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| - The International Churches of Christ (typically abbreviated to ICOC) is a body of autonomous, non-denominational, religiously conservative, and racially integrated Christian congregations, an offshoot from the Mainline Churches of Christ. Sometimes called the Boston Movement because of its early ties to the Boston Church of Christ, it is a controversial restorationist Church which branched from the mainline Churches of Christ in the late 1980s under the leadership of Kip McKean. The ICOC regards the New Testament of the Bible as the supreme authority on doctrine, ecclesiastical structure, and moral beliefs — while acknowledging the historical accuracy and divine inspiration of the non-binding Old Testament — and thus claim the distinction of being "pre-denominational". Members of the Inter
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| abstract
| - The International Churches of Christ (typically abbreviated to ICOC) is a body of autonomous, non-denominational, religiously conservative, and racially integrated Christian congregations, an offshoot from the Mainline Churches of Christ. Sometimes called the Boston Movement because of its early ties to the Boston Church of Christ, it is a controversial restorationist Church which branched from the mainline Churches of Christ in the late 1980s under the leadership of Kip McKean. The ICOC regards the New Testament of the Bible as the supreme authority on doctrine, ecclesiastical structure, and moral beliefs — while acknowledging the historical accuracy and divine inspiration of the non-binding Old Testament — and thus claim the distinction of being "pre-denominational". Members of the International Churches of Christ generally emphasize their intent to simply be part of the original church established by Jesus Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, which became evident on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2. Once the fastest-growing Christian movement in the United States, membership has dwindled since the unceremonious departure of McKean in 2002 and subsequent internal turmoil, with total membership falling 23% between 2002 and 2004. Even so, the ICOC still boasts nearly 100,000 members in 160 nations around the world. Its once assertive recruitment methods, high commitment expectations of members, and retaining the use of "discipling" partnerships have caused some researchers, observers, and ex-members between 1996 and 2001 to label the organization a cult, in the broader sense of a psychologically abusive environment, and it has been sanctioned or banned by 39 college campuses and the country of France. Historically church officials have been unapologetic for their energetic evangelism, believing this to be the duty of all true Christians, but have renounced any allegations of impropriety as unfounded. In recent years a faction has emerged within the global movement which acknowledges these critiques and advocates reform — a process already undertaken by many congregations, some of which have seceded, others which have remained affiliated with the ICOC but revised their policies. Many local churches have become entirely autonomous after the recent disbandment of the central leadership, and today it is difficult to make any generalizations about the organization collectively. The Churches emphasize the use of only the New Testament to find doctrine, ecclesiastical structure, and moral beliefs, while maintaining that the Old Testament, the only Testament recognized in Judaism, is also the Word of God, is historically accurate, and that its principles remain true and beneficial, but that its laws are not binding under the new covenant in Christ unless otherwise taught in the New Testament. According to many who have left the International Churches of Christ, led by Al Baird and Kip Mckean, the International Churches of Christ is a cult.
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