Executive ministers of the Iglesia ni Cristo are "Manalos", so what?

Is there religious dynasty in the INC? Why the INC is governed by the Manalos? Is the INC owned by the Manalos? Why the executive ministers after Bro. Felix Manalo were his son and grandson? Is it not unfair to other ministers if the next executive minister of the INC after Bro. Eduardo will be his son or another Manalo again?


ANSWER:


To make the answer short, the Iglesia ni Cristo members HAVE NO PROBLEM if all of our executive ministers were Manalos. There is no dynasty and no unfairness in the INC. If there are people who HAVE PROBLEM with that, they are the jealous nonmembers and not us. WE NEVER COMPLAIN who the next executive minister will be, because WE TRUST them, we BELIEVE in them, and we have FAITH in them.


Is there dynasty in the church?

NONE. Bro. Erano Manalo and Bro. Eduardo Manalo were elected by church ministers, there is an election on who will be the next executive minister.

On Bro. Erano Manalo

“On the of January, 1953, Bro. Felix Manalo called a meeting of INC District Ministers (Then also called Division Ministers). Bro. Erano then the Church General treasurer, was elected Bro. Felix eventual successor to the office of Executive Minister…” “ By Providential will he was elected by Church elders in 1953 to succeed Bro. Felix Y. Manalo as the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) Executive Minister in the event of the demise of God’s messenger…” Pasugo Sep 2009 Issue


"...As to CHOOSING OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, succession was done THROUGH AN ELECTION attended by the Church ministers in the house of worship in Riverside, San Juan, Metro Manila (formerly Rizal) on 28th of January 1953. Three names were cast, to wit: Bro. Erano G. Manalo, Isaias Samson Sr. and Isaias Reyes. The congregation of ministers overwhelmingly supported Bro. Erano Manalo in carrying on the administration of the church after Bro. Felix Manalo..." Pasugo March-April 1992 issue

On Bro. Eduardo Manalo

“The Church Of Christ is so blessed because even though God called Bro. Erano Manalo to his much-needed reast, he heas placed a successor upon whom he bestowed with an impressive capability to lead and administer it: Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, the present Executive Minister of the INC. Well respected, well known, and well loved by the whole church, he is now our overall Executive Administrator . Under the tutelage of his father, he had long been prepared for this task, having been unanimously elected in 1994 by the assembly of district ministers to be Deputy Executive Minister and hence successor in case of such an eventuality…” Pasugo Sep 2009 issue

Were the division ministers wrong that they elected Bro. Erano Manalo and Bro. Eduardo Manalo as executive ministers?

No. Because of the leadership of Bro. Erano Manalo, the Iglesia ni Cristo had established local congregations abroad and in his time 50 locales are being dedicated to God yearly. While the present executive minister, who is Bro. Eduardo Manalo dedicates more or less a hundred locales yearly, and more districts abroad are being created.

Do you think the INC will have these achievements if they did not become executive ministers?

Some contributions of Bro. Erano Manalo to the church were:

Infrastructure: Central Temple, Central Office, INC museums, Tabernacle, New Era University, New Era General Hospital, FYM Memorial Puericulture center and maternity clinic, Housing projects (for ministers and volunteer workers) and Resettlement projects.

Socio civic program: Lingap sa Mamamayan

Media evangelization: DZEM radio station, NET25, and GemTV.

On the 46 years leadership of Bro. Erano, he had established the first local congregation outside the Philippines in 1968 which is in Hawaii, in his time, there are 90 districts in the Philippines and more than 11 established districts abroad, the church is scattered in 93 countries and territories around the world.


Some contributions of Bro. Eduardo Manalo:

Infrastructure: Philippine Arena, Philippine Stadium, EVM Convention Center, EGM Medical Center, Net25 and GemTV building [all under construction]

Socio civic programs: INC Giving, Felix Y Manalo Foundation

Media evangelization: PinasFM 95.5

In the would-be-3 years leadership of Bro. Eduardo, he had established an INC activity which is Unity games, created 5 districts abroad with inaugurations of 3 new bigger edifices for the former districts. In present, the church is now in 100 countries and territories with members consisting of 110 nationalities and ethnicities. The districts in the Philippines alone is now 111, he also led the first ordination of ministers and the first general conference of ministers outside the Philippines.


Succession crisis in other churches

Succession for me, is a period of difficult times of a church because new leader, means new kind of leadership, like in any democratic country, new president means new administration, how beautiful the past administration was, the present and the future of the country always DEPENDS on who will be the next leader is. Fortunately, the Iglesia ni Cristo had executive ministers that have the same goals and leadership, succession and/or election did not became a problem and did not make any negative effects in the church. Not like other churches like the LDS church that had succession crisis:

"The succession crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the violent death of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., on June 27, 1844.

For roughly six months after Smith's death, several people competed to take over his role. The leading contenders were Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and James Strang.The majority of Latter Day Saints elected to follow Young's leadership, but several smaller churches emerged from the succession crisis. This significant event in the History of the Latter Day Saint movement precipitated several permanent schisms." source: wikipedia

Another example is the Jehova's witnesses:

"A dispute developed in 1917 within the leadership of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society following the death of society president Charles Taze Russell and election of legal counsel Joseph Franklin Rutherford as his successor.

An acrimonious battle ensued between Rutherford and four of the society's seven directors, who accused him of autocratic behavior and sought to reduce his powers. Rutherford claimed the dissident directors had formed a conspiracy to seize control of the society and overcame the challenge by gaining a legal opinion that his four opposers had not been legally appointed. He subsequently replaced them with four new sympathetic directors. The four ousted directors later gained 12 legal opinions that Rutherford's actions were "wholly unlawful". The leadership crisis divided the Bible Student community and helped contribute to the loss of one-seventh of the Watch Tower adherents by 1919." source: wikipedia

Also happened on the "Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan", the church where Mr. Eliseo Soriano was expelled and then founded his own church now called Members Church of God International:

"In 1969, Nicolas Perez, who was then the church's Presiding Minister, bestowed upon Soriano the title Minister making him the only minister in the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan at that time. Rumors were circulating that Soriano is going to be Perez's successor.
After the death of Nicholas Perez, a woman named Levita Gugulan was appointed by a Board of Directors to lead the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan (Church of God in Christ Jesus, the Pillar and Support of the Truth) as the Church Presiding Minister. Eliseo Soriano was a signatory on July 11, 1975 to the appointment of Gugulan. A month after, he again signed a memorandum stating that anyone who opposes their Church administration will be suspended and expelled.

On January 2, 1976, Eliseo Soriano was then appointed by Levita Gugulan as one of their church’s Board of Directors. There were fifteen members of the Board. On February 21, 1976, he was expelled together with sixteen other members for inciting rebellion inside the church and teaching doctrines contrary to their beliefs. Soriano maintains that he was not expelled but voluntarily left his church as he firmly believes that a woman should not lead the church according to the bible. On March 30, 1977, two years after the death of Perez, Eliseo Soriano and followers registered his own group..." source: wikipedia

A crisis also happened in an election of Pope after the death of Catholic Church's pope who is Liberius:

The succession crisis
"In the early Church, new Bishops of Rome were elected or chosen by the clergy and the people of the diocese in the presence of the other bishops in the province, which was the manner customarily used in other dioceses. While this simple method worked well in a small community of Christians unified by persecution, as the congregation grew in size, the acclamation of a new bishop was fraught with division, and rival claimants and a certain class hostility between patrician and plebeian candidates unsettled some episcopal elections. At the same time, 4th-century emperors expected each new pope-elect to be presented to them for approval, which sometimes led to state domination of the Church's internal affairs.
On the death of Liberius on 24 September 366, one faction supported Ursinus (or Ursicinus), who had served as deacon to Liberius, while another faction, previously loyal to the Antipope Felix II, supported Damasus. The upper-class partisans of Felix supported the election of Damasus, but the opposing supporters of Liberius, the deacons and laity, supported Ursinus. The two were elected simultaneously (Damasus' election was held in San Lorenzo in Lucina) in an atmosphere of rioting. Supporters already clashed at the beginning of October. Such was the violence and bloodshed that the two prefects of the city were called in to restore order, and after a first setback, when they were driven to the suburbs and a massacre of 137 was perpetrated in the basilica of Sicininus (the modern Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore), the prefects banished Ursinus to Gaul. There was further violence when he returned, which continued after Ursinus was exiled again.
Church historians such as St. Jerome and Rufinus, championed Damasus. At a synod in 378, Ursinus was condemned and Damasus exonerated and declared the true pope. The former antipope continued to intrigue against Damasus for the next few years and unsuccessfully attempted to revive his claim on Damasus's death. Ursinus was among the Arian party in Milan, according to Ambrose.
This dissension climaxed with a riot which led to a three-day massacre and to the rare intervention of Emperor Valentinian I to uphold public order. Damasus prevailed, but only with the support of the city prefect. Once he was securely consecrated Bishop of Rome, his men attacked Ursinus and his remaining supporters who were seeking refuge in the Liberian basilica, resulting in a massacre of 137 supporters of Ursinus. Damasus was also accused of murder before a later prefect, but his friends secured the personal intervention of the emperor to rescue him from this humiliation. The reputations of both Damasus and the Roman church in general suffered greatly due to these two unseemly incidents.
Edward Gibbon writes, "The enemies of Damasus styled him Auriscalpius Matronarum, the ladies' ear-scratcher." source: wikipedia

These are just some examples of churches that had succession crisis, may it be because of crisis in the election of the next leader or because of a different kind of leadership of the next successor of the church.


The Present Executive Minister --Bro. Eduardo Manalo

What do you think is another reason why Bro. Eduardo was unanimously elected by the district ministers to be the successor of Bro. Erano Manalo?

For me, I think it is because the son of Bro. Felix who is Bro. Erano was successful on his leadership in the church so they taught Bro. Erano's son will also successful on his leadership, besides on the reason of his great skills. Another reason is that Bro. Eduardo was blessed by Bro. Felix Manalo himself, while he is in sickbed:

"Brother Felix was already on his sick bed when one day he sent for his grandson, "Eddie," who was barely seven years old and at the time, was playing in the yard. When Eddie entered the room, Brother Felix asked his grandson to kneel, and then he placed his hands over the child's head and blessed him in front of several witnesses. Afterwards, he had his grandson rise and allowed him to return outside to play." source: Pasugo Issue October 2009

Whoever will be the next executive minister that the district ministers be voted, it is God's will and we respect that even if it will be another Manalo, because what's important are the contributions they made in the church, and not the PRIDE or HONOR of their clan. Again, there is no PROBLEM and it is not a big deal for us if the next executive minister after Bro. Eduardo is his son or another Manalo again.

Eliseo Soriano challenged Bro. Erano Manalo on a debate!

I really admire Mr. Soriano for his braveness on challenging the late Executive Minister Bro. Erano Manalo on a one on one debate. I admire how intelligent he is, imagining that he knows that his challenge will not be given attention by Bro. Erano Manalo. The result is, the public and nonmembers thought that Bro. Erano Manalo was a coward, and cannot face Mr. Soriano on a debate, making his hidden intention a success!


Is this TRUE, that Bro. Erano was a coward?

I think even i say no, they will still say YES.
But i should tell the truth, the FACT is NO.

But before ill explain this, i will show you first the true happenings before Eliseo Soriano challenged the late Bro. Erano Manalo...

"On March 3, 2004 a scheduled Pre-debate Conference was supposed to happen in residence on a subdivision in Paranque City, three (3) ADD workers confirmed to the said agreement, Marcos Mataro, Melvin Arbo and Jun Damimo but on the date of agreement there were no ADD workers found on site, the INC ministers waited until 6:00PM.

source: eltoes.tripod.com

What happened in the pre-debate conference in Paranaque?

On April 26, 2004 another scheduled Pre-debate Conference was supposed to be held in Capaz, Tarlac, at 3:00PM but there are no ADD worker present despite of the agreement 4 days before that they’ll meet. The meeting was signed my Manny Antonio an ADD worker and Abraham Cruz of the INC. INC Ministers Michael Sandoval even tries to contact the ADD and told them that they will go where they are so that the pre-debate would push through; the ADD Minister Mel Magdaraog however cannot answer the request. The Mayor of the town who supposed to be the arbiter postpones his election campaign for the day just to be there but no ADD member was there, he just told the ADD that he’ll not grant any other request from the group if their attitude is that rude."

source: eltoes.tripod.com

What happened in the pre-debate conference in Capaz, Tarlac?

And because of this events, ADD members now INC members became upset that makes ADD workers/ministers of Mr. Soriano, the REAL COWARD. A former ADD church worker's observation:

Then in March 27, 2005 Eliseo Soriano challenged the INC again but in this time, he wanted Bro. Erano Manalo, a "puno sa puno" one on one debate. His challenge is published in a national newspaper, but the funny thing here is that he wanted the debate to happen in television studios that will be covered live worlwide via satellite as what he said, instead of challenging Bro. Erano on a formal public debate. WOW.

He also said in the newspaper that he is waiting for the INC's reply for the discussion of mechanics. The INC's reply was published in March 28, 2005 saying "for the Iglesia ni Cristo's response watch Ang Tamang Daan". In the same day the response was broadcasted in INC's program saying "Ang sagot sayo ganito, makipagdebate ka muna sa papa ng Iglesia Katolika, at maglalatin ka nga sinasabi ko sayo, saka tatanggapin ang hamon ng tagapamahalang pangkalahatan ng Iglesia ni Cristo."

Why do you think Bro. Erano Manalo's reply is in that way? Does that mean he is feared on debating Soriano one on one?

Answer: NO.

Why?

Let us first understand the tasks of the Executive Minister, thanks for the info ive got from the internet. Question: Is one of the tasks of an Executive Minister is to be a debater?


Executive Minister vs. Presiding Minister

Executive Minister
The position of an executive minister requires a balance of both strong leadership skills and an aptitude for management and administration. Executive ministers generally work alongside senior pastors to help provide leadership and outreach to the church staff, the church body and the community at large. Because of the psychological and spiritual demands of the job, executive pastors must maintain a strong commitment to personal growth and emotional health.
Duties
Executive ministers must be willing to fulfill a wide variety of duties, many of which go unnoticed because they occur behind the scenes. The first priority of any executive minister should be to establish positive, trusting relationships among the church staff and between the staff and the congregation. This includes meeting with and caring for staff and other church members, arranging staff meetings, casting visions and goals for the organization, providing supervision, working with committees and planning staff events. The executive pastor also serves as a personal adviser to the senior pastor, sharing opinions, feedback and advice when appropriate. Because of this, the executive minister must clearly understand and fully support the church’s goals and mission statement.

Skills
An executive minister must possess a wide range of skills to adequately fulfill the ongoing demands of the position. These include effective communication, positive supervisory skills, ability to plan and coordinate activities, flexibility, a commitment to personal and professional growth and the desire for further education (often a requirement). Executive pastors may also be required to visit church members or conduct weddings or funerals, so excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills are a must.

Work Setting
The majority of an executive minister’s work is likely to occur in a church office. This may include working alone, possibly at a phone or computer, or working in groups with other church staff. Work may also take place in other people’s homes, or at community events or volunteer projects. The senior pastor usually provides direct supervision.

Education and Experience
Most churches and other organizations require that an executive minister have a degree in management or biblical studies, or both. In certain cases, proficient experience may substitute for one of these education requirements. Most executive ministers will be expected to further their education through reading, attending seminars or pursuing a degree. However, these expectations will vary from one organization to the next.

source: ehow.com

It is not the job of the Executive Minister to be a debater, that's why INC ministers are the one's who wanted to represent the INC on a debate (not just ministers, but selected ministers because they needed authorization from the Church administration), the INC's official public debaters were Bro. Jose Ventilation and Bro. Ramil Parba. Accepting the challenge of Eliseo Soriano on his "puno sa puno" version of the debate is but a question of authority. I think that is the reason why Bro. Erano said that Eliseo Soriano should first challenge the Pope on a debate, and IF the Pope agreed, it is when Bro. Erano will also agree on Soriano's challenge.

Come to think, the Pope is not a debater of the Catholic Church, their official debaters were apologists and not Popes. It is also same with other religious organizations, their debaters is not the present executive minister, presiding minister, highest leader, president and so on, the one who does that is their official debaters.

If you go to MCGI's website, it is said that their Presiding Minister "supervises the entire activity of the Church and implements all policies and projects aimed for the improvement of the Congregation’s spiritual well-being. He ensures the proper and rightful execution of the duties and responsibilities of the Ministers and officials of Church ministries and organizations.

He also teaches the Ministers and Workers all the doctrines of Christ in the Bible to be taught to the members."

In the case of Soriano, he is not just a Presiding Minister, he is also a debater, preacher, blogger, celebrity, treasurer(mahilig manghingi ng abuloy), softdrinks dealer, owner of different businesses like sizzling house, water station and etc.



Does the late Bro. Erano Manalo hiding like a coward?

Bro. Erano Manalo only do what his job states and requires, the job of an Executive Minister is described above as:"many of which go unnoticed because they occur behind the scenes." So, when Soriano brainwashed and corrupted the minds of his followers saying that Bro. Erano WAS HIDING only because he did not do what Soriano is doing, like preaching on t.v and in public, well that's a DECEPTION and a lie, as Executive Ministers' works "occur behind the scenes"!

Bro. Erano Manalo is not a coward in debates, in fact, when he is not yet an Executive Minister, he is a public speaker and a debater:

"Bro. Felix Manalo had trained Bro. Erano as a public speaker and debater, once introducing him before a bible exposition saying, “Ang susunod na magsasalita ay mas mahusay pa sa akin (The one who will speak after me is more skilled than I am.)”. Pasugo Issue Sep. 2009

IF ONLY, yes, IF ONLY Bro. Felix Manalo is still living, Soriano's church is now vanished because of Soriano's defeat in a debate. It is unfair if it will be a Sugo of ADD vs. 2nd executive minister of the INC, it should be Sugo of ADD vs. True Sugo of God which is the 1st Executive Minister of the INC. We all know that the preaching of Bro. Felix in the past is more of bible expositions/rallies and debates with different pastors in different religions, as what Soriano IS STILL DOING. If Soriano have lived in the time of Bro. Felix, Soriano is truly be ashamed.


Going back to the topic...

"On March 29, 2005 in Tanauan, Batangas a Pre-debate conference is already in progress when Rodel Mangiliman an ADD MIC came to stop the pre-debate conference, initially he accepts the challenge but as the rules are about to be discussed they keep on trying to change the theme and doesn’t want to accept any rules that was set. The arbiter then quits saying that if the ADD will not agree to anything then there will not be any debate. In this incident it is noticeable also that when the INC Minister tries to greet the ADD workers thru shake hands they refuse then just leave."

source: eltoes.tripod.com

After challenging Bro. Erano Manalo in a debate in March 27, 2005 , but as it is impossible to happen, Bro. Ramil challenge Soriano that he is the one to represent the INC and not the Executive Minister, the conditions:

In the next video, another INC minister, Bro. Ventilation challenge Soriano in a formal debate but he refused, instead he insist that he wanted the Executive Minister to be in the debate. Another INC minister in the video, Bro. Jojo Geron attended an ADD gathering where he challenge Soriano on a debate, Soriano said "Aminin mo munang makikipagdiskusyon ka sasagutin kita", But the poor Soriano feared the debate between him and the Iglesia ni Cristo, he then said "tignan mo, may sinabi ba kong makikipagdiskusyon ang Iglesia? Wala nun!"

hahaha, who is the true COWARD? As ive said earlier, i really admire the intelligence of Soriano using the advantage of challenging Bro. Erano Manalo on a one on one "PUNO SA PUNO" debate (not public debate) instead of challenging the official INC debaters, as he KNOWS that Bro. Erano will not accept it immediately. It will be a shameful event in the side of the INC if Bro. Erano had accepted the challenge, because no religious leaders around the world would give attention to Soriano's craziness.

His "PUNO SA PUNO debate" is really an invention of Soriano, we should not be surprised, because Soriano have not CHALLENGED ANY RELIGIOUS LEADERS until now except the Executive Minister of the INC, what do you think is the reason???

Who's the real COWARD? The Executive Minister of the INC who many not be always in the eyes of the public, but is working "behind the scenes" or the Presiding Minister of MCGI who's location cannot be track abroad because of not FACING his criminal charges in the Philippines?

Biography of Bro. Eduardo Manalo

Brother Eduardo Villanueva Manalo was born in Manila, Philippines on October 31, 1955. He is the eldest son of Brother Eraño G. Manalo, who was Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) from 1963 to 2009 and of Sister Christina Villanueva. It was his grandfather, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the Sugo or God's Messenger in these last days, who named him "Eduardo," which means "guardian."


Childhood

Brother Felix was already on his sick bed when one day he sent for his grandson, "Eddie," who was barely seven years old and at the time, was playing in the yard. When Eddie entered the room, Brother Felix asked his grandson to kneel, and then he placed his hands over the child's head and blessed him in front of several witnesses. Afterwards, he had his grandson rise and allowed him to return outside to play.

Eddie's grandmother, Sister Honorata Manalo, whom he called "Lola Ata," would constantly teach him and his cousins to kneel while praying, and never to waste any of God's blessings.

As a young boy, Eddie would get Brother Eraño's books, bring them to his own room, arrange them on one side of the table and begin preaching. Only later did he realize that his father was actually listening through an intercom system. So precocious was Eddie that his father trained him to type his worship service lessons for him with anitalicized typewriter.

He started his elementary education in Jose Rizal College (now Jose Riza lUniversity) along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, and transferred during his fourth grade to Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) in Quezon City.

Adolescence

He continued his high school in JASMS, wherein he had the opportunity to dabble in all sorts of fields, including Citizen's Military Training. He was also the guitarist of a singing group in his school and was active in dramatics.

He held the office of row leader in the Pagsamba ng Kabataan (PNK) or children's worship service (CWS) before he began attending classes for PNK Guro or CWS Teachers under Brother Benjamin Santiago Sr., a senior minister of the gospel. Inheriting the Sugo's passion for photography, he would contribute pictures for the Pasugo, the Church's official magazine, and at age 16 began submitting articles to it, the first of which was titled "Ang Mga Kagutom, ang Bagyo, at Sumpa" ("The Famines,the Storm, and the Curse," September 1972). Having a natural love for books, he strated his own library, most notable being his still-growing collection of Bibles, since Brother Eraño once told him, "Ang pinakamabuting collection ngmanggagawa ay mga Biblia" (The best collection that a Minister should have is acollection of Bibles).

Young adulthood

It was the wish of the Sugo for Brother Eduardo to study philosophy in college and so he majored in it as an undergraduate and continued studying it at the graduate level, both at the University of the Philippines– Diliman, Quezon City. As an undergraduate, he joined the UP Christian Brotherhood (UPCB), the Church's official student organization for the brethren enrolled in UP. He became its vice president for external affairs prior to becoming its president in his sophomore year. As his contemporaries would recall, Brother Eduardo was not unaccustomed to debating with members of other religious organizations, speaking in either Filipino or English, as the situation necessitated.

While pursuing his undergraduate studies in UP, he undertook his ministerial studies at the Evangelical College (EVCO), where in a single academic year, he completed courses for both the fourth and fifth years of the program. He graduated from UP in 1978, and from EVCO in 1980.

Early Ministry

After graduating from EVCO, Brother Eduardo's first destino or area of assignment was in the local congregation of Cubao in Quezon City whose pastor at the time was Brother Cesar Pedrozo. Brother Eduardo was ordained as a minister on May 9, 1980 at the Iglesia ni Cristo house of worship in Tondo, Manila. After a week of being assigned to the local congregation of Project 4, he was assigned as a Tagapagturo or Instructor of Evangelical Studies and as Assistant Dean of EVCO. He would bring along evangelical students from outside the Philippines, like Brothers Steven Kroll and Edward Maranan, to different provinces, especially in propagating God's words, to supplement their experiences in the ministry.

He was also assigned by Brother Eraño to host a religious radio program in DZEC and to be one of the first panellists on the TV program Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo. As a panellist, he would receive advice and constant guidance from the Executive Minister, which he would also share with his students.

As Coordinator of Metro Manila

In 1984, Brother Eduardo was designated as a Coordinator at the Metro Manila Office of the Church, where he served with pioneering ministers, such as Brothers Benjamin Santiago Sr., Aniceto Bunag Sr., and Pedro Almedina. He was also involved in numerous projects, the most notable being Project Tambalan, which was initiated for the Sugo's Centennial. Project tambalan, a brainchild of Brother Pedro Jaraza, also a senior minister of the gospel, was a system of inviting non-members that yielded an unmatched record number of converts into the Church.

In order to document the worship services being officiated by the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo initiated the use of sound and video facilities. He also founded the Society of Communicators and Networkers (SCAN) for brethren with a common interest in radio communication. Because the internet was technically non-existent in the Philippines during that time, he began and maintained a popular Bulletin Board System (BBS) and further developed his skills in computer programming. He organized the Data and Network Management (DNM), which allowed computerization of the entire Central Office. He also sponsored Internet seminars for ministers in various ecclesiastical districts of the Church.

Based on an article entitled "RP marks7th year on the Internet", printed in the magazine Computer world Philippines in March 2001, Brother Eduardo is recognized by Filipino information technology enthusiasts as belonging to the "group of pioneers that brought the nation into the Internet Age."

As Deputy Executive Minister

A day after Eduardo was elected unanimously by the Church's Executive Council, he was sworn in as Deputy Executive Minister by Brother Eraño on May 7, 1994. That blessed and historic occasion was witnessed by brethren all over the world by means of video conferencing technology.

In 1994, he was entrusted bythe Executive Minister with the historic task of registering the church officially in Rome, Italy. Two years later, he along with 11 ministers, joined Brother Eraño in restoring the Church in Jerusalem, Israel. In 1997, he accompanied the Executive Minister in a pastoral visit to Athens, Greece.

In 1998, he was tasked by the Executive Minister to make a pastoral visit to the United States, specifically in the states of Hawaii and California, for the 30th anniversary of the Church of Christ's establishmentin the West. He officiated at special worship services at the Neal Blaisdel lHall in Hawaii and San Jose Arena in California, both ofwhich were filled to capacity. In his homilies, he preached not only in Filipino but also in English for the benefit of all the brethren.

In the year 2000, Brother Eraño once again sent Brother Eduardo on a pastoral visit to 10 US states and Washington, D.C. in 2006, he was sent by the Executive Minister to visit brethren in countries in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Brother Eraño took every opportunity to hold klase with his son. Even simple moments like taking a brisk walk would turn into precious mentoring sessions. Advice and guidance from the Executive Minister were extremely important to Brother Eduardo that during pastoral visits outside the Philippines, he always made sure his line of communication was always open to and for the Executive Minister. In fact, each time the plane he boarded had barely landed, Brother Eduardo would already be reaching for his phone to report his whereabouts to Brother Eraño. It had always been very characteristic of Brother Eduardo to consult constantly with the Executive Minister.

The ideals of the Executive Minister have always been the inspiration of Brother Eduardo's project. He sponsored workshops in writing and and translations and seminars for ministerial students, as Brother Eraño wanted ministers trained in all fields beneficial to the Church. Such learning activities culminated in projects like the Eye 'N See Life photo exhibit and Christian Music Video Festival (CMVFest), which were under not only Brother Eduardo's sponsorship but also his artistic direction, given his knowledge of photography, filming, and video editing.

Because Brother Eraño wanted good values to be prompted especially among the youth of the Church, Brother Eduardo launched a children's exhibit entitled "Values 101." He also released animated documentaries about the Sugo and Brother Eraño to help the youth understand and value their compassionate labors for the Church. In addition, he initiated the digital restoration of older issues of the Pasugo.

As a composer and arranger himself, Brother Eduardo has continuously encouraged brethren to compose music for the Church. He has produced and released CD's of contemporary Christian music and "audio books" featuring Bible-verse reading paired with original INC hymns, which are all based on the books and lessons of the Executive Minister.

Family life

Brother Eduardo met his wife, Sister Lynn Ventura, when as a minister, he officiated a committee prayer of the UPCB. They were married on January 2, 1982, the 57th birthday ofthe Executive Minister. That was also the year when Brother Eraño devised the Gabay sa Pagkakasal, a minister's manual in counselling couples to be married and in solemnizing the wedding service.

Brother Eduardo and Sister Lynn molded their children early in their youth to value Church offices, which, up to now they fulfill faithfully. Brother Eduardo's constant advice to them is "Don't let the world influence you, you should influence the world," for by doing good, others will do the same. They also instilled in their children the value of studying hard so that they can use their God-given gifts in the service of the Church.

Their three children began studies at New Era University (NEU) before matriculating at UP. Dorothy Kristine graduated at U.P with Bachelor's degrees in Philosophy and Law and has been teaching at NEU since 2005. Gemma Minna, having graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and currently pursuing a second degree in Choral Conducting, teaches music at NEU and is a choir member. Angelo Eraño is a senior majoring in European Languages and is also a fifth-year Bachelor of Evangelical Ministry (BEM) student at the College of Evangelical Ministry (CEM).

Radio communication and other current hobbies and interests

In his early teenage years, Brother Eduardo became interested in radio communication when he began tinkering with his father's unused ham radio units and antenna, eventually becoming aregular Short Wave Listener (SWL). He formed the Citizens Band Radio Group (Special Forces), and later on progressed to become a licensed amateur radio operator. He learned the Morse code, and has used voice, RTTY, and various other radio communication modes, which have afforded him the chance to communicate with people all over the world. Along with the computer technology, he is currently interested in astronomy and astrophotography.

Brother Eduardo is also fond of animals as he has had dogs for pets and currently own cats. He enjoys witty jokes, especially those that involve puns and word play. He is an aficionado of good movies and appreciates them not just because they are entertaining but they can also be instructive.

Principle of Leadership and Administration

Elder ministers have described Brother Eduardo as humble. According to them, although he is the son of the Executive Minister, he has always been respectful of others ministers, especially those older than he. When it comes to the Executive Minister's instructions, his principle is to "always obey and never complain" even if it entails sacrifice, no matter how great, since such derivatives are biblical.

To Brother Eduardo, most prominent among the many advices his father imparted to him is to have selfless love and concern for the Church. For this reason, he has also been described as "compassionate" and a "good listener," although very firm and meticulous inimplementing Church rules and discipline.

Now that the mantle of over-all Church administrations rests on Brother Eduardo, he himself hasemphasized:

"Wala akong iibahin sa sinimulan ng Sugo at itinaguyod ng Tatay (Iwill not change anything from what the Sugo began and what my father continued to uphold),"

because all that they laid down for the Church have always been based on Church doctrines and regulations, in accordance with God's teachings written in the Bible.

from: Pasugo October 2009 issue

Belated Happy Birthday Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo!

We greet Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo a Happy Birthday

October 30, 2010, 9:43pm

OCTOBER 31 is an important day for officials, members, followers, and supporters of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). On this day, its Executive Minister, Eduardo Villanueva Manalo, is celebrating his 55th Birth Anniversary. He is the son of the late Executive Minister Eraño G. Manalo and Cristina Villanueva Manalo.
Before he took over from his late father, “Ka Ed” was Deputy Executive Minister of the INC. He was ordained last May 7, 1994, at the Central Temple in Quezon City. He pursued pastoral activities in July-August, 1998, including a visit to Hawaii, United States, to participate in the celebration of the 30th year of the Church of Christ in the West. Other pastoral visits were made to various places in Europe and in Asia in April-May, 2006.
As Executive Minister, “Ka Ed” is shepherd to his flock. He continues the legacies left by his distinguished father and his esteemed grandfather, Minister Felix Y. Manalo, who founded the INC on July 27, 1914, in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila. The church has since grown tremendously with millions of followers. It now has over 5,400 local congregations in 90 countries. Apart from spiritual enhancement, the INC pursues relevant and meaningful projects, not only for its members, but also for communities nationwide. It has outreach programs, environmental advocacy, food and nutrition projects, and educational campaigns such as computer literacy and adult education. The officials and members of the INC look up to him as a guiding light and inspiration, especially on vital spiritual and moral issues.
“Ka Ed” is an expert on information technology (IT). He ran a local radio frequency bulletin board service at a time when Internet had not yet been introduced in the country. He helped established the Association of Christians in Information Technology, an INC-affiliated organization composed of IT experts who assisted the INC in its myriad tasks. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He is married to Lynn V. Manalo and they have three children – Dorothy Kristine, Gemma Minna, and Angelo Eraño.
We greet Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo a happy birthday and wish him all the best and success in all his endeavors.

from: mb.com.ph

A message of hope and inspiration from Ka EVM during the INConcert held last July 27, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum in celebration of the INC 96th anniversary.

Again, Belated Happy Birthday Bro. Eduardo!

Dynasty in the Iglesia ni Cristo?

Nonmembers and detractors of the INC always say that INC is just a business or whatever of the Manalo family. They also say that it is evident because the Executive Ministers of the church are all of Manalos. 

One of these examples is this, the poorly informed owner of philippinepoliticsreligion.blogspot.com says:

"The INC administration is being inherited by a Manalo offspring from their ascendant. I am not going to discuss any biblical topic about the religious dynasty inside the INC (since I don't consider myself a religious debater) but I cannot fail to notice that the INC members truly behold very dearly the Manalo Family.

Any disrespectful comments to any member of the Manalo family may result pressure/harassment by the INC members. INC members even considers Felix Manalo as angel which is part of their main doctrine.

(1) A dynasty is a succession of people belonging to the same family, who, through various means and forms maintain power, influence or authority over the course of generations (2) dynasty (Noun) A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family

Is religious dynasty wrong? - Ask the Catholic Church
Is religious dynasty right? Ask Iglesia Ni Cristo

The advantage of religious dynasty (politically and financially) to a specific family is unimaginable. A president even declared a holiday on the day of internment of Eraño Manalo.

This is totally a political favor given to the politically powerful Manalo family, an obvious favor given to a specific religious group over the other religious denomination. Renaming streets after a family member of the Manalo family is another obvious result of the power of the religious dynasty of Manalo family.

I wonder if Eduardo Manalo dies, 

Who will be the next lucky Manalo family member that will inherit the Iglesia Ni Cristo administration? 

Who will be the next Manalo family member that will inherit their family jewels and legacy?"

But what is the TRUTH? Why is that the second and now, the current Executive Minister of the INC came from the family of Bro. Felix? Do they mean it or just accidentally? Well, we will find it out if there’s really a Dynasty or whatsoever myth and allegations of the nonmembers and detractors.

Bro. Erano G. Manalo:

“On the of January, 1953, Bro. Felix Manalo called a meeting of INC District Ministers (Then also called Division Ministers). Bro. Erano then the Church General treasurer, was elected Bro. Felix eventual successor to the office of Executive Minister…”

“ By Providential will he was elected by Church elders in 1953 to succeed Bro. Felix Y. Manalo as the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) Executive Minister in the event of the demise of God’s messenger…”

Pasugo Sep 2009 Issue

"...As to CHOOSING OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, succession was done THROUGH AN ELECTION attended by the Church ministers in the house of worship in Riverside, San Juan, Metro Manila (formerly Rizal) on 28th of January 1953. Three names were cast, to wit: Bro. Erano G. Manalo, Isaias Samson Sr. and Isaias Reyes. The congregation of ministers overwhelmingly supported Brp. Erano Manalo in carrying on the administration of the church after Bro. Felix Manalo..."

Pasugo March-April 1992 issue

OTHER PROOFS:

"In 1953, ten years before his father's death, Eraño Manalo was elected successor to his father as Executive Minister..."

"...He passed the leadership of the church to his son, Eraño de Guzman Manalo who was elected unanimously by the council of elders..."

wikipedia, nowpublic.com, malaya.com and most of sites/blogs

"...his son Erano G. Manalo was elected to the top post of the Iglesia ni. Cristo by its Council of Ministers only two weeks after the Sugo's death... "

R. Reed

 
 

Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo:

“The Church Of Christ is so blessed because even though God called Bro. Erano Manalo to his much-needed reast, he heas placed a successor upon whom he bestowed with an impressive capability to lead and administer it: Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, the present Executive Minister of the INC. Well respected, well known, and well loved by the whole church, he is now our overall Executive Administrator . Under the tutelage of his father, he had long been prepared for this task, having been unanimously elected in 1994 by the assembly of district ministers to be Deputy Executive Minister and hence successor in case of such an eventuality…”

Pasugo Sep 2009 issue

OTHER PROOF:

"...As of 1994^[update] his son Eduardo is INC's Deputy Executive..."

nikkonacion.livejournal.com

Bro. Erano Manalo and Bro. Eduardo Manalo did not became Executive Ministers of the church just because of the interest of one another or because of what they say “Dynasty” and whatsoever. 

Succession is done THROUGH ELECTION by the church elders or district ministers. Another important thing is that Bro. Erano was trained by his father himself and Bro. Eduardo was blessed by his grandfather before his death.