The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church on Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.
The leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has started conducting loyalty checks among its members following the scandal involving its leaders that rocked the foundation of the country’s largest indigenous Christian congregation.
An INC follower, who has knowledge of the internal affairs of the church, said he and other members of their locale had been getting text messages from their minister directing them to report to their “kalihiman” (secretariat).
The source, who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity, showed one of the messages to the Inquirer, but asked not to publish its contents.
He said their local minister also asked them to submit their latest ID pictures.
“The church is obviously doing a loyalty check. This is not just a way to update our membership since we have mechanisms to do that. And we go to our local churches every week,” the source said.
“Why are they doing it only now that this has happened?” he added.
The source also disclosed that the attendance during the INC’s “pasasalamat” (thanksgiving) gathering last July 18 and 19 “noticeably” plunged as rumors about corruption and other irregularities involving the members of the “Sanggunian” (council of elders) started to circulate in the Internet.
He explained that INC members donate to the church as much money as they can during the thanksgiving services, which are held only in July of every year.
“It’s a way for us to give back our gratitude to God for the health and all the blessings He has given us for the whole year. It’s our way to thank God and all the brethren observe that because it’s our duty,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Iglesia ni Cristo is eyeing the possibility of filing a case against its critics.
According to INC spokesman Edwil Zabala, filing a case against those who spread false accusations about the 100-year-old indigenous Christian group is one of the options they are considering.
“At this point, we are not discounting any of the options we’re looking into. We intend to explore all legal and moral remedies available to us to clear the name and reputation of the INC,” Zabala said.
Although it has yet to make a decision, Zabala said the INC will face the allegations against it in the proper forum where they can present the truth.
“So that the INC can answer whatever accusations, whatever proof its accusers supposedly have against it,” he said.
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