A church may have no denominational name while sharing much with Baptist, Pentecostal, or other Protestant traditions. “Non-denominational” tells you about a church’s formal affiliations. To understand its beliefs, look at what the congregation teaches.
Where it came from
Independent congregations have several histories, including older free-church movements and newer evangelical and charismatic networks. Free church often means a community organized independently of an established state church. Independence from the state and independence from a denomination are related questions, but not identical.
Some congregations were founded without a parent body; others left an existing denomination or entered a voluntary fellowship. These histories vary by country and community. There is no single founder or founding date for non-denominational Christianity.
What it emphasizes
Many such churches emphasize Bible teaching, personal conversion, and communicating faith. Others have different priorities. Evangelical is a movement across denominations, commonly emphasizing Scripture, new life through faith, Jesus’ saving death, and active witness; it is not another word for independent.
Some communities emphasize continuing gifts of the Spirit and call themselves charismatic. Others do not. A broad name such as Community Church does not disclose its position on baptism, election, or spiritual gifts.
Worship and organization
Worship may include contemporary songs, prayer, preaching, and communion, but independence does not require a particular musical style. Leadership may rest with elders, a congregational vote, or a governing board. An elder is a recognized community leader; the powers of that role differ.
Independent churches can cooperate through networks for training, mission, or support. The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches is one British example of cooperation without denominational central control.
Differences within the family
This category is especially broad. Some networks make membership conditional on a detailed statement of faith; others provide looser relationships. Women’s leadership, church discipline, and decision-making can differ considerably.
Read the congregation’s own beliefs and governance documents. Ask who can question a decision and how leaders are accountable. Even without a denominational label, a community inherits traditions and makes choices about beliefs, rules, and leadership.
Sources & further reading
A question in the margin is a good place to begin.