International Churches of Christ

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article or section needs to be revised. Details should be given on the talk page. Please help to improve it , and then remove this flag.

The International Congregations of Christ are a community association that emerged from the churches of Christ in the tradition of the Restoration Movement .

Synonyms and other languages

The English name is International Churches of Christ , older names are Boston Church of Christ and Boston Movement . Official abbreviations are ICC and ICOC.

In addition to the International Churches of Christ, there are also the Congregational Churches of Christ . Confusion is easily possible, since both use the name pattern church Christ + place. In Zurich, for example, there is a congregational congregation of Christ Zurich, founded in 1958, and a congregation of Christ Zurich , founded in 1993 , which belongs to the International Churches of Christ.

distribution

The International Churches of Christ, at their peak in 2002, had over 400 churches in more than 150 countries. According to their own information, they numbered around 135,000 members worldwide. Since then, however, the number of members has fallen sharply worldwide; According to information from ICOC, at the end of 2003 there were still 120,000 members, and in 2004 104,000 members.

Congregations in the German-speaking area are (in brackets the number of members according to own information) Berlin (120), Zurich (140 worshipers), Düsseldorf, Munich. There are also other meeting places.

Teaching

The teaching is in part similar to that of the churches of Christ from which the ICC descended on establishing a personal relationship with God , and thus has much in common with conservative American Protestantism.

While the ICC is fundamentally Trinitarian , in practice the emphasis is placed on Jesus as a model to be followed.

Specific teachings of the ICC:

  • A person must be baptized "as disciples" to redeemed (in the terminology of the ICC saved to be), d. H. baptism is only valid if the person has followed Christ and repents of their sins.
  • In the teaching of the ICC, salvation is not a permanent status, but can be lost through permanent turning away from God.

Worship and practice

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

The design of the divine service is based on that of the churches of Christ . The service lasts about 90 minutes and is also open to non-members.

What is striking compared to other European free churches are the frequent heckling such as "Yes, that's right!" Or "Amen!"

In addition to the Sunday service , it is encouraged that each member take time each morning for personal prayer and Bible study . There is also a weekly evening prayer and meetings in smaller groups (family groups / Bible study groups ).

The member can bring visitors to the weekly Bible study group and other social events. It used to be expected that each member would actively contribute to the spread of Christianity and invite visitors to Bible study groups.

In addition to the literal interpretation of the Bible as the basis of life, various rules for personal behavior were developed, especially towards the opposite sex. For example, in the ICC, every covetous glance at a woman is considered “lust” and therefore a sin. This is justified u. a. with Matthew 5:28 and Job 31 : 1.

ICC members are encouraged to marry - but only "in Christ" (ie another parishioner). In the ICC, too, marriages are now falling apart.

Each member had a mentor who was in daily contact. All sins had to be confessed to the mentor. All problems had to be discussed with the mentor.

Most Bible study consisted of studying the First Principles, a series of Bible studies developed by Kip McKean. A potential member had to fully agree to this in order to be baptized. Absolute obedience was required.

organization

The ICC was organized hierarchically. It was headed by founder Kip McKean , who held the title World Missions Evangelist , and his wife Elena Garcia-McKean, who was the director of women's ministry.

Below the McKeans there were eight sectors, headed by a World Sector Leader and then divided into regions and countries. This hierarchical structure has not existed since 2003.

The ICC is financed by its members. Up until 2003, it was recommended that each member donate at least 10% of their gross income; for unmarried people it was usually more. In addition, there were special gifts once or twice a year, which should be at least ten times the normal weekly donation.

history

1979 Kip McKean took over the Church of Christ in Lexington (Boston) and introduced the discipleship concept of the Crossroads movement there. Encouraged by strong growth, he planted daughter churches elsewhere, thereby abandoning the principle of church autonomy that is characteristic and binding of the churches of Christ.

In 1992 the headquarters were moved from Boston to Los Angeles, where Kip McKean lived. The ICOC was one of the fastest growing Christian churches.

In the German-speaking area, subsidiary churches were founded in Munich in 1988, Berlin in 1991 and in Zurich in 1993.

However, from 1999 onwards, growth declined. RightCyberUp, an ICOC-critical group, analyzed statistics published by the organization and found that an average of 4.1 members left the Church for every five newly baptized members.

In 2001, Kip McKean's eldest daughter, Olivia, who was a student at Harvard, quit the Church. Since Kip McKean had announced that church leaders must resign when their children leave the church, he himself was forced to resign. He initially took a sabbatical and officially resigned as head in 2002.

He then became director of the Portland ICOC, founded a new movement (the International Christian Church) and moved back to Los Angeles to start another new church.

Triggered by Kip McKean's resignation and an open letter from Henry Krietes (Evangelist of the London parish), organizational changes and upheavals in the organization of the church occurred.

According to a report by the Berlin Dialogue, there are currently three wings in the International Church of Christ, and nothing can be said about their numbers:

  • a reform group that wants to go back to the teaching before 1979. Some churches among them are in discussion with the churches of Christ about a possible union;
  • a middle group that made some reforms in the official management of the ICOC after McKean's resignation. According to the Berlin Dialogue, this group includes the Munich and Berlin churches;
  • a group wanting to return to the 2000 ICOC, including many who wanted Kip McKean back on the lead.

Ecumenism

The ICC sees itself as the only Christian church and is not a member of any ecumenical or supra-church organization. All other denominations are not considered Christian churches for the ICC.

Baptisms by other churches are not recognized.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany does not recognize the baptism of the ICOC, as this is only done in the name of Jesus. In fact, however, the ICOC uses "Trinitarian", i. H. baptized in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. ICOC members are not allowed to be sponsors in VELKD churches; admission to the Lord's Supper as a guest is not possible. Continued participation in church services and sacrament celebrations of the ICOC is incompatible with membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Church rooms may not be left to the ICOC either.

Current situation in Germany

The municipalities in Germany have implemented various reforms in terms of teaching and practice and continue to see themselves as “learners”. The “old” ICOC clearly refrained from claiming solitary self-protection. The congregations are independent, but they feel fraternal with one another. There is an exchange with other communities and organizations.

literature

  • Martin Edward Wooten: The Boston Movement as a Revitalization Movement . D. Min. Thesis, Harding Graduate School of Religion, 1990
  • Jerry Jones: What Does the Boston Movement Teach? Jerry Jones, 12880 Bittick, Bridgeton, MO, 1991-1993
  • United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census: Religious Bodies 1906 . United States Printing Office, 1910, p. 236

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ ICOC: Membership 1987-2002. International Churches of Christ, archived from the original on July 20, 2004 ; accessed on January 18, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Latest Available Stats: World Summary. International Churches of Christ, archived from the original on July 14, 2004 ; accessed on January 18, 2018 .
  3. ↑ source? The specified web link only provided data up to 2002.
  4. ↑ Who we are . Berlin Congregation of Christ, accessed on January 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ What you can expect from us . Website of the International Congregation of Christ Zurich, accessed January 18, 2018.
  6. ↑ Who we are - about the church of Christ Düsseldorf . Church of Christ Düsseldorf, accessed on January 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Website of the "Association in the Service of the Congregation of Christ e. V. " , accessed on January 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Congregation addresses and meeting times . Congregations of Christ Germany, accessed January 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ Dave Anderson: The Revolving Door: The ICC by the Numbers 1999-2001. rightcyberup.org, 2002, archived from the original on August 3, 2009 ; accessed on January 18, 2018 .
  10. ^ Farah Stockman: A Christian community falters: Loss of leader, governing body hurts group formed in Boston . The Boston Globe , May 17, 2003, reproduced on Triumphing Over London Cults, accessed January 18, 2018.
  11. ^ Wolfgang Behnk: Keyword: International Churches of Christ / Boston Movement . Berliner Dialog 28 (2005), pp. 11–13, reproduced on religio.de, accessed on January 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ Keyword: International Churches of Christ / Boston Movement