International Churches of Christ

The International Churches of Christ (ICOC), sometimes known as the Boston Movement, are a group of Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Christian churches.

The history of the International Churches of Christ begins in 1979, when Kip McKean led 30 disciples into what became known as the Boston Church of Christ. Despite this recent origin, the International Churches of Christ are tied to the Barton Stone-Alexander Campbell Restoration Movement, as well as being affected by non-Restorationist influences.

A chief influence on the development of the ICOC was the "Crossroads Movement", growing out of the campus ministry of the 14th Street Church of Christ (later Crossroads Church of Christ) at the University of Florida. Campus minister Chuck Lucas created a very successful style or method of ministry and evangelism. The church established a school of ministry to teach its unique discipling methods. Kip McKean and other "Boston Movement" leaders were trained at the Crossroads school. Though the Crossroads Church of Christ repudiated the "Boston Movement" in the late 1980s, its foundational role cannot be overlooked. McKean and others developed and expanded their methods based on those started by Lucas.

The Lexington Church of Christ, outside of Boston, Massachusetts, was considering closing its doors when they decided to call Kip McKean as minister in 1979. Within a couple of years, the church grew from about 30 to over 300. In 1981, McKean and the church began to fulfill a "vision" of organizing churches in key world metropolitan centers. By the early 1990s, almost 150 churches had been organized.

While the doctrines of the ICOC are rooted in the Restoration Movement, these churches have also accepted and adapted certain beliefs and practices foreign to the majority of the Churches of Christ and other Restoration churches. These include: a hierarchical form of church polity; discipling "methods" with roots in The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman; and authority of the "leader" or "discipler" over the disciple. The ICOC, or Boston Movement, inherited the exclusivism of its parent body, and not only separates from the majority of Christendom, but the Churches of Christ as well. In this they are a true church movement (recognizing only themselves as the true church). The movement has also added to the requirements for baptism — an individual must be a disciple prior to baptism.

Though still widely known as the "Boston Movement", the official name is International Churches of Christ, which was adopted in 1993. The official web site indicates the church had grown to 135,039 members in 434 congregations by January of 2003.

In early 2001, some of the World Sector Leaders (Regional Evangelists directing geographic areas of churches) began to question the effectiveness of the present leadership structure as well as the qualifications of Kip and Elena McKean to continue in their global leadership role. By September the issue had reached a head in which the majority of World Sector Leaders agreed that significant changes were necessary. In November 2001, the top leaders of the movement, Kip and Elena Mckean, announced that they were stepping down from leading the Los Angeles Church of Christ in order to take a sabbatical for unspecified amount of time in order to focus on "marriage and family issues". At this time, the ICOC Administration, under the leadership of Andy Fleming (former missionary to Scandinavia and Soviet Union), began to formulate a plan for a massive reduction in the overhead of the worldwide organization. The goal of this administrative plan was to refocus the resources of the local congregations on building up their own ministries as well as guaranteeing continued 'goodwill' in future missions contributions. By the end of 2002, the overhead had been reduced by 67%, and Fleming resigned as the Chairman of the Board.

In November 2002, the McKeans announced their resignations from their roles as World Mission Evangelist, Women's Ministry Leader and Leader of the World Sector Leaders. The World Sector Leaders also announced the disintegration of their leadership group with the suggestion that a new representative leadership group including evangelists, elders and teachers, be formed with an initial meeting in May 2003.

In February 2003, Henry Kriete, a leader in the London Church of Christ, wrote an open letter titled "Honest to God" to the leadership of the ICOC criticizing many of its practices. Henry Kriete called for the leaders of the ICOC to renounce, abandon and repent of its systemic abusive practices, financial capriciousness, attitudes and aberrational teachings.

The denomination has received much criticism from anti-cult activists and former members. Several common complaints have focused on:

1. The enforcement, overtly and/or covertly, of an extensive set of extra-Biblical behavioral norms created by the founders governing such issues as dating, financial management, marriage, contribution requirements, and weekly "activity" routines.
2. A longstanding claim of open financial records ("the books are always open") that was rapidly withdrawn by the highest level leaders after the aforementioned whistle-blower released his devastating letter in early 2003
3. The prioritization of the "Great Commission" (personal evangelism) as the fulfillment of the "greatest commandments" (according to Jesus, loving God with all one's heart and loving neighbors as one's self).

Many ex-members insist this organization is a damaging cult, while loyal members deny the assertion and defend the organization, its founders, and leaders vigorously.

It should be noted that since the period of time in late 2002/early 2003, many of the International Churches of Christ have gone in different directions. Some have chosen to stay with the "old ways", whereas some have thrown off and done away with the old practices. Results of either course of action vary from church to church; some thrive/despair under the old ways, while some thrive/despair, having chosen to utilize "new wineskins".

As of 2005 there are three (sometimes overlapping) groups within the former ICOC. There are those who have held firmly to what has traditionally distinguished the ICOC; discipling, Bible Talks (small groups), baptism and evangelism. Some congregations have explored returning to their mainstream Church of Christ roots while retaining some of the previously held practices. Other churches are gravitating toward Evangelicalism and Protestantism.

As part of the cultural, philosophical and doctrinal changes within the former ICOC, efforts are being made by some to reconcile with mainstream Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. In March 2004, Abilene Christian University held the "Faithful Conversations" dialog between members of the Church of Christ and International Churches of Christ. ¹ Those involved were able to apologize and speak their peace. Although a better atmosphere for cooperation and understanding was generated, there were still fundamental differences within the fellowship. Early 2005 saw a second set of dialogs with greater promise for both sides helping one another. Harding University is contemplating a distance learning program geared toward those ministers who were trained in the ICOC. ²

References

¹ Tryggestad, Erik (March 17, 2004). Apologies, tears highlight ICOC talks in Abilene The Christian Chronicle. (http://sites.silaspartners.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID25485|CHID127205|CIID1752926,00.html)

²"Harding Grad, Chicago ICOC group meet". (October 17, 2004). The Christian Chronicle. (http://sites.silaspartners.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID25485|CHID127205|CIID1885194,00.html)

External links

• International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Main Website (No longer active) (http://www.icoc.org/icocmain/index_new.htm)
• Selective amalgam of church ICOC related articles (http://www.icocinfo.org/)
• International Churches of Christ web site (http://www.disciplestoday.com/)
• Research Examine Verify Educate Assist Liberate (Reveal), An organization of former Members (http://www.reveal.org)
• International Church of Christ/ICOC in the News (http://www.cultsoncampus.com/newsonicoc.html)
• Unofficial news site covering the ICOC (http://www.icocnews.com)
• A free chat where ex-members debate ICOC issues in a mildly moderated forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/ICCdiscussion/)
• From the Churches of Christ to the Boston Movement (http://www.reveal.org/library/history/paden.html) by Russell R. Paden. May 1994 thesis from the University of Kansas. An essential and thoroughgoing analysis and comparison of the history and development of the Church of Christ and its offshoot ICOC or Boston Movement faction, including the characteristics of "historylessness" and "traditionlessness". From the Abstract: "This thesis argues that while the Boston Movement has introduced some practices that are foreign to and have origins outside the Churches of Christ, both bodies remain quite similar in doctrine and attitude. This conclusion is supported through an historical examination of the Churches of Christ and the Boston Movement detailing the forces that have shaped the attitudes and doctrines of both religious bodies."
• Latest news and information about Kip McKean (http://www.kipmckean.com)