UCCP, IDBCJ and Tadtad¶

United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)¶

Overview¶

The UCCP was founded in 1948 as one of the largest Protestant churches in the country. It was born from the union of several American-rooted denominations—Presbyterian, Congregational, United Brethren, Disciples of Christ, and Philippine Methodists.

The church sees itself as part of the universal Christian community and aims to live out Jesus’ example while working for unity, justice, and peace. Its mission focuses on proclaiming the gospel, strengthening communities, and engaging with social issues.

History¶

1898–1900s: U.S. missionaries arrived during the American takeover, setting up schools and hospitals.
1901–1920s: Evangelical Union formed to coordinate efforts; seminaries and training centers established.
1930s–40s: Wartime unions attempted; WWII disrupted churches. Push for unity continued.
1948: Official birth of the UCCP from merging Evangelical, Methodist, and United Evangelical churches.
1950s–60s: Growth, new structures, more Filipino leadership, inclusion of Disciples’ Tagalog Convention.
1970s: Martial Law—church promoted self-reliance and condemned dictatorship.
1980s: Youth and faith statements strengthened; UCCP opposed U.S. bases and pushed peace and justice.
1988 onwards: Continued expansion, programs for health, education, and social witness.

Main Beliefs¶

People are made in God’s image, meant for community with others and creation.
Christians are called to build a just and compassionate society as part of God’s Kingdom.
God’s Kingdom is revealed through faith in Christ, healing, liberation of the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and serving the poor.

Rituals¶

Worship services with prayer, hymns, preaching, and communion.
Baptism (infant and adult) and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments.
Community-oriented prayer and fellowship.
Social witness—public stands for justice and peace are considered acts of faith.
- (Note: The list of Old Testament rituals in your draft isn’t what the UCCP practices. Those are Jewish/early Christian practices, not modern Protestant ones.)

Current Status¶

Membership: about 1.5 million
Pastors: 1,593
Congregations: 2,564
Member of:
- Christian Conference of Asia
- National Council of Churches in the Philippines
- World Communion of Reformed Churches
- World Methodist Council
- World Council of Churches (since 1948).

Iglesia ng Dios na Buhay kay Cristo Jesus (IDBCJ)¶

Overview¶

The Iglesia ng Dios na Buhay kay Cristo Jesus (Church of the Living God in Christ Jesus) is an independent Filipino-founded Christian denomination. It was formally launched on March 17, 1954 in San Rafael, Bulacan, under the leadership of Avelino Santiago, who served as its first Presiding Minister.

The group is sometimes confused with similar-sounding denominations due to splintering and registration disputes, but the original IDBCJ traces back to Santiago’s movement.

History¶

1954: Avelino Santiago broke away from the group he co-led with Nicholas Perez, forming IDBCJ with early leaders like Melencio Bernardo, Guillermo Burcena, Lucio Santiago, and Abelardo Santiago.
1958: The group was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), adopting the name Iglesia ng Dios na Buhay kay Cristo Jesus.
1950s–1970s: Expansion into Cavite (Bailen), Batangas (Sampiro, Buhaynasapa), Bulacan (Halang, Sta. Maria, Sampaloc), and other areas. Early preachers included Felissa Sebuc and Juan Maguling.

Leadership succession: Avelino Santiago led until the 1980s; later leadership transitioned to his son Danilo M. Santiago. Today, factions exist, including groups presided by Rodelio Villaverde, reflecting internal schisms.

Beliefs¶

Bible-centered faith: Christ is the Son of God, sent to preach salvation and God’s commands.
Baptism: Administered by full immersion in water; considered valid only for believers who consciously choose the faith (minimum age: 12). Infant baptism is rejected, but infants may be dedicated to God.
Discipline: Members who break church rules or biblical commands may be expelled (pagtitiwalag), especially for serious offenses like adultery, consuming blood, or running away with non-members. Repentance opportunities are given before expulsion is final.
Resurrection & Judgment: Belief in Christ’s Second Coming, where faithful believers—living and dead—will be resurrected, judged, and live eternally with God in the New Jerusalem.

Rituals¶

Baptism by immersion for believers.
Infant dedication instead of baptism.
Congregational teaching led by ministers before baptism.
Communal discipline and correction, including expulsion of unrepentant members.
Worship services centered on preaching, prayer, and singing based on the Bible.

Current Status¶

The IDBCJ is relatively small compared to mainstream Protestant or Catholic groups. It is active mainly in Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Pangasinan, and La Union, with various factions and affiliated congregations.

Notable local congregations include:

Santa Maria, Bulacan (2 chapels)
Lamao, Bataan
Agoo, La Union (7 fellowships)
Santo Tomas, Batangas (11 fellowships)
Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan (7 fellowships)

Membership is in the tens of thousands nationwide, though no unified census exists due to splinter groups and separate SEC registrations.

Sagrado Corazon Señor (Sacred Heart of the Lord)¶

The Sagrado Corazon Señor (Sacred Heart of the Lord), also known as Tadtad (“chop-chop”), is a militant Christian cult in the Philippines. Its members, calling themselves “soldiers of Christ”, believe they are invincible to bullets and weapons, often using machetes and amulets in rituals. They emerged as a vigilante group supported at times by the military to combat communists and perceived enemies of Christianity.

History¶

Founded (1972): By Sagrado Sade Jr. in Misamis Oriental.
Growth (1970s–1980s): Expanded during armed conflicts in Mindanao, claiming up to 50,000 followers; at peak, leaders claimed millions.
Role in Anti-Communist Campaigns: Supported by the Armed Forces during Corazon Aquino’s presidency, used as paramilitary groups against the New People’s Army (NPA).
Notorious Acts: Beheadings, mutilations, massacres of civilians, and clashes with Muslim rebels and communists.
Decline: Aquino and later governments tried to disband vigilante groups (late 1980s–2000s) due to human rights abuses. By 2000, reports noted only small scattered groups.

Main Beliefs¶

Chosen by God to fight “evil” (defined as communists, Muslims, witches, and other perceived threats).
Members are protected from harm through faith, rituals, and amulets.
Violence against enemies was seen as divine duty.

Rituals¶

Initiation: Members cut or slash their arms; survival without harm proves their faith.
Symbolism: Red scarves, Philippine flag amulets, and machetes.
Practices: Drinking blood, chopping enemies into pieces (“tadtad”).
Prayer & Devotion: Mixed Catholic prayers and folk mysticism.

Current Status¶

Large-scale operations disbanded in the late 1980s–2000s after violent clashes.
By 2000: estimates suggest \<100 active members in some Mindanao areas.
Today: little to no reported activity; largely dissolved, remembered as a violent extremist sect.