BTDT. The answer is often that they are "simply Christian". That sort of response comes up frequently enough even on this forum. Trouble is, "A" disagrees with "B" on some point, and both "A" and "B" insist that "C" is a blasted heretic. And if asked, I would say that I'm "simply Christian". (think about it). So that's not particularly useful. Worse, when one finds reference to one of these independent communities in the news, or elsewhere, sorting them out can be a practical impossibility. What to call them? I have, so far, IECIDIO, and blitiri. Both of which I came up with.
Golly, I'm out for one day and come back to find that "Protestant" is a term of abuse now. When did this happen?
When I was a Presbyterian (until the late 1980's) it was simply understood that "Protestant" meant "not Catholic or Jewish." (In my suburban-American milieu, the Eastern Orthodox only existed in history class, sorry. Mormons were "Mormon.") The Navy base had a "Protestant Chapel," staffed by "Protestant chaplains," of various denominations. When it was the Episcopal chaplain's turn, you got an Episcopal liturgy. When it was the Baptist chaplain's turn, you got a rousing sermon with lots of Scripture references, and an occasional "Amen!" from the congregants of Baptist tradition. It kept the choir on their toes!
When I went to a Presbyterian-affiliated college, the university chapel, and it's Presbyterian chaplain, held a Protestant Sunday service. The Catholic Student Group had a visiting priest who held Mass on Sunday night. Jewish students had some social/cultural groups, but for religious activities they went to the nearby state university or a regular synagogue. (If we had Orthdox Christians of any sort, I'm afraid I didn't notice ...)
My parents would certainly be surprised to find that it's now unacceptable to describe their Presbyterian church as "Protestant." I'm sure the members of the other (sorry) Protestant churches in their community - the ones who have their joint (sorry) Protestant Easter sunrise service - would be equally surprised.
Is this a national trend, or an individual (sorry) crusade to stigmatize a useful, if not perfectly precise, distinction?