The fastest-growing Church of Christ in the only Christian nation in Asia is now embroiled in serious ''intra-union'' dispute that may cause a split in the Iglesia ni Kristo. This is unfortunate and all of us, Christians, whether Catholic, Protestants, ''born-again'' or whatever, ''Dating Daan'' or "Tamang Daan" should feel sad that one of the best-led, the best managed congregations is facing its most serious internal trouble in its 101 years of existence. It always saddens me when there is a split that threatens the very existence of one of the most admired institutions in the country today.
All my eight brothers-in-law are members of the Iglesia, and the only Catholic in my in-law's family are my wife and my sister-in-law. I have been recruited by the INC since I have attended many of its rites, rituals, and ceremonies. But I have remained faithful in the Catholic Church, being an extra-ordinary minister of the Holy Communion, and soon to be a Knight of Columbus. But I have always admired the management system and the discipline of the INC members. In Hawaii, in San Francisco, in LA, and even in Japan and in Malaysia, the INC has very well-led congregations.
But the current trouble is very serious because it involves the expulsion of the venerable wife of the late Brother Erano Manalo and the very mother of the current Executive Minister Ka Eduardo Manalo. The brothers of Ka Eduardo, Lotte and Angel and their families were expelled en masse, along with some ministers who are loyal to them. If we take the words of Ka Angel, there are serious allegations of ''corruptions'' involving the inner circle of the Executive Minister. There is even a mention of alleged financial and administrative mismanagement and the so-called questionable projects like the ARENA in Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan.
It always saddens me whenever there is a split in the organization of top institutions. I was saddened, for instance, at the split between the Democrito Mendoza and the Ernesto Herrera wings of the TUCP, the largest labor center and federation in the country. These are all results of disagreements among top leaders not unlike the split between Emilio Aguinaldo's Magdalo faction and the Magdiwang faction of Andres Bonifacio of the Katipunan. This is also similar to the split been the Unipersonalistas and the Collectivistas, and the Pros and the Antis during the times of Quezon and Osmeña.
If we go farther back to history, there was a split between Rajah Humabon and Datu Lapulapu on their different responses to Ferdinand Magellan. There was even a split in the old testament between the brothers Cain and Abel. There was a split in Islam between the Shiites and the Sunnis. There was a split in the Philippine Independent Church or the Iglesia Filipina Independiente . There was even a split in the Catholic Church. And so, this serious trouble in the INC will most probably split the church that was founded by Ka Felix Manalo 101 years ago, and which Ka Erdie Manalo expanded and nurtured for more than 40 years. Ka Eduardo was elected by the Supreme Council. The INC is not a family corporation or a family dynasty.
There is, however, a jink in big organizations, which is called the Third Generation Curse. If you talk of the organizations put up by Don Andres Soriano, Don Carlos Palanca, Don Vicente Madrigal, Don Manuel Elizalde. The first generation is the founder, the second generation is the expander, and the third generation is the squanderer. The first generation, like Ka Felix is the patriarch, the second generation, Ka Erdie is the anointed son. The third generations are grandsons who cannot be controlled in their divergences and disagreements. I hope that the INC can break the Third Generation Curse, and heal the wounds in the internal organs of the Church. Otherwise, they are starting the end of the iconic institution which the founding fathers so patiently and painstakingly nurtured all those hundred years. Sayang.