became known as the Palmer movement in North Carolina. The later movement was the Randall movement, which began in New Hampshire in the late 1700s.
In the early 1700s, a group of General Baptists in the Carolinas requested assistance in setting up a church from the General Baptist Association in England. Twenty-five years later, when no help had come from England, Paul Palmer founded the first General Baptist church in North Carolina in 1727, and later helped to organize three additional churches. By 1755, there were more than twenty Free Will Baptist churches.
Then the missionary efforts by the Philadelphia Baptist Association converted most of these churches to Particular Baptist positions, with a Calvinist theology. Only four General Baptist churches remained by 1770. By the end of the 1700s, these churches were referred to as Free Will Baptist churches. The churches in the Palmer line organized a general conference in 1921, and several Calvinistic Baptists, particularly Separate Baptists, became Free Will Baptists in the 19th century.
While the General Baptist movement in the South was losing members to the Particular Baptists, a new movement began in the North, led by Benjamin Randall. Originally, Randall had become a Particular Baptist, but broke with them a couple of years later due to a disagreement with their rigid views on predestination. In 1780, Randall formed a Freewill Baptist church in New Hampshire. Within a couple of years, they had grown to twelve churches.
The Randall line grew quickly but, in 1911, most of the Freewill Baptist churches merged with the Northern Baptist Convention. Those that didn't joined with other Free Will Baptists in the Southwest and Midwest to form the Cooperative General Association of Free Will Baptists in 1916.
Although communications were in place between Free Will Baptists in the North and South, the question of slavery and the Civil War prevented a union until the 20th century. In 1935, the General Conference (Palmer) and Cooperative General Association (a mixture of Randall and Palmer churches) united and formed the National Association of Free Will Baptists, which remains the largest of the Free Will Baptist groups.
Others include the Original Free Will Baptist Convention, the United American Free Will Baptist Church, the United American Free Will Baptist Conference, the Evangelical Free Baptist Church, and some unaffiliated Free Will Baptist local associations.
Generally, Free Will Baptists believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and without error. They hold to the Arminian position, based in general atonement, and they believe that it is possible to willfully reject faith, a position known as conditional eternal security. Free Will Baptists observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, the latter including the washing of feet. Various Free Will Baptist groups differ on eschatology, some holding premillennial views, and others to amillennial views. Views on tithing may also differ.
The focus of sites listed in this category, or its subcategories, is on the Free Will Baptist movement.
Recommended Resources
Serving the Original Free Will Baptist denomination, the Christian Education Ministry provides, or assists with, camp scholarships, customized assistance and workshops, minister's wives retreats, its teacher and superintendent certification program, teacher and superintendent of the year awards, and its annual LIFE conference, each of which are highlighted here, along with its other Christian education opportunities.
http://www.ofwbsundayschool.org/
Convention of Original Free Will Baptist Churches
Based in North Carolina, the Original Free Will Baptists split from the National Association of Free Will Baptists in 1961, although it was created in 1913, and was a charter member of the National Association. Its articles of faith, church covenant, constitution and bylaws are posted to the site, along with convention reports, a directory of member churches, and a list of churches in need of a pastor.
http://www.ofwb.org/
Formerly known as the Free Will Baptist Foundation, Free Will Baptist ministries offers individual and church money management services, and, in particular, encourages endowments to the Free Will Baptist Foundation, or other forms of planned giving or gift options. Gift charities are acknowledged, and donor stories are told, and details about its services and programs are set forth, including contacts and a private login for clients.
http://www.fwbgifts.org/
Compiled and maintained by the Free Will Baptist Historical Commission, which was formed in 1960 to develop an archival collection of historical documents and information about the Free Will Baptist movement, its publication and research documents may be available upon request, but its site includes a digital archive available for downloading, including books, biographies, periodicals, minutes, and other materials.
http://fwbhistory.com/
Free Will Baptist International Missions
The International Missions program of the Free Will Baptists was formed for the purpose of ministering to people in need, sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, planting churches, training leaders, and partnering with mature national churches to fulfill the Great Commission. Its objectives and values are stated, active missionaries are acknowledged, and an online shopping area offers books and a variety of items.
https://fwbgo.com/
Free Will Baptist North American Ministries
Affiliated with the National Association of Free Will Baptists, North American Ministries offers church planting services, church revitalization assistance, cross-cultural ministries, and is the endorsing agent for Free Will Baptist military chaplains, each of which are highlighted here, along with its church extension loan fund, men's ministries, and college internship opportunities. Contacts are published to the site.
https://fwbnam.com/
Beginning as an orphanage in 1939, the ministry now serves a wide range of services to people of all ages, including pregnant teens and young women, infants, toddlers, adolescents, teens, senior citizens, and families. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Family Ministries has programs and facilities in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia. Its facilities are highlighted, with directions, and contacts.
http://www.fwbfm.com/
General Baptist International Ministries
As part of the General Association of General Baptists, GBIM is active in church planting throughout the world, as well as worldwide missionary work. Project reports and information about its global ministries are posted, and its global partners are acknowledged, along with its active missionaries and other global workers, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. An overview of its LAUNCH program, placing General Baptist children and youth into missions awareness and involvement is included.
https://gbimissions.com/
Based in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, General Baptist Ministries serves to unite various local General Baptist churches and regional associations, and provides a base of operations for church missions, resourcing, and communications, as well as overseas mission work, and church planting. Its national offices, international missions, participationg pastors and churches, and a calendar of events are included.
http://generalbaptist.com/
International Fellowship of Free Will Baptist Churches
Created through the encouragement and permission of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Free Will Baptists in 1992, the organization seeks to unite Free Will Baptist churches around the world for identification, communion, and encouragement in fulfilling the Great Commission. Its objectives, member associations, ands links to other Free Will Baptist resources are set forth.
http://www.ifofwbc.org/
National Association of Free Will Baptists
The NAFWB was formed from two lines of the Free Will Baptist movement, including the Palmer line, which began in 1727, and the Randall line, organized in 1727, which united to form the NAFWB in 1916, the largest of the Free Will Baptist denominations. Its history, leadership, and convention schedules are published to the site, along with an archive of convention video back to 2009. Various documents and forms are included.
http://www.nafwb.org/
North Carolina Association of Free Will Baptists
Made up of 172 churches in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or only a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, the North Carolina Association is affiliated with the National Association of Free Will Baptists. The state constitution and bylaws, state leadership, district associations, and a map showing the location of member churches are put forward. Announcements, missions reports, meeting minutes, and an overview of its ministries are included.
http://ncfwb.org/
Original Free Will Baptist Church Foreign Missions
The denomination's foreign missions programs are highlighted here, including mission reports going back to 2012, a list of directors of foreign missions, current board members, and its administrative assistant. Its long-term and short-term foreign ministries are detailed, and its support programs, and fundraising are discussed, along with announcements, updates, contacts, and a blog.
http://www.ofwbi.org/
Original Stone Association of Free Will Baptists
The association was formed by a group of churches that withdrew from the Caney Fork Association in 1850, formally creating a new denomination known as the Christian Baptist Church upon the end of the Civil War in 1865, organizing the Stone Association at the same time, uniting with the Free Will Baptist denomination in 1897. Churches and preachers within the association are acknowledged, and its administrative offices and contacts are posted.
http://www.osafreewillbaptist.org/
The Separate Baptists in Christ were formed after a split in there Separate Baptists in 1776 over Arminian doctrine, Those who supported the Arminian view moved to Kentucky and Tennessee, and are currently most prevalent in Northeast Florida, South Kentucky, and West Virginia. Member churches are listed, along with a calendar of events, a summary of beliefs, and association minutes back to 1819.
http://www.separatebaptist.org/
Southeastern Free Will Baptist College
Located in Wendell, North Carolina, Southeastern is affiliated with the Free Will Baptist denomination, and accredited by the Transnational Association of Colleges and Schools. Its admissions policies, a student handbook, catalog, and promotional videos are provided, and its alumni programs, school calendar, extracurricular activities, publications, directions, and contacts are posted to the site.
https://www.sfwbc.edu/
United American Free Will Baptist General Conference
Formed in 1968, the denomination resulted from a split in the United American Free Will Baptist Church, a predominantly black church body created upon the emancipation of slaves. The official conference site presents a history of the denomination, biographies of its founders, its doctrine and covenant, and a list of member churches. Announcements, a calendar of events, and contacts are included.
http://www.uafreewillbaptconf.org/
Chartered in 1951, the university is sponsored by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention, and located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, its admissions policies, academic and athletic programs, student services, and alumni programs are posted.
https://umo.edu/
Originally known as Free Will Baptist Bible College, Welch College is a private, four-year college in Gallatin, Tennessee. Founded in 1942, it is one of several college affiliated with the National Association of Free Will Baptists. Its admissions policies, enrollment procedures, tuition, and financial options are set forth, along with its programs, adult studies, and online learning. Prospective students may arrange for a tour of the campus.
https://welch.edu/
