Iglesia ni Cristo

This article is about the religion. For the religious television program, see Ang Iglesia ni Cristo.

Iglesia ni Cristo
Seal
AbbreviationINC
ClassificationRestorationism
TheologyNontrinitarianism, Unitarianism
GovernanceCentral administration
Executive MinisterEduardo V. Manalo
Region156 countries and territories
LanguageFilipino, English
HeadquartersQuezon City, Philippines
FounderFelix Manalo[1]
OriginJuly 27, 1914; 110 years ago (1914-07-27) (date registered to the Philippine government)
Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, Philippine Islands
Congregationsapproximately 7,000
Members5-9 million (estimated worldwide)
Ministers7,205 (2009)
Aid organization
  • Felix Y. Manalo Foundation
  • UNLAD International
HospitalsNew Era General Hospital
Primary schoolsYakap Orphanage
Tertiary institutions
Other name(s)Church of Christ
Official websiteiglesianicristo.net
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Iglesia ni Cristo[2] (Tagalog: [ʔɪɡˌlɛː.ʃɐ nɪ ˈkɾiːs.to], abbreviated as INC; transl. Church of Christ; Spanish: Iglesia de Cristo) is an independent nontrinitarian Christian church, founded in 1913 and registered by Felix Y. Manalo in 1914 as a sole religious corporation of the Insular Government of the Philippines.[3][4]

INC describes itself to be the one true church and the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus, whereby all other Christian churches are apostate.[5][6] According to INC doctrine, the official registration of the church with the Philippine government was on July 27, 1914, by Felix Y. Manalo—who is upheld by members to be the last messenger of God—was an act of divine providence and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy concerning the re-establishment of the original church of Christ in the Far East[7][8] concurrent with the coming of the seventh seal marking the end of days.[9][10]

By the time of Manalo's death in 1963, INC had become a nationwide church with 1,250 local chapels and 35 cathedrals.[11] As his successor, Manalo's son, Eraño G. Manalo, led a campaign to grow and internationalize the church until his death on August 31, 2009.[12] His son, Eduardo V. Manalo, succeeded him as Executive Minister.[13] The 2020 Philippine census reported that 2.8 million were adherents of the INC, placing it third behind the Roman Catholic Church and Islam.[14]

  1. ^ Stefon, Matt. Iglesia ni Cristo. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Camilo, Correa. "The perpetual corporate term- "Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)"" (PDF). Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Iglesia ni Kristo Registration Document 1914". July 14, 1914. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (2006). "Iglesia ni Cristo". In Clarke, Peter B. (ed.). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. London; New York: Routledge. pp. 292–293. ISBN 9-78-0-415-26707-6.
  5. ^ Adriel Obar Meimban (1994). "A Historical Analysis of the Iglesia ni Cristo: Christianity in the Far East, Philippine Islands Since 1914" (PDF). The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies (12). Tokyo: Sophia University: 98–134. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2011.
  6. ^ Anne C. Harper (March 1, 2001). The Iglesia ni Cristo and Evangelical Christianity (PDF). The Network for Strategic Missions. pp. 101–119. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "Iglesia ni Cristo - Church of Christ - Official Website". Organization. Iglesia ni Cristo. p. Independent. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  8. ^ Palafox, Quennie Ann J. "First Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)." National Historical Institute. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012.
  9. ^ Anne C. Harper. "Iglesia ni Cristo" (PDF). STJ's Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Sacred Tribes Press: 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2011.
  10. ^ Johan D. Tangelder. "Sects and Cults: Iglesia ni Cristo". Reformed Reflections. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  11. ^ Sanders, Albert J., "An Appraisal of the Iglesia ni Cristo" in Studies in Philippine Church History, ed. Anderson, Gerald H. (Cornell University Press, 1969)
  12. ^ Arlyn dela Cruz (September 2, 2009). "Iglesia ni Cristo leader Eraño G. Manalo dies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  13. ^ Aries Rufo (September 2, 2009). "No shifts seen when Ka Erdie's son takes over INC". ABS–CBN News. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  14. ^ "Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)". Philippines in Figures. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. February 22, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.