After researching, though its really hard to find answer specially i did not ask it to a minister or authorities in the church but only here in the internet, i came to know the answer about this allegation of those jealous and mind-corrupted by devils that Iglesia ni Cristo is a "business" only because it is registered as a CORPORATION SOLE in the SEC (securities and exchange commission). I was just very happy that it is like answer is finding me, not that i am finding for the answer^^ I came across to an informative article about Baptist churches registering in the SEC as CORPORATION SOLE.
Then, i realized it like a puzzle one by one.
FACT: Iglesia ni Cristo is registered AS A CORPORATION SOLE in the SEC and that it is written there that Bro. Felix Manalo is the founder/Executive minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
Seems that anti-INC are now rejoicing and over smiling because A MEMBER is admitting that INC is indeed registered as CORPORATION SOLE.
WAIT, dont rejoice!
Let's start this! So that this long time allegation and favorite topic of these instruments of the devil will END!
What is CORPORATION SOLE?
"A corporation sole is a legal entity consisting of a single ('sole') incorporated office, occupied by a single ('sole') man or woman. This allows a corporation (usually a religious corporation) to pass vertically in time from one office holder to the next successor-in-office, giving the position legal continuity with each subsequent office holder having identical powers to his predecessor.
Most corporations sole are church-related..." wikipedia
"The corporation sole, or corporate sole, is legally defined:
Corporations sole are those which by law consist of but one member at any one time, as a bishop in England... It is said in England to include the Crown, all bishops, rectors, vicars and the like.
A corporation sole is one consisting of one person only, and his successors in some particular station, who are incorporated by law in order to give them some legal capacities and advantages, particularly that of perpetuity, which in their natural persons they could not have had..." Corporation Sole Facts
What's in this? or the main point about it?
"The concept of corporation sole originated as a means to the orderly transfer of church or religious society property, serving to keep title within the church or religious society. In order to keep the religious property from being treated as the estate of the vicar of the church, the property was titled to the office of the corporation sole..."
"The corporation sole form can also serve the needs of a very small church or religious society, just as well as a large diocese. By reducing the complexity of the organization to one office and one office holder, the need for by-laws is eliminated. Also, the pastor of the church or overseer of the society does not have to deal with the complexity of a board of directors..." wikipedia
When I was searching about it, i came to a very interesting article about Baptist churches registering into Corporation Sole, here is my post about it:
About the CORPORATION SOLE
Please read it and the answer about INCORPORATION OF CHURCHES is already in there!And because i want you to be educated, and not living in a BIG LIE, i will summarize it JUST FOR YOU!
Is it okay if a church is not registered in the law/as being CORPORATION SOLE in the SEC?
YES, Church can exist and function even if its not registered. But, there are things and reasons why it is a privilege to register a church in the SEC.
What kind of privilege is that?
That the church's properties can be titled in the name of the church itself, not in the name of the pastors or some members! (More? See above. What's in this? or the main point about here?)
PROOF about why Bro. Felix registered it in the SEC as CORPORATION SOLE
"To avoid problems in the future, the Iglesia ni Cristo was officially registered as a corporation sole with Felix Manalo as executive minister on July 27, 1914..." National Historical Commission
"To avoid accusations of preaching an unrecognized church, Felix Manalo decided to register the Iglesia ni Cristo with the Philippine government. He asked a lawyer friend, Juan Natividad, to assist him. On July 27, 1914, the Iglesia ni Cristo was officially registered, the date of its registration coinciding with the outbreak of World War I. It was registered as a "corporation sole" with Felix Manalo as Executive Minister." student631.tripod.com
INC is registered only as Corporation Sole, while others are registered as corporation aggregate like the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas, Inc. (IEMELIF), what's the difference?
The Corporation Sole VS. Corporation Aggregate
"The Court explained that a corporation sole is “one formed by the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or other presiding elder of a religious denomination, sect or church, for the purpose of administering or managing, as trustee, the affairs, properties and temporalities of such religious denomination, sect of or church,” while a corporation aggregate is one formed by two or more persons for the same purpose..." Supreme Court of the Philippines
Law about the Corporation Sole:
Corporate Code of the Philippines [Sec. 109-116]
TITLE XIII : SPECIAL CORPORATIONS
Chapter II – RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS
Sec. 109. Classes of religious corporations. – Religious corporations may be incorporated by one or more persons. Such corporations may be classified into corporations sole and religious societies.
Religious corporations shall be governed by this Chapter and by the general provisions on non-stock corporations insofar as they may be applicable. (n)
Sec. 110. Corporation sole. – For the purpose of administering and managing, as trustee, the affairs, property and temporalities of any religious denomination, sect or church, a corporation sole may be formed by the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or other presiding elder of such religious denomination, sect or church. (154a)
Sec. 111. Articles of incorporation. – In order to become a corporation sole, the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder of any religious denomination, sect or church must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission articles of incorporation setting forth the following:
1. That he is the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder of his religious denomination, sect or church and that he desires to become a corporation sole;
2. That the rules, regulations and discipline of his religious denomination, sect or church are not inconsistent with his becoming a corporation sole and do not forbid it;
3. That as such chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder, he is charged with the administration of the temporalities and the management of the affairs, estate and properties of his religious denomination, sect or church within his territorial jurisdiction, describing such territorial jurisdiction;
4. The manner in which any vacancy occurring in the office of chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi of presiding elder is required to be filled, according to the rules, regulations or discipline of the religious denomination, sect or church to which he belongs; and
5. The place where the principal office of the corporation sole is to be established and located, which place must be within the Philippines.
The articles of incorporation may include any other provision not contrary to law for the regulation of the affairs of the corporation. (n)
Sec. 112. Submission of the articles of incorporation. – The articles of incorporation must be verified, before filing, by affidavit or affirmation of the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder, as the case may be, and accompanied by a copy of the commission, certificate of election or letter of appointment of such chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder, duly certified to be correct by any notary public.
From and after the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the said articles of incorporation, verified by affidavit or affirmation, and accompanied by the documents mentioned in the preceding paragraph, such chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder shall become a corporation sole and all temporalities, estate and properties of the religious denomination, sect or church theretofore administered or managed by him as such chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder shall be held in trust by him as a corporation sole, for the use, purpose, behalf and sole benefit of his religious denomination, sect or church, including hospitals, schools, colleges, orphan asylums, parsonages and cemeteries thereof. (n)
Sec. 113. Acquisition and alienation of property. – Any corporation sole may purchase and hold real estate and personal property for its church, charitable, benevolent or educational purposes, and may receive bequests or gifts for such purposes. Such corporation may sell or mortgage real property held by it by obtaining an order for that purpose from the Court of First Instance of the province where the property is situated upon proof made to the satisfaction of the court that notice of the application for leave to sell or mortgage has been given by publication or otherwise in such manner and for such time as said court may have directed, and that it is to the interest of the corporation that leave to sell or mortgage should be granted. The application for leave to sell or mortgage must be made by petition, duly verified, by the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder acting as corporation sole, and may be opposed by any member of the religious denomination, sect or church represented by the corporation sole: Provided, That in cases where the rules, regulations and discipline of the religious denomination, sect or church, religious society or order concerned represented by such corporation sole regulate the method of acquiring, holding, selling and mortgaging real estate and personal property, such rules, regulations and discipline shall control, and the intervention of the courts shall not be necessary. (159a)
Sec. 114. Filling of vacancies. – The successors in office of any chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder in a corporation sole shall become the corporation sole on their accession to office and shall be permitted to transact business as such on the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a copy of their commission, certificate of election, or letters of appointment, duly certified by any notary public.
During any vacancy in the office of chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder of any religious denomination, sect or church incorporated as a corporation sole, the person or persons authorized and empowered by the rules, regulations or discipline of the religious denomination, sect or church represented by the corporation sole to administer the temporalities and manage the affairs, estate and properties of the corporation sole during the vacancy shall exercise all the powers and authority of the corporation sole during such vacancy. (158a)
Sec. 115. Dissolution. – A corporation sole may be dissolved and its affairs settled voluntarily by submitting to the Securities and Exchange Commission a verified declaration of dissolution.
The declaration of dissolution shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The reason for dissolution and winding up;
3. The authorization for the dissolution of the corporation by the particular religious denomination, sect or church;
4. The names and addresses of the persons who are to supervise the winding up of the affairs of the corporation.
Upon approval of such declaration of dissolution by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the corporation shall cease to carry on its operations except for the purpose of winding up its affairs. (n)
Sec. 116. Religious societies. – Any religious society or religious order, or any diocese, synod, or district organization of any religious denomination, sect or church, unless forbidden by the constitution, rules, regulations, or discipline of the religious denomination, sect or church of which it is a part, or by competent authority, may, upon written consent and/or by an affirmative vote at a meeting called for the purpose of at least two-thirds (2/3) of its membership, incorporate for the administration of its temporalities or for the management of its affairs, properties and estate by filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, articles of incorporation verified by the affidavit of the presiding elder, secretary, or clerk or other member of such religious society or religious order, or diocese, synod, or district organization of the religious denomination, sect or church, setting forth the following:
1. That the religious society or religious order, or diocese, synod, or district organization is a religious organization of a religious denomination, sect or church;
2. That at least two-thirds (2/3) of its membership have given their written consent or have voted to incorporate, at a duly convened meeting of the body;
3. That the incorporation of the religious society or religious order, or diocese, synod, or district organization desiring to incorporate is not forbidden by competent authority or by the constitution, rules, regulations or discipline of the religious denomination, sect, or church of which it forms a part;
4. That the religious society or religious order, or diocese, synod, or district organization desires to incorporate for the administration of its affairs, properties and estate;
5. The place where the principal office of the corporation is to be established and located, which place must be within the Philippines; and
6. The names, nationalities, and residences of the trustees elected by the religious society or religious order, or the diocese, synod, or district organization to serve for the first year or such other period as may be prescribed by the laws of the religious society or religious order, or of the diocese, synod, or district organization, the board of trustees to be not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15). (160a)
Is the Iglesia ni Cristo the only church in the world that is registered as CORPORATION SOLE?
NO!
Most protestants denominations/sects i know is registered as that, i always saw names of churches for example, Church of Christ in heaven inc. , If there is INC. or incorporated, it means it is registered under the LAW.
Roman Catholic Church's properties registered as CORPORATION SOLE
"In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, the property is usually titled to the diocesan bishop, who serves in the office of the corporation sole. The Roman Catholic Church continues to use the corporation sole for holding title for property, and as recently as 2002, split a Californian diocese into many, smaller corporations sole, with each parish priest becoming his own corporation sole, thus limiting the liability of the diocese..." wikipedia
"Mormon Church" uses a form of CORPORATION SOLE
"Similarly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon church) uses the corporation sole form for its president (the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)." wikipedia
Church of Soriano is an INCORPORATED church1977- Ang mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Incorporated1993- Bayan ng Katotohanan Incorporated1994- Iglesia ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH, Inc.2005- Members Church of God International, Inc.
and many other...
SHOCKING TRUTH: CORPORATION SOLE ORIGINATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!
History of CORPORATION SOLE:
"The corporation is a product of ancient Roman civil law. By 250 B.C. Rome had perfected the corporation to include all of the legal attributes we are familiar with in corporations today. By 6 A.D. the corporation was codified into the first great body of Roman civil law, known as Corpus Juris Civilus.
Several centuries later, and particularly after the time that Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (323 A.D.), the Roman Church appropriated and used the corporation for ecclesiastical purposes and, in particular, holding church property..." See full content: Corporation sole facts
Catholics and Catholic defenders mockingly and made stories that INC is a business because it is registered as CORPORATION SOLE and saying its not of GOD only because of that issue, being uneducated about it, they came to conclude it and its very funny because its a long time attack to the INC. What is funnier here is that the use of CORPORATION SOLE ORIGINATED FROM THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, the CATHOLIC CHURCH!
"Iglesia ni Cristo evidently not of Christ because it is written that Bro. Felix is the founder/executive minister and not Christ!?"Another funny accusation, why?
We believe that Bro. Felix Manalo is a messenger of GOD or GOD'S instrument in restoring the true Church of Christ in the far east. We did not and never recognize him as the founder of the church because it is Jesus Christ who founded the church.
Even though authors/publishers on newspapers and etc. say that Iglesia ni Cristo's founder is Felix Manalo, is because it is what is written in the law in the time of Incorporation of the church. And you, what would you like to put on the registry about who's the founder? Jesus Christ? As of what is written in the law:
"Sec. 111. Articles of incorporation. – In order to become a corporation sole, the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder of any religious denomination, sect or church must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission articles of incorporation setting forth the following:
1. That he is the chief archbishop, bishop, priest, minister, rabbi or presiding elder of his religious denomination, sect or church and that he desires to become a corporation sole;"
Many claims that their church is Christ's church, and how can you determine a particular group without mentioning who's the person behind it, especially for example there are many churches that named Church of Christ? How can Christ be the founder if he is already dead hundred years ago?One word that answer that. PROPHECY. Even Christ and other messengers of God are prophesied first, but why Bro. Felix not in the bible? It is because the bible was already published before Bro. Felix and his work came, even Christ before, his name was only mentioned when the prophecy fulfilled.
Is the Iglesia ni Cristo owned by "Manalo family"?
This is another most often attack by those unschooled detractors of the INC, WHY? Corporation Sole again, "is a legal entity consisting of a single ('sole') incorporated office, occupied by a single ('sole') man or woman..." ONLY ONE, why do they say it is owned by the "Manalo family"?
Church properties are TITLED to the CHURCH ITSELF and not to its Executive Minister.
