In February 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported on federal lawsuits against the International Churches of Christ and the International Christian Church (ICC). Most of the claims concern alleged abuse and cover-up. The lawsuits also describe how giving worked.
According to the lawsuits, Kip McKean asked ICC members to turn over their COVID-19 relief money to the church. The lawsuits also allege that members were required to give at least 10% of their gross income, plus a separate contribution twice a year for mission trips that was 40 times the usual weekly amount. They allege that leaders sometimes asked to see pay stubs and waited at members' homes to collect contributions before Sunday evening ended.
Jason Dimitry, then lead evangelist of the City of Angels ICC and now the leader of the Restored Church Worldwide (RCW), declined to comment for the story. An attorney for McKean said the allegations appeared to have no connection to McKean or the ICC churches.
These are allegations in lawsuits, and none has been proven in court. The federal suits were later withdrawn and refiled in state court.
Questions to consider
- How was the Special Missions amount set for you? Did you feel free to give less?
- Was your income ever reviewed by a leader?
- Read 2 Corinthians 8:12 and 9:7. How do they describe a gift God accepts?
Sources
- Ngai Yeung and Sam Moskow, "Church leaders concealed sexual abuse of young children, lawsuits allege," Los Angeles Times, February 28, 2023: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-28/church-sexual-abuse-allegations
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