Philippine Independent Church - Councils and Sectoral Organizations

Councils and Sectoral Organizations

• Supreme Council of Bishops (SCB) - consists of all serving and retired bishops, defines the doctrines of the Church, adopts and prescribes official liturgical rites, and gives pastoral and moral guidance to the faithful.
  • North Central Luzon Bishops Conference.
  • South Central Luzon Bishops Conference.
  • Visayas Bishops Conference.
  • Mindanao Bishops Conference.

The Council shall be vested with the following powers and shall perform the following functions:

- To adopt any amendment or amendments to the Constitution, Canons, and Articles of Religion for ratification by the General Assembly.

- To define the doctrines of the Church.

- To adopt and prescribe official liturgical rites.

- To act on cases instituted against bishops, provided, however, that such action shall be final and executory unless within thirty days after the receipt of the decision an appeal is directed to the Supreme Bishop for final adjudication within three months from receipt of the appeal.

- To perform such other functions as provided for in the Constitution and Canons of the Church.

- To report to the General Assembly in its immediately subsequent session any action it taken on ecclesiastical matters and administrative cases.

• The Council of Priests (COP) - composed of all priest-delegates to the General Assembly. It elects a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary for an office of three years. The Council of Priests promotes the welfare of priests and represents their concerns to the General Assembly.
  • National Priest Organization.

The duties of the Council are as follows:

- To recommend to the General Assembly through the Executive Commission, amendment or amendments to the Constitution and policies for the conduct of the government of the Church.

- To perform such other functions as provided for in the Canons of the Church.

- To report to the General Assembly in its immediately subsequent session any action and activities in has taken.

- To cooperate with the Supreme Council of Bishops, the National Lay Council, and other commissions in promoting the interests and welfare of the Church.

- To discharge such functions as may be assigned to it by the General Assembly and the Executive Commission.

• National Lay Council - composed of the men, women and youth delegates of every diocese represented in the General Assembly. It works to promote and enhance the participation of the laity in the governance and general affairs of the Church.
  • Women of the Philippine Independent Church (WOPIC)
  • Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (YIFI)
  • Laymen of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (LIFI)

The duties of the National Lay Council are as follows:

- To recommend to the General Assembly, through the Executive Commission, amendment or amendments to the Constitution and policies for the conduct of the government of the Church.

- To assist the Commission on Business and Finance in the raising of funds for the Church.

- To adopt such measures as will enhance the participation of the laity in Church affairs.

- To cooperate with the Supreme Council of Bishops, Council of Priests, and other bodies in promoting the interests and welfare of the Church.

- To coordinate and/or supervise the work of the Organizations under it.

- To discharge such functions as may be assigned.