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Metro Manila Christian Church
International Church of Christ (ICC) was founded by Kip McKean in 1979 at Boston MassachusettsInternational Church of Christ is also known in other names or aliases such as: Boston Movement, Boston Church of Christ, Campus Movement, Alpha Omega, Upside Down Club, Campus Advance, Hope on Campus, Student Advocating christianity Today, Christian Advance, Multiplying Minitires, Discipling Movement,Official Publication: Upside Down magazine (formerly named Discipleship magazine). Organization Structure: Totalitarian authority structure with Kip McKean as Director and unquestioned leader. Under McKean are a group of Elders including Al Baird and Bob Gempel. Under the Elders are Evangelists including Gordon Ferguson. Unique Terms: Discipler is a term for a church leader. Background: Runaway group of the crossroads Church of Christ The Metro Manila Christian Church is under The Boston Movement also known as Boston Church of Christ or as the International Church of Christ which originated from Gainsville, Florida. The Boston Movement was founded by Kip McKean in 1979 when he took over the leadership of Lexington Church of Christ located in the suburb of Lexington, Boston Massachusetts. Prior to this, in April 1977, McKean and Roger Lamb were terminated as campus ministers in Charleston, Illinois by Memorial Church of Christ of Houston, Texas because of unbiblical practices. In June 1979, McKean began an aggressive evangelism and discipleship program that brought numerical increase of church membership from 30 to 1000 just in a matter of two years. In 1987, McKean started planting churches in many cities of North America and other key cities of the world. McKean discontinued fellowship with the Church of Christ and in 1993; he renamed his runaway group as International Church or Christ. McKean was disciple by Chuck Lucas of Crossroads Church of Christ at the University of Florida teaching him the principles of Robert Coleman’s “Master Plan of Evangelism.” Lucas was excommunicated by the Crossroads because of habitual sins and McKean took over the leadership. In 1989, Kip and Elena McKean, Preston and Sandie Shepherd with 24 other members of the International Church of Christ from five US cities infiltrated the Philippines targeting prominent universities. Filipino students welcome the Boston Movement without any suspicion resulting to the rise of several International Churches of Christ namely:
Their vision is to conquer the entire Philippines in particular and the whole world in general into their own exclusive movement is the objective of Kip McKean. The Boston Movement has numerous creative and innovative ways of alluring ignorant victims into their fold. According to MMCC booklet “Back to the future”, the original 28 Boston Movement church planters that reached the Philippines in 1989 grow to 1,831 legitimate members in 1995 or in six years time. For IOCC statistical data visit this webpage http://icocinfo.org/contacts.html The International Church or Christ are restorationist, believing that they are the true representative of the early church. As a corollary to that belief, they insist that one must be baptized and discipled in their organization to be saved. Numerous questions have been raised regarding their methodology in "shepherding" their members, which requires each individual to submit essentially all decisions in their life to the oversight of a mentor in the group.
Few of the numerous contraversial teachings and practices of ICC:
Testimony By Steven Rauch He was 20 years old and a student at my university. A total stranger, he walked up to me and asked if I wanted to study the Bible with him. I agreed, after I asked what church he attended. (Later, I discovered he was their campus minister from Chicago assigned to take classes at my university--a commuter campus 300 miles from Chicago.) We met almost twice a week alone on campus with a friend of his. (He was later to be identified as his superior and he lead the study; he came in unexpected in the second meeting.) After about two weeks of studies, they suggested that I join their church. I was involved with a member of the Detroit Church of Christ for almost two months. They really pushed that their church was evangelizing far more than my church and that every member of their church lives like a disciple as the Bible commands us to. They really pressured me into going, asking me a lot of questions about my church. (I really like my church. It's evangelical and they do evangelize.) I honestly felt that no matter what I would say, they would come up with something better about their church. They even put the people in my church down, especially the pastor, because my church wasn't experiencing their enormous growth. So I decided to go with them the next Sunday, just to visit. I was skeptical of them the whole time during the two months. I was educated in the area of the cults and decided at the first meeting that if this was a cult, I was in a no-lose situation: either go to a better church or witness to a cult member and get further pumped up. The second half of the two months was spent having a good time with more of their people, even with other new people like myself. Activities included going to a movie, playing basketball, and just hanging out. The Bible studies continued at the same pace. Keep in mind also that I had a lot of homework--no free time left--and they knew it. This was when the Bible studies started to reflect more of their real salvation theology. They made it all sound so biblical, basing it on many verses of the Bible. They pressed their argument and hurried on to the next supportive verse. I was still skeptical, but I believed what they said and started to tell other people about it. I actually believed that I was still skeptical, but I really was not. I had changed without realizing it. At the end of the two months, I had free time in the gap between classes and exams to really think it through and to truly study the Bible on my own. (They wrote notes for me at each Bible study.) I visited their church a second time, listening very attentively to the evangelist's sermon. That night I could not sleep at all! I had known the Bible very well and had been a dedicated Christian for most of my life. The Holy Spirit kept revealing all kinds of verses to me that contradict what the I CC had taught me. These were all verses I had known before--I really know my Bible. Verses they had used wrongfully were revealed in their true context. Even verses they hadn't used kept coming to me. I finally had to write them all down. Earlier, when I had time to think more clearly and study them, I had only stumbled across some of their false assumptions and logical errors. Nothing like the immense flood of truth that was now surging from the life within me. Two days later I met with all my friends from that church and expressed how they were wrong in their thinking. The leader sternly argued against me, but I defeated him at every turn, even making him admit fallacies that utterly destroyed his position. He became infuriated and stood up and told me I was arrogant, closed-minded, being sinful, and he wasn't going to listen to me anymore. He said he didn't want to study with me again. They cast me out for being skeptical. This should be ample proof that their friendship was only to proselytize me into their church. At that time, I was the Bible Study Coordinator for my campus Christian group and had led a Bible study four times. Later, I discovered the evangelist knew this before he ever met me; he wanted me to influence the group for him. I'm familiar with the cults and have been knowledgeable of the Bible for most of my life and I'm respected in my group for that. If they can pull me into their cult, I don't think it's arrogant of me to assume they're capable of leading many others astray. I was saved only by an act of God! While I was in the evangelist's apartment, I saw all the phone lists with names of other people contacted. There were over twelve names (just one person's list!) Half of them were people I recognized--from my church and from my campus group! These people were all Christians and I think it reasonable the other half were too. People in this cult like to put down their former churches, which they negatively call "religious." Most of them used to be Christian. When I visited their church, almost everyone was college-age and I saw no complete families. This shows me that their campus ministries are their primary source of new people.
That is the question hovering over one of the most dynamic and talked-about movements within Christianity. Open http://www.unc.edu/~elliott/iccbib.htm " and you be the judge. The site is a comprehensive guide to the controversial "Boston Movement," formally known as the International Churches of Christ (ICC). ICC is a movement with about 85,000 members in more than 100 major American cities and on six continents. It is known for its aggressive evangelism, closely knit congregations, and habit of meeting every Sunday in rented halls or convention centers and for being constantly embroiled in controversy. Members say the Boston Movement offers undiluted Biblical Christianity. They say the movement practices racial diversity, is focused on youth and provides a strong support system for new members. But some ex- members and critics say the ICC is a cult because it believes in controlling, not loving, its members. As the Web site points out, some practices by the Boston Movement make some people uncomfortable. One section includes a psychological study of the movement that concludes many of its members were victims of mind control. Another section identifies the controversial origins and growth of the movement. Much of the online site deals with the controversial practices of the ICC. New members are required to meet with older members daily. New members who disagree with older members are told they are rebelling against God. Submission to church leaders is demanded. New members are told whom to date, how to spend their money and how to spend their free time. The Cult Awareness Network, a national anti-cult group, reports on the site it has collected numerous complaints about the ICC. Chief among the complaints is the relentless pressure placed on members to recruit new members. The site also points out some of the positive aspects of the group. In addition to its diversity, the ICC's worship services are devoid of pretense and filled with vigor. Preachers are addressed by their first name. Many members dress in jeans or shorts.
MMCC Staffs said "we are sorry" March 30, 2003 http://www.newcovpub.com/icc/Manila.htm Since 1989, God has showered His church in the Philippines with countless miracles and spiritual blessings for which we will be eternally grateful. By the power of God, the seed of 28 disciples who helped plant the church has now become thousands of faithful disciples in 16 churches in Manila and throughout the Philippines During the past few months different unspiritual practices and attitudes that have pervaded our movement over the years have been uncovered. Different talks, letters, discussions, "family talks," and most of all what we believe to be God's Spirit of conviction have caused the staff of the MMCC, to re-examine its leadership of God's people. Over the past four weeks, we have shed many tears and have cried out in prayer as we have spent time listening to people. We see the depth of pain we have caused God and His people. We desire to hear so much more from you, in order to solidify and deepen our brokenness and convictions. We are sorry for the sins we have committed against God, against many of you, and as well against many who have left the church. We are convicted to see a root sin and various other faults at different times in the history of the churches of the Philippines. Root Sin of the Leadership: · Forsaking Our First Love Over the years, we have fallen short of allowing the Bible to properly define the church's mission (to win the world for Christ) apart from the church's purpose (to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength). This failure prompted our hearts to drift from focusing on loving God as our highest priority. As a general result, loving God had not become our top priority. For many leaders, growing the church at any cost or looking good in the eyes of people became more the priority. Many, instead of getting their confidence and joy from their walk with God, sought them through man-made goals. From this root sin, other sins have resulted. · Selfish Ambition" Many full-time staff lost the heart of purely serving God and started doing things for their own glory. This resulted in people-pleasing, baptizing people who were not ready, and tolerating sin for the sake of looking good in the eyes of men. Some of you have expressed hurts in these areas:
Many disciples experienced being "lorded over" by leaders. Several leaders have been arrogant and unapproachable. Some important decisions were made without much consultation from the membership. In many sectors, advice became commanding and questioning leaders resulted in being branded as critical or rebellious. Authority was given to disciplers more than the Bible recommends. Some of you were also shut down, especially those who spoke up about certain needs. Some disciples were not allowed to move house or work for reasons that would hurt the numeric status of the ministry. Shamefully, even our giving and contribution became generally mandatory. We wish to go back to motivation by grace, servant leadership, and biblical sacrifice. · Negligence
Why We Left The Boston MovementBy Joe and Louise KrainockWe are so grateful to have this opportunity to perhaps encourage some one who may be reading this who has had some very difficult encounters with the Boston Movement. For Joe and me, it began in Poway, 13 years ago. We were met by Greg and Shelley Metten. After studying the Bible with them and getting marriage counselling from the Lindos as well, we became Christians in 1980. To this day we are thankful for God working in our lives and in the lives of the Mettens, the Brumleys and the Lindos. God’s spirit was really among the congregation. We grew in our knowledge of the Bible, God and Jesus. Relationships were close, very tight and real. In 1986-87 Kip McKean came on the scene through reconstructions of many churches across the country; and, slowly, the hierarchy which is present in full force today, began. Joe and I were really unaware of the forming of the leadership and we didn’t see the “control of the leadership” until we got into it. In 1983 we sold our home so that Joe could finish college and then go into the full-time ministry. In 1986 we sold our hair salon so that we could move to Boston with dreams of going on a mission team to Milan, Italy. We had hearts that would give up anything and go anywhere. In 1988 we moved to Boston where we were placed in Willie and Tonya Flores’ zone. We had been encouraged to move there (Boston) because of the training for church plantings that takes place and also we knew of so many friends who had moved there. We were told that relationships were close and Boston was on the “cutting edge”. Boy, were we sold a bill of goods! One couple in particular told us that “Boston is different than San Diego; you are free to express yourself here and not worry about what people will think about you.” Yeah, right! As McCauley Caulkin would say, “I don’t think so!” We had become really disappointed with the eldership. There was such control in every area of one’s life. The emphasis on evangelism was constant, which made it difficult to get close to anyone. Joe and I became Bible Talk leaders and just wanted to make our group like family, but it was hard with so many feeling the same pressure we did - to be continually “fruitful.” Everyone was constantly on a guilt trip handed down by the leadership. In the fall of 1989 we were asked to be a part of the Los Angeles mission team. We were excited to help start a church from the ground floor up and to be in California again was a thrill! Joe and I were one of the first Christians to roll into LA from the team. It was slow at first. We had to find jobs and a home. Many of us were just barely making it financially. Most of us didn’t know where our next meal would come from. Our little group got close and we knew this too shall pass. The leadership began to come in to LA and the work was ahead. Tom and Kelly Brown who were the lead couple, after being there for a few short months, were taken back to Boston due to what was described as “marital problems”. Kip and Elena McKean, along with Marty and Chris Fuqua who became the new lead couple, arrived in January of 1990. Things started spinning! Joe and I had held for awhile two Bible Talks, discipled five people each, while being personally discipled and also fitting time in to study the Bible with people. Along with this, we both tried to hold down a 40-45 hour-a-week jobs and also tried not to neglect our 4-year-old daughter at the same time. There was absolutely no time for us, for our marriage, our daughter, much less our families who lived two hours away in San Diego. We only saw our families three times in the year and a half in LA. Your lives were there for one reason only and the leaders made sure you never lost that focus. I remember Joe being advised not to go to his sister’s second marriage ceremony simply because it was her second time. The worst of times in the 12 years plus in the Movement came through our involvement with the Flores. I remember one time coming down with the worst case of strep throat. I was unable to make the weekly Bible Talk leaders’ meeting, so Joe gave Tonya the message that I wouldn’t be there. She called me that night and rebuked me for not calling her personally. I was stunned; I didn’t know what to say in response. I guess it really hit me that Tonya was more concerned about my absence and lack of communication than my own personal health. I realized that no matter how hard I tried, it was never good enough. All the leadership was concerned about was productivity and performance. Joe and I had put everything we had into God and the church. Joe lost his job largely due to the pressure to be at every church event. Soon after that we decided, due to our financial condition, to move to San Diego. The Flores, especially Willie, blew his stack at Joe when told of our plans. Things were said that are unrepeatable. There was an unhealthy protection of leadership in the church. Joe called Kip McKean the following day to let him know of Willie’s reaction to our moving. Kip said he didn’t disagree with our decision to leave but that it wasn’t handled the best way. Joe explained to him that Willie had would not allow it to be explained properly. I had a conversation with Tonya Flores the day before we left. She said that I would have to initiate a relationship with her from now on as she wasn’t going to and that was because we went against their advice. Joe was told by Kip that he had hurt Willie and he must now try to salvage the relationship. We tried to do this once we had got to San Diego, but they were not willing to resolve things. We went to a wedding a month after we left LA and Joe approached Willie to talk with him and after a two-minute hello, Willie turned his back on Joe and started talking to another person. I bring this up to say this, the church has manipulated and controlled people for a long time, and I pray that more people’s eyes and hearts will see this and that people will stop living in fear and guilt. The methods of control have got to stop. It has caused so much spiritual destruction in so many people’s lives that it makes us sick. Moving to San Diego, we found the same control and manipulation we had found in Boston and Los Angeles. We were wrongfully and unbiblically “marked” because we spoke up to someone who took our concerns as being divisive rather than being concerned about things we felt were hurting the church and ultimately hurting people. The church has gotten to a point now that the only ones who are allowed to be members of the Movement are those who will do whatever the leadership says, which now includes advice. Those who refuse to go along with this are told that they are not members and their names are put on a list so that all people in a specific zone will know who aren’t and who are members. The church will teach you that people are to be like the Bereans when you are studied with. You are told to go over the studies and develop your own convictions. “Don’t just trust in the person delivering it but you need to see it and believe it personally”. This has all gone out the door now. The purpose for this letter is not that we believe it will stop Boston, but to prevent any others from becoming a part of it. Joe and Louise Krainock
3 Questions about the Boston Movement http://www.caic.org.au/biblebase/icoc/3quest.htm The International Churches of Christ (Boston Movement), founded in 1979 by Kip McKean is an organization which portrays itself to the public as "...a family of Christian churches whose members are committed to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Bible."(Who We Are, I.C.C. Home page, http://www.intlcc.com/) By this statement they appear to be just another family of Christian churches. Is this an honest portrayal? Do they believe themselves to be just "a family of Christian churches" or is this a front for what they really believe? In an article entitled "Revolution Through Restoration II" (a sequel), written by Kip McKean (lead Evangelist and founder of the I.C.C.), Kip states that perhaps the most often asked question of the I.C.C. is "Are the people in the International Churches of Christ the only ones who are saved?" Kip avoids answering this question out right, but comments that the Bible's answer comes from understanding the nature of God's movements. "To initiate his movement, God, in his grace, always works through a man. He puts his message on this man's heart. As God's man preaches God's message, God moves in other men's hearts to collectively come together to follow God through the leadership of his man." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) A few sentences later Kip states: "I believe with all my heart that the Boston Movement is God's modern-day movement."(Ibid) This statement infers two things. First, that if the Boston Movement is God's modern-day movement, then it's leader, Kip McKean must be "God's man" who is preaching God's message. According to the above quote, this means that all persons who are moved upon by God to follow Him will do so through the leadership of "his man" Kip McKean. Second, if the Boston Movement is God's one and only modern-day movement, with Kip McKean as it's leader (God's man), then any person or group of persons not following Kip McKean by membership in the Boston Movement are not following God. So back to the question, "Are the people in the International Churches of Christ the only ones who are saved?" In his article "Revolution Through Restoration" (the first one), Kip states: "I have never believed or taught that anyone has to be baptized into the Boston Church of Christ to be saved." This statement, made two years earlier, appears to contradict the other. What does the leadership of the I.C.C. (Boston Movement) really believe and teach on this subject? NOTE: It is important to understand that Kip's comments on the nature of God's movements have to do with the Old Testament. Since the time of Jesus, God has never used just one specific man to deliver His message. He has used the body of Christ, the Church, every born again believer. Any man who claims to be "God's man" preaching His one true message (which no one else has), puts himself in line with the likes of David Koresh, Jim Jones, Rev. Moon, etc...
The 3 Questions http://www.caic.org.au/biblebase/icoc/3quest.htm The following three questions are accompanied by quotes from the articles "Revolution Through Restoration" and "Revolution Through Restoration II" written by Kip McKean, as well as quotes from other I.C.C. literature. 1) Do the leaders of the I.C.C. (Boston Movement) believe and teach that they are God's modern-day movement, the one true church of Jesus, and that only members of their church comprise the kingdom of God on earth? "As God's modern-day movement, the time is now for each true disciple to go far beyond any feat of faith or deeds of daring witnessed to this hour." (Evangelization Proclamation, 2/4/1994) "God in his grace and mercy has blessed his modern day movement of true Christians as our churches now number 146 with an attendance of over 75,000!" (Evangelization Proclamation, 2/4/1994) NOTE: According to the I.C.C. "a true disciple" or "true Christians" are those who are members of their movement. "This is the true movement of God. There's no other group, no other church, that can touch this. The Boston Church is not any church, it is the Jerusalem of God's modern day movement." (Kip McKean, Boston Congregational Meeting, 5/6/90) "All the denominational weak-faithed people, that's very kind terminology for them, they just got out of Russia. And I was happy about it because it just left the true church right there." (Kip McKean, Conference in Sydney, May 1996) "When you say we're the only true church...that's gonna tick the religious people off." (Kip McKean, Preach the Word, Johannesberg Leadership Conference, Aug. 1995) "We have tried to pull into God's movement the remnant of all those who are surrendered to the Scriptures and who believe God's dream is to evangelize the world in one generation. We will continue to seek other isolated disciples who may be members in false churches." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) "Today, we are calling out of the world, calling out of the denominations, out of the mainline churches, out of the campus ministries all of the people who desire to be a part of God's restored true church and movement." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) NOTE: According to I.C.C. doctrine, any church that is not a part of the I.C.C. is a false church. "This is not just a church among churches. This is not just the best thing going in Tulsa. This is the movement of God, and we're calling all who will be true disciples to align themselves with this movement of God. You think this is a church among churches, you can't be a disciple. If you think there's other churches out there you can go and be a part of and be just as good and just as saved...you can't be a disciple." (Nick Young, Lead Evangelist for Dallas-Ft. Worth, Friday evening message for the Tulsa Reconstruction, Sept 1992) "As Dr. Donald McGavran (considered the father of church growth by the denominational world) told me many years ago, 'You are the only church with a plan to plant churches in every nation of the world in one generation.' Once more, I believe this marks us as God's true and only modern movement." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) NOTE: I think it important at this point to address this idea of evangelizing the world in one generation. Although I believe it to be a noble idea, to teach that it was commanded by Jesus is just plain wrong. The Evangelization Proclamation of the I.C.C. states, "We affirm and assert that Jesus' last command to the eleven faithful disciples was to evangelize the world in their generation." It then states that this command, which extends to each succeeding generation, "...has not been accomplished again for almost two millennia." These statements are in error of biblical and historical fact. Jesus told His disciples to preach the gospel to all creation, but He never once mentioned that it was expected to be fully accomplished in their lifetime or within one generation. The fact is, the world has never been fully evangelized in one generation. Contrary to the teaching of the I.C.C. the apostles did not accomplish this. If they had, the end of the world would've come in their lifetime. According to Matthew, "...this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Mt 24:14) To believe that the first (or even the second) century church accomplished this goal is a display of biblical, as well as historical, ignorance. There were areas of the world that they never reached. South America, for example, was not evangelized until the 1500's. If evangelizing the world in one generation is what "marks" a group of people as God's true movement, then the apostles and the early Church failed the test. Would the I.C.C. dare to say that they were not true believers, a part of the body of Christ? And if the accomplishment of this goal of evangelizing the world in one generation is the "mark" of God's true movement, how can any group call themselves God's true movement before the goal has been accomplished? "Revolution was and is in each step and breath of those who dare to embrace the true church of Jesus." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) "This was and still is the true church of Jesus." (Evangelization Proclamation, 2/4/1994) "However, the Holy Spirit led the few good hearted individuals--the remnant--to the Boston churches." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) "The Spirit then gave us a deep conviction that only these baptized disciples comprise God's kingdom on earth." (Evangelization Proclamation, 2/4/1994) NOTE: These last four statements suggest that up until 1979, when the I.C.C. was founded, the Church (the body of Christ) was non-existent in the earth. How is it possible that there were no believers anywhere on the face of the earth; for where there is one believer there is the body of Christ? When was it's demise? How did satan defeat and bring about the death of the Church (Christ's body)? This whole idea goes totally against Scripture as the Bible clearly teaches that the Church would be in the earth until Christ's return, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. This claim by the I.C.C. is plain arrogance. Paul rebuked a similar attitude in the believers at Corinth, asking them, "Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?" (1Cor 14:36) 2) Do the leaders of the I.C.C. believe and teach that leaving the membership of the I.C.C. is actually leaving God? "Certainly to leave the family of God, the true church, is to leave God." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) "This is an issue of salvation. There are not two churches of God in this town. There is but one, and there will always be but one." (from a speech by Kip McKean, Indianapolis, 3/17/94) "Your salvation is hanging in the balance. You're about to walk away from the movement of God. When you walk away from the movement of God, there is no where else to walk to. Walking out of the light into the darkness. There is nobody else, there is nobody else in this country that has the true gospel,...This is the movement of God." (from a speech by Nick Young, lead evangelist for the Dallas Ft. Worth church, Aug 1992) NOTE: If the I.C.C. is the true church, the movement of God (as they claim), then to leave their membership would be to leave "the family of God", thus to leave God. And if one's salvation is hanging in the balance, then they must believe that to walk away from their movement is to walk away from one's salvation. So, what of the question "Are the people in the International Churches of Christ the only ones who are saved?" They may talk around it in public, but it is apparent from these quotes taken from their literature and their speeches that they believe the answer to be "yes". It is also apparent from Kip McKean's statement: "I have never believed or taught that anyone has to be baptized into the Boston Church of Christ to be saved.", that there is some amount of deception going on. According to Scripture, the only way into the Kingdom of God is by being born again, born of God. (Jn 1:12-13, Jn 3:3 niv) And anyone who is "born again" of God is a part of the body of Christ, which means they are "saved". Now the I.C.C. claims that their church is exclusively the Kingdom of God, as "only these baptized disciples comprise God's kingdom on earth." (Evangelization Proclamation, 2/4/94) So, according to the I.C.C., to be baptized into their church or movement is to be born again into the Kingdom of God. It logically follows, then, that to be outside their membership is to be outside the Kingdom of God. This would mean that anyone not baptized into the I.C.C. (born again into the kingdom) is not a part of the body of Christ, not born again, thus not "saved". This would make it utterly impossible for there to be isolated disciples in any other churches or ministries anywhere else on the face of the earth. Now either the leaders are unaware of what they are actually saying, or they are lying in an attempt to deceive the public. According to a statement by Ed Powers, former Lead Evangelist for the Indianapolis church (I.C.C.), Ed says, "I personally was in Los Angeles and was sitting in the audience while I heard Kip McKean state very emphatically to the cheers of leaders from nearly fifty churches in Marty Fuqua's Sector,...I heard Kip say definitively, 'If you are not a member of the International Churches of Christ then you are not saved.' ...I remember feeling extremely uncomfortable with that...Now if somebody whom they believe cannot handle that information asks that question then the issue will be skirted, in a number of ways. But that is the official position of the International Churches of Christ." (Ed Powers, Former Leaders Speak--Interviews With Former Leaders of the ICC, a video from Freedom House Ministries) 3) Do the leaders of the I.C.C. believe and teach that opposing them is the same as opposing God, and that those who oppose them are lost? "As for those who continue to oppose us, they are lost--not because their baptism became invalid, but the Scriptures are clear that those who oppose and grumble against God's leaders and divide God's church are, in fact, opposing God." (Kip McKean, Revolution Through Restoration II, 1994) NOTE: In the actual speech by Kip McKean in Indianapolis on March 17th, 1994, Kip stated that "To grumble against God's leaders is to grumble against God himself,....They have set themselves in opposition against God's anointed." Is Kip McKean really God's anointed? Are the leaders of the I.C.C. the present day leaders of God? If so, why do they lie to the public? And why do they use deception in recruiting new members? Does God lie? Does God use deception? If you have been approached by the I.C.C. or are studying the Bible with them, ask them any one of these three questions and see if they give you a truthful answer.
The ICC Hierarchical Structure
The ICC has a pyramid-shaped, hierarchical structure of authority. At the top was Kip McKean, the World Missions Evangelist, and his wife Elena Garcia-McKean, who served as Women's Ministry Leader for the group as a whole. As of November of 2002, the Mckeans resigned from their leadership positions due to family and marriage issues. Under the position of World Missions Evangelist are the eight World Sector leaders and four non-geographic functions at an equivalent level -- Media and Law, The Net, Administration and Teaching, and HOPE Worldwide. HOPE Worldwide is the charitable arm of the ICC. Each World Sector is divided into several Geographic Sectors, with their Geographic Sector Leaders, who are also usually the Evangelist and Women's Ministry Leader at the church in the largest city in the Geographic Sector. Local ICC congregations take their name from their town or city, most commonly followed by "Church of Christ" or "Christian Church", and occasionally by "Church of Christ Jesus" (proper title), "Church, Inc." (proper title), "International Church of Christ" (proper title), "International Christian Church" (proper title), "disciples of Christ" (usually not a proper title -- the "Disciples of Christ", the proper title, also have roots from the American Restoration Churches of Christ, but are not associated with the International Churches of Christ at this time), "Christian Fellowship", or even just "Church" or "The Church". Examples include: The Boston Church of Christ (also known as "Boston" or "the Boston Church"), the New York Church of Christ (or New York International Church of Christ), the Wichita Church of Christ Jesus. Since the ICC believes that church unity means there can only be one church per city, there never are two churches in the same city both of which are affiliated with the ICC. This does not mean that the local ICC affiliate church always meets as one group in one location, though -- the local church will usually meet in a number of different locations at different times during the week. Large urban churches will also meet in several locations on Sunday. Local ICC affiliates usually meet in rented halls, conference rooms, and (when large enough) convention centers for mass Sunday worship services, rather than buying a building. During the week members meet in smaller groups, called "House Churches" or "Family Groups" (or "discipling groups"), and in even smaller groups called "Bible Talks". Bible Talks, in particular, can meet almost anywhere -- in a college dormitory room, a restaurant, a community center, or someone's home. Bible Talks are central to the ICC's evangelism strategy. They are small Bible study groups of from six to fifteen members, each of whom tries to bring at least one guest weekly. The Bible talks are promoted as informal sharing between Christians, and non-denominational, but in fact are carefully structured to persuade the visitors that they are not Christian and need to convert according to the ICC's teachings in order to be saved. Inside of each individual congregation, there are Region Leaders responsible for different geographical areas in the city or metropolitan area served by the local church. Sector Leaders are responsible for smaller areas, encompassing perhaps a couple of suburb towns. This ends the group of paid ministry positions -- the people at Zone Leader level and above are usually on the church staff and paid by the church. Those below this level usually work at an outside job and volunteer their services. House Church leaders, recently renamed Family Group Leaders, report to the Zone Leaders, and are responsible for a group of thirty to fifty adults in their area. Bible Talk Leaders (BTLs) report to House Church leaders, and are responsible for groups of around ten disciples (members). The BTL is an extremely important influence on the average disciple, or rank and file member. Under the Bible Talk Leaders are individual disciplers, older members responsible for one to three younger members. "Older" is a relative term -- some converts have become disciplers of newer converts after as little as two months in the organization. A rank and file member's discipler is the single strongest influence in his or her life. In addition to all this, there are separate ministries for specific college campuses, local HOPE organizations, entertainment and sports professionals, women married to non-members, and other special needs in large, urban congregations. In the last few years, AME (Arts, Media, and Entertainment) ministries have spread like wildfire through the ICC. These ministries are geared towards professionals in the arts, media, and sports areas. The ICC views such individuals as "sharp" -- that is, intelligent, articulate, and capable of attracting others to join. For that reason, it recruits heavily among them, and treats disciples with this background somewhat better than average disciples. The majority of the positions listed above also have formally recognized assistants -- Bible Talk Leaders have Bible Talk Assistants, Evangelists have Assistant Evangelists, etc. ICC churches also have elders. Elders are older, married men with at least one baptized child who sometimes exercise considerable influence in the congregation or ICC as a whole, but who are subordinate to the Evangelist. One of the ICC's most influential teachers, Gordon Ferguson, is an elder in the Boston Church of Christ. Many churches also have paid interns on staff, usually members being trained for full-time ministry. The vast majority of leadership roles in the ICC are held, not by individuals, but by leadership couples. In ICC literature, and particularly in any organization chart produced by the group, you will notice that couples are always referred to by both their names, with the man's name coming first. (For example, "Kip & Elena McKean" or "Marty & Chris Fuqua.") Women can be leaders only over other women; the ICC holds that the Bible forbids women to lead men. At the level of the local congregation, there are some differences in structure depending on the size of the congregation and population of the area it serves. In a small congregation, there may only be three levels of leadership -- the evangelist; a second level which combines the roles of Region, Zone, and House Church leaders; and the members. In the huge Los Angeles Church of Christ, the home church of the ICC, there are extra levels of leadership to handle the several thousand members scattered over several hundred square miles. Congregations in other parts of the world may also have a slightly different leadership structure. In the Helsinki Church of Christ in Helsinki, Finland, for example, there are just an Evangelist, two Region leaders, and the membership. The membership in Helsinki is split into three ministries -- married, singles, and students. This simpler structure is probably mirrored in other non-US ICC congregations. The local Evangelist in the ICC can largely structure things as he wishes, as long as his church is growing numerically, his contribution to the world ICC organization is sufficiently high, and none of his members are causing problems for the ICC as a whole. Finally, the ICC frequently creates new roles and renames the old ones, so don't be too confused if you hear of a position not mentioned here. January 2006 update: Since the ICC has been fragmenting, most of the city-churches now have been operating in an autonomous (self-governing) mode, e.g., Wichita does not report to LA, and Seattle deals with its own finances and issues. Some of the churches have not been collecting Special Missions Contribution (although some have made some kind of effort to collect such). It is becoming more apparent that there are some who have taken a stand against Kip McKean, and there are some who have aligned with Kip McKean, even if informally or unofficially. Some of the churches have renamed themselves from the "International Church(es) of Christ" to the "International Christian Church". www.JRCBDM.com posted the above articles for the purpose of information dissemination, without the necessity of approval and acceptance of their contents. J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries
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Copyright ©2003-2007 J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries |
02/25/06