International Churches of Christ
The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is a body of decentralized, co-operating, religiously conservative and racially integrated Christian congregations. In March 2024, the ICOC numbered their members at 112,000. A formal break was made from the Churches of Christ in 1993 with the organization of the International Churches of Christ.: 418
| International Churches of Christ | |
|---|---|
An International Church of Christ worship service | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Restorationist |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Associations |
|
| Region | Global (144 nations) |
| Official website | International Churches of Christ |
ICOC churches are located in 144 nations. They consider themselves non-denominational. They are structured with the intent to avoid two extremes: "overly centralised authority" on the one side and "disconnected autonomy" on the other side. In 2000, it was described as "[a] fast-growing Christian organization known for aggressive proselytizing to [US] college students" and as "one of the most controversial religious groups on campus". The largest congregation, the Los Angeles Church of Christ, has about 4500 in attendance in 9 locations. The largest church service was held in 2012 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, during a World Discipleship Summit, with 17,800 in attendance.
Former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult and have accused it, along with the International Christian Church, of covering up sexual abuse of children. Janja Lalich, an academic expert on cults and coercion, has stated that in her view, the ICOC has at minimum some of the "hallmarks of a cult". As of August 2023, some US branches of the church were the subject of multiple lawsuits.