Misplaced Pages

Iglesia ni Cristo

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Raygirvan (talk | contribs) at 03:44, 17 June 2005 (→Central Office and Administration: detail added). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 03:44, 17 June 2005 by Raygirvan (talk | contribs) (→Central Office and Administration: detail added)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Template:CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC - please read the talk page discussion before making substantial changes The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, Filipino for Church of Christ) is a nontrinitarian Christian religion originating in the Philippines. Noted for its Gothic-style chapel architecture of narrow-pointed spires, it was registered with the Filipino government by Felix Manalo on July 27, 1914. It claims to be the reestablishment in the last days of the first church established by Jesus through fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

Church membership

Although estimates vary, the Iglesia ni Cristo has become possibly the second-largest single Christian religion in the Philippines. The official Philippine government website lists its membership as 2.3% (similar to that of the Philippine Independent Church) of the predominantly Catholic population.

It has grown to thousands of congregations in over 84 countries and territories throughout the world, with a notable presence in Hawaii and the California. Although the church does not disclose the exact number of members, the Catholic Answers apostolate estimates its worldwide membership as ranging from 3 to 10 million.

Politics

Ever since former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon created a lasting friendship after asking Felix Manalo for advice, the INC has been known for its strong political influence. It was well-known for its support of Ferdinand Marcos until his ousting during the EDSA Revolution of 1986.

INC members are noted for their bloc voting in Philippine elections (though this applies also to other Philippine religious groups ). Some Philippine media credit the INC bloc vote for the presidential campaign victory of Joseph Estrada in 1998 , and the re-election of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 . Others, however, argue that the INC vote is only significant in close-run elections, noting that the INC choice lost in 1969 and 1992 .

Arroyo's father, Diosdado Macapagal refused INC's preferred support during his runs for Vice President in 1957, and re-election for President in 1965 – in which he incidentally lost to Marcos. A claimed autobiography at The Macapagals tribute website says that, based on his political and religious views, he referred to the INC as "harmful to democracy because it forces its believers to vote solidly in elections".

Until 2000, the INC also distributed lists of supported candidates for elections in the United States.

General Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo

There are 28 primary doctrines in the INC, some of which are:

  • There is only one God, the Father.
  • Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a man and was sent by God to be the only mediator between men and God.
  • The Bible is the sole basis for spiritual guidance.
  • One needs to be commissioned by God in order to preach the Gospel.
  • Felix Manalo is the fulfillment of several Biblical prophecies both from the Old and New Testaments, and was sent to reestablish the original Church founded by Jesus, since all other churches had fallen into apostacy. (Thus INC members view as factually untrue the frequent description of Felix Manalo as the "founder" of INC).

Organizations

There are four organizations in the Church, with all members belonging to one:

  • Children's Worship Service or CWS, designed to help children understand INC teachings and prepare them for baptism.
  • Binhi, meaning "seed" for baptized members up to the age of seventeen.
  • KADIWA (Kabataang May Diwang Wagas), meaning "youth with pure intent" for unmarried members 18 and over.
  • Buklod, meaning "united in marriage" for all married members.

Each organization's goal is to increase fellowship and unity between members of the same age group. On average, each group has one meeting per month wherein messages from the administration are read, and activities such as sports, missionary activities and community programs are sponsored by each group in keeping with the same goal.

Missionary Activities and Publications

The Iglesia ni Cristo partakes in many missionary activities to acquaint prospective guests with its doctrines and beliefs.

In the Philippines, radio and television programs are produced, and they are broadcast on 1062 kHz DZEC-AM radio and the NET-25 television station both owned by the INC's Eagle Broadcasting Corporation.

In North America, a television program called "The Message" is produced by the Iglesia ni Cristo and directed by Bro. Edward Maranan, an INC minister who also serves as the main host of the program. It is currently aired in the United States and Canada.

There is also a magazine available to INC congregations worldwide entitled God's Message (formerly known as Pasugo). Printed in both Tagalog and English, the magazine consists of letters to the editor, news from locales worldwide, religious poetry, articles relating to INC beliefs, a directory of locales outside the Philippines and would also feature a schedule of worship services until recently. Pamphlets are also printed for members to give to prospective guests, usually featuring information on a core INC doctrine.

All Iglesia ni Cristo locales also hold Bible Studies, where guests are invited to hear the doctrines of the INC, compare them to their current religious beliefs as well as ask questions related to the church or its beliefs.

Periodically, each district in the INC holds a Grand Evangelical Mission, or GEM for short, which is much like a Bible Study, but on a larger scale, with members from the entire district encouraged to bring guests, and a Religious_minister|minister speaks about the doctrines of the INC. There is usually a socializing afterwards, for guests to become familiar with the church and meet other guests and members.

Central Office and Administration

The INC's center of operations is the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office, a large guarded complex located on Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

The editorial of Philippine Panorama Magazine, July 25 2004, described the complex as including: the six-storey Central Office Building; the 7000-seat Central Temple, the Tabernacle, a multi-purpose convention hall; the 30,000 capacity Central Pavilion; the College of Evangelical Ministry; the New Era General Hospital; and the New Era University. There is also a residence for the Manalo family on the premises, but in an undisclosed location for security reasons.

The Iglesia ni Cristo is currently being administered by executive minister Eraño G. Manalo and deputy executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, who are the son and grandson of Felix Y. Manalo, respectively.

External links

The Iglesia ni Cristo does not currently have an official website. Instead of posting INC-related material online, members are encouraged to refer anyone with questions about the Iglesia ni Cristo to a minister or other church officer.

None of these links, except for pasugo@inc.org.ph are officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Pro

Con

Discussion forums

Other INC-related links

Categories: