The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is a body of decentralized, co-operating,[6][better source needed] religiously conservative and racially integrated Christian congregations.[3][7] In March 2024, the ICOC numbered their members at 112,000.[3][better source needed] A formal break was made from the Churches of Christ in 1993 with the organization of the International Churches of Christ.[8]: 418
Most members describe the ICOC as an "awesome family", while former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult[9] and have accused it, along with the International Christian Church, of covering up sexual abuse of children.[10][11]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".[10] As of August 2023[update], some US branches of the church were the subject of multiple lawsuits.[11]
^“Though some in the Movement have been reluctant to label themselves Protestants, the Stone-Campbell Movement is in the direct lineage of the Protestant Reformation. Especially shaped by Reformed theology through its Presbyterian roots, the Movement also shares historical and theological traits with Anglican and Anabaptist forebears." Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, "Protestant Reformation", in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN0-8028-3898-7, ISBN978-0-8028-3898-8
^"Leadership". 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ICOC Cooperation Service Team Chairmen (28 August 2009). "Plan for United Cooperation Summary". icocco-op.org. International Churches of Christ Co-operation Churches. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
^Cite error: The named reference Jenkins was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN0-8028-3898-7, ISBN978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on International Churches of Christ