Church of Christ in the Congo

The Union has its origins in a grouping of Protestant and Evangelical missionaries that took place in 1902. It was officially founded in 1924 as the Protestant Council of the Congo (Conseil protestant du Congo; CPC). In 1934, it took the name of the Church of Christ in the Congo. This union was named the Church of Christ in Zaire (Église du Christ au Zaïre; ECZ) from 1971 to 1997 under Mobutu's regime. In the years leading up to 1970, many religious communities engaged in practices considered anarchic or subversive. The rapid proliferation of these groups, the doctrines they promoted, and particularly the ways in which they worshiped God, were viewed as posing a significant public risk. == Organization and function ==

The ECC functions as a religious institution, and provides a central administration and a spiritual forum for the numerous Protestant denominations. It functions under a national synod and an executive committee. Both of these entities are assisted in their tasks by a national secretariat. The ECC is said to be part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, but it also insists on maintaining unity in diversity, as they see it as being the only system common to the Holy Bible, the primitive church, and African traditions. Leadership The Church is led by a National President who holds the rank of Bishop, and two Vice-Presidents. The National President is the presiding minister of the Cathedral of the Protestant Centennial in the Congo (), also known as the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa () - the de facto head church of the ECC. One of the previous National Presidents of the ECC was Monsignor Pierre Marini Bodho. After the Second Congo War, transitional institutions were formed that included former combatants, non-belligerent opposition members, and civil society representatives. During the 2003–2006 transition period, Mgr. Marini Bodho, seen as a neutral and broadly acceptable figure representing organized religion within civil society, served as President of the Senate, the upper house of the Congolese Parliament. He later won a Senate seat in the 2006 elections and continued to serve as a government senator. At the provincial level, the ECC is overseen by the Provincial Presidency, which includes the Provincial President, Provincial Vice-President, and attached administrative or specialized services. The Provincial President serves as the representative of the National President and the Protestant faith within the province, and advocates for the Protestant communities before provincial authorities, government institutions, and public organizations. He is granted a special mandate from the National President to act legally on behalf of the ECC, its communities, or affiliated organizations when needed. In 2010, 59 Protestant communities were listed as part of the ECC: The National Synod can also expel a member for serious violations of the ECC constitution or internal regulations, or if the member's practices conflict with biblical teachings, church doctrine, or conduct standards. Resigning or expelled members cannot claim any portion of the ECC's social fund or property, nor request the return of any donations previously given, nor seek reimbursement for contributions already made. Contributions in cash or kind remain the property of the ECC. Nonetheless, former members remain liable for unpaid dues and any proportional liabilities of the Church. == See also ==