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Couples for Christ

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Couples for Christ
AbbreviationCFC
FormationJune 26, 1981
TypeNGO, Charismatic community, lay ecclesial movement
PurposeReligious (Catholic)
Headquarters349 Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
approx. 900,000 (as of 2005) [1]
Key people
Joe Tale, director, Vic Gutierrez, founder
Websitecouplesforchristglobal.org

Couples for Christ (CFC), formally the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, is a Catholic organization intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. CFC, which was initially formed for married couples, has expanded into a community that seeks to preserve the sanctity of the family. CFC invites Catholic and non-Catholic Christians from all sectors of society regardless of cultural, economic, educational, social, and other distinctions to help in strengthening the Christian family as well as in helping the poor and the oppressed.

CFC was founded in the Philippines in 1981 as an outreach program of the Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) (Joy of the Lord), another Christian organization. [2] In 1993 CFC separated from LNP to pursue its own method of evangelization. Since then, CFC has created various programs to cater to the needs of other members of the family: children, adolescents, single adults, widows, and others. Notably, CFC is responsible for the creation of Gawad Kalinga, an organization that uses a Christian approach in solving poverty in the Philippines.

CFC has about 900,000 members, of which more than 800,000 are from the Philippines. CFC branches can be found in about 160 countries and territories throughout the world. [3]

History

The idea for Couples for Christ was conceptualized by Victorino Gutierrez, a leader in the Ligaya ng Panginoon. [4] LNP, as a leader in the charismatic renewal in the Philippines (it was founded on July 19, 1975, during the modern charismatic period), sought to bring Christian spirituality into men and women.

In 1980, LNP leaders led by Fr. Herb Schneider, SJ, directed Gutierrez to design an outreach program which can attract married couples towards a renewed Catholic life. A team led by Gutierrez decided to hold a home-based Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) in Quezon City. The six couples who participated in this LSS graduated and were inducted into LNP on November 1980. In 1981, another LSS was held for 16 couples; unlike the previous LSS graduates, these new participants could not be inducted into LNP because of the postponement of the LNP community weekend retreat, which serves as their entry point. [5]

To compensate for this development, Gutierrez and his team created the Christian Life Program, which was initially designed to sustain the interest of the 16 couples while awaiting membership into LNP. Eventually, upon realizing that God has other plans for the 16 couples than just becoming LNP members, Gutierrez formed the group "Couples for Christ" as LNP's family life outreach program. In June 26, 1981, the 16 couples were inducted as CFC, using the CFC Covenant which Gutierrez had devised in the previous month. [6]

In 1983, Gutierrez formed a pastoral team for CFC, composed of Ely Lademora, Raul Sarceda (who devised CFC's Statement of Philosophy and became CFC's first Executive Director), Francisco Padilla (who succeeded Sarceda), Roberto Pilar, Francisco del Rosario, Pio Acampado, Danny Aviado, and Jose Villegas. [7] It was also in this year when LNP registered CFC in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Couples for Christ Foundation Inc. [8] On June 25, 1983, CFC published the maiden issue of the Ugnayan, its official newsletter.

Under the guidance of LNP, CFC slowly expanded in the Philippines. While expanding within Metro Manila, CFC was also established in other parts of the Philippines; the first CFC chapter outside Metro Manila was established in Bukidnon in 1984. [9] A year later, in 1985, the first CFC chapter outside the Philippines was established in India. [10]

On September 18, 1985, a prophecy was revealed to Nina Ponte, wife of Rouquel Ponte, who were both serving in CFC. According to her, God has given CFC His authority and blessing to win "the world for Christ". [11] This revelation was instrumental in inspiring CFC to pursue a "rapid, massive, and global" evangelization thrust, which was formally declared on August 1989. This thrust was cemented in 1991, during CFC's 10th year anniversary, when the current Statement of Vision "Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth" was adopted. [12]

At this point, some CFC leaders proposed that CFC be separated from LNP. The LNP leaders rejected this proposal, stressing that CFC is just one of LNP's outreach programs. In this setup, CFC is autonomous from LNP (with its own Executive Director—who is supposed to be a formal LNP member—and Council), but it remains accountable to the mother community; meanwhile, LNP retains leadership and authority over the outreach program. [13] The two groups held meetings in early 1993 to settle the matter, to no avail. The CFC leaders refused to acknowledge CFC's status as an outreach and denied that they are accountable to LNP, while the LNP leaders insisted otherwise. [14]

The separation became final on March 19, 1993. A day before a meeting with Fr. Schneider and the LNP leaders, Padilla, as CFC Executive Director, convened the CFC elders and moved that the existing CFC Council be dissolved, to be followed by the election of a new Council. By acting without LNP's approval, CFC asserted its independence. This development, plus CFC's filing of its incorporation papers to the SEC as "Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.", formalized CFC's separation from LNP. [15]

In response to CFC's departure, LNP chose not to pursue its rights over CFC, and announced that it would form a new outreach program in CFC's stead, named "Ligaya Family Life Apostolate." In 2005, reconciliation began with the signing of the Statement of Reconciliation, Unity and Brotherhood between LNP and CFC. [16]

File:Cfclogo.gif
Couples for Christ logo

Immediately in 1993, the separated CFC community began to establish what is now known as the CFC Family Ministries. As an outreach program of LNP, CFC administered only to couples. (LNP had other outreach programs for singles, youth, businessmen, and widows.) The separation thus allowed CFC to expand towards serving other members of the family, particularly in the provinces where the other LNP outreach programs haven't been established. [17] CFC Kids for Christ (KFC), CFC Youth for Christ (YFC), CFC Singles for Christ (SFC), and CFC Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) were the first ministries to exist in 1993, followed by CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD) in 1994.

In 1995, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) approved CFC's status as a National Private Association of Lay Faithful. During that same year, CFC leaders who were working for A Living for Christ Foundation started a youth-oriented community development in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. This resulted with CFC forming the ANCOP (ANswering the Cry Of the Poor) Foundation in 1996: the precursor of Gawad Kalinga. [18] Notably, the first house built for the poor was built in Bagong Silang in 1999.

During the 1980s and the 1990s, the various programs that collectively became known as the CFC Social Ministries began to form. Initially referred to as the "Special Ministries," they were CFC's instruments in the effort of "total human liberation". [19]

In recognition of the social dimension of the Gospel, CFC in 2000 defined "Bringing Glad Tidings to the Poor" in its Statement of Mission. During this year, the Holy See recognized CFC as a "Private International Association of Lay Faithful"; this recognition was permanently installed in 2005. [20]

Also in 2000, the name Gawad Kalinga (GK) was coined for CFC's work with the poor. GK gradually grew in popularity among Filipinos. In 2002, the first GK National Build was mounted in Negros Oriental province, while the first GK site outside the Philippines, in Cambodia, was created. [21] In 2003, GK was formally registered with the SEC as Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. [22] Also in that year, the GK777 (700,000 homes in 7,000 GK sites from 2003 to 2010) campaign was launched.

CFC made its mark in Philippine politics in 2001, when it joined the campaign to oust former President Joseph Estrada. Arguing that the nation's future is at stake, and that the country cannot tolerate a morally bankrupt leader such as Estrada, CFC increasingly participated in the various protests leading up to the EDSA Revolution of 2001. Later that year, during the 2001 elections, CFC organized its "13-0 Movement," arguing that only the 13 candidates of the People Power Coalition deserve the people's support, and not the Puwersa ng Masa candidates who are allied with Estrada. (As president, Estrada announced that he will join CFC so as to prevent the resignation of then Department of Science and Technology Secretary and CFC member Jun Uriarte. After discussing the proposal to then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, CFC made a counteroffer that Estrada resign first before joining.)

CFC began strengthening its missionary activity in 2002, when it sent its first missionaries sent on long-term mission to southern Africa.

The CFC Seven Pillars, the collective name for CFC's programs, was completed in 2005, with the establishment of the CFC Pro-Life Ministry and the "CFC Special Ministries", dedicated to "build the Church of the future".

CFC celebrated its 25th year anniversary in 2006. As of that year, the worldwide CFC community is present at around 160 countries and dependent territories. [23]

In February 2007, serious disagreements arose in the top CFC leadership. Citing differences in beliefs and areas of ministry concentration and focus, a group of CFC leaders separated from CFC and formed the Foundation for Family and Life. [24] Despite the reconciliatory efforts of the CBCP and CFC members, CFC and FFL have opted to remain separated, while remaining open to unification in the future. [25]

At the beginning of September 2007, CFC confirmed that the Pontifical Council for the Laity continues to recognize only "Couples for Christ" as a private international association of lay faithful, and not the "Foundation for Family and Life." [26] In response to concerns of CFC leaders and members, a Pastoral Congress was held to determine, with the Catholic clergy, the future directions of CFC's global mission and vision implementations. Countries with CFC presence will also hold their respective Pastoral Congresses to determine their own specific needs, which will culminate in worldwide responses. [27]

On December 11, 2007, CFC launched the "One Time, Big Time Campaign," as fundraising effort to rid CFC of its debt of almost 20 million pesos, which was accumulated through the past years of its existence. [28]

Throughout its years, CFC's activities are influenced by a Biblical verse announced from the top leadership, known as the "theme." This is the list of CFC's themes from 1999 up to the present.

The CFC Themes
Year Theme Bible Verse
1999 "Go and bear fruit that will remain." John 15:16
2000 "Bring glad tidings to the poor." Luke 4:18-19
2001 "United in Christ."
2002 "Build up, build up, prepare the way." Isaiah 57:14
2003 "Possess the land." Psalm 37:34
2004 "Fear not, I am with you." Isaiah 41:10
2005 "God is enough." Psalm 51
2006 "Show his power and majesty to a sinful nation." Tobit 13:6
2007 "Hope in the Lord." Lamentations 3:24
2008 "Love one another as I have loved you." John 13:34

Organization

CFC grows mainly through the establishment of localized units in different parishes. CFC members are organized into Household cell groups (a group of 10 to 12 individual members, or 5 to 6 couples), which are led by a Household Head. Multiple households form a Unit, multiple units form a Chapter, multiple chapters form a Cluster, and a Sector can be formed depending on the amount of clusters in the area.

The Elders Assembly (EA) is the governing body of CFC; it is composed of CFC Metro Manila Sector Heads, Provincial Area Heads, Regional Area Heads, Ministry Heads, International Regional Coordinators, Mission Directors, and their spouses. Every two years, the EA elects seven members to the International Council (IC) and 15 members to the Board of Elders (BOE). The IC then appoints among themselves the directorships in CFC, including the CFC Director.

The International Council

The CFC International Council (IC), also known as the Board of Trustees, is a body of seven CFC leaders elected by the Elders Assembly every two years. (The idea of having seven leaders was taken from Acts 6:3 as well as the recognition of the number seven as a perfect Biblical number.) The term of the IC starts from July until June two years later. They receive formal recognition through an anointing ceremony on the occasion of the CFC Anniversary, which takes place every June. Traditionally, incumbent IC members can be reelected. The current IC serves from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009.

File:Joey Arguelles.jpg
Joey Arguelles
  • Special Ministries Director
  • Church Relations Director
  • Luzon Mission Director
 Ernesto Maipid, Jr.
  • Director of Pastoral Support
 Rouquel Ponte
  • International Mission Director
  • Pro-Life Ministry Director
 Jose Tale
  • CFC Director
  • Director of Evangelization and Mission
  • Metro Manila Mission Director
  • Gawad Kalinga Chairman
 Jose "Lito" Tayag
  • Finance/Asset Management Group Director
  • Social Ministries Director
  • Visayas Mission Director
 Melo Villaroman, Jr.
  • Family Ministries Director
  • Home Office Director
 Jose Yamamoto
  • Philippines Mission Director
  • Mindanao Mission Director

The Board of Elders

The CFC Board of Elders (BOE) is a high-level body of 15 CFC leaders. Similar to the International Council, the BOE is elected by the Elders Assembly for a two-year term. The current BOE, which serves from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009 (a coterminous period with the IC), is composed of Robert Ardiente, Ricky Cuenca, Bernie Cuevas, Didi Galsim, Delfy Geraldez, Ramon de Leon, Joey Mempin, Greg Monteclaro, Mannix Ocampo, Luis Oquiñena, Rene Rieta, Oscar Tagulinao, and Jun Uriarte. (Pancho Lopez-Tan and Oscar Oblefias resigned and joined the Foundation for Family and Life.)

Vision and Mission

During the CFC Leaders Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on January 12, 2008, the International Council introduced CFC's new Statement of Vision and Mission. This revision was the result of the discussions in the Pastoral Congress held in 2007. As a result of this revision, CFC's vision "Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth" was expanded into:

'"Moved by the Holy Spirit
One with the Catholic Church
Blessed to Witness Christ's Love and Service
Couples for Christ is a United Global Community
Of Family Evangelizers
That Sets the World on Fire
With the Fullness of God's Transforming Love."

The Mission Statement, by which CFC seeks to accomplish the vision stated above, is now stated as:

"Building the Church of the Home, Building the Church of the Poor."

The Seven Pillars

  1. Evangelization and Mission
    CFC is an evangelistic and missionary community, adhering to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. CFC believes that all its members are evangelizers, and they are to spread Christianity in every way they can.
  2. Pastoral Support
    CFC's work entails logistical and administrative concerns. A dedicated group of CFC leaders and members deal with this by providing backroom and frontline support for evangelization work; ensuring the operations of the CFC Home Office; and other matters such as development of teachings and formation courses, counseling services, and financial accounting.
  3. Family Ministries
    CFC aspires to be a "womb-to-tomb" family renewal community: it seeks to evangelize every family member other than the couple, and to support them at all stages of life.
  4. Social Ministries
    CFC is active in social evangelization. It seeks to dismantle poverty, injustice, and oppression, since it believes that these are not from God.
    • CFC Educational Foundation Inc.: To teach Christian values to children.
    • Flame Ministries Inc.: To produce Christian audio-visual presentations and merchandise.
    • Give Kare Health Foundation Inc.: To promote better health care programs within and outside of the CFC community.
    • Isaiah 61:1: To promote Christianity within prisons/detention centers/correctional facilities.
    • St. Thomas More and Associates: To foster Christian living among politicians, government employees, and legal practitioners.
    • The Sword of Gideon: To encourage military personnel to abide by Christian ideals in their activities.
    • Tekton Guild: To seek an equitable distribution of wealth throughout the world, similar to the early Christian communities.
    • Teodora: In Defense of the Authentic Woman, Inc.: To promote respect for women and their role within the family.
    • The Oikos Society: To promote environmental protection, including proper waste management.
  5. Gawad Kalinga
    Gawad Kalinga (GK) is CFC's work of building communities among the poor. GK aims to eradicate poverty through a Christian approach of building colorful houses and participating in the way of life of the residents. By doing this, CFC seeks to promote Christianity among the poor, and encourage them to see beyond their poverty and hope for better life. GK sees itself as a vehicle of nation-building, particularly because of the participation of secular and religious organizations other than CFC.
  6. Pro-Life
    As a Catholic community, CFC adheres to the Church's teachings on the culture of life. CFC sees itself as a defender of family and life by opposing abortion, contraception, sterilization, capital punishment, euthanasia, assisted suicide, same sex marriage, cloning, and population control.
  7. Special Ministries
    CFC believes that for the work of the Church to prosper, the unity and collaboration of laity, clergy, and religious will be crucial, with the laity leading missionary work. The Special Ministries will be a grouping of various programs by which CFC can help the Church in this effort.
    • Missionary Society of St. Francis and St. Paul: A charismatic, missionary association of priests, nuns, brothers and other lay persons
    • Priests for Family and Life: For priests who share CFC's vision of global evangelization, family life renewal, and work with the poor, and willing to help propagate CFC
    • Nuns for Christ: For religious sisters who share CFC's vision of global evangelization, family life renewal, and work with the poor, and willing to help propagate CFC
    • Jacob's Well: A ministry for persons in "irregular unions" (those with previous valid marriages, have separated or divorced, and have moved on to new relationships)

Notes

  1. ^ Couples for Christ. "2005 Year-End International Statistics". Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  2. ^ Schneider, Fr. Herbert (1992-07-05). "Letter to the LNP Community". Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. "160 Countries to Date". Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  4. ^ Schneider, Fr. Herbert (1992-07-05). "Letter to the LNP Community". Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "The Origins of Couples for Christ" (PDF) (Press release). CBCP Monitor. 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "The Origins of Couples for Christ" (PDF) (Press release). CBCP Monitor. 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "The Origins of Couples for Christ" (PDF) (Press release). CBCP Monitor. 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Exactly what is CFC, how is it organized?". The Manila Times. 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 17. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 38. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  11. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 20. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  12. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 41. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ Schneider, Fr. Herbert (1992-07-05). "Letter to the LNP Community". Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "The Origins of Couples for Christ: The Split of 1993" (PDF) (Press release). CBCP Monitor. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Exactly what is CFC, how is it organized?". The Manila Times. 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 97. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 93. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  18. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. p. 107. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  19. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. pp. 107-109. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  20. ^ Pontificium Consilium Pro Laicis (2005-04-25). "Decree of Recognition". Vatican City. Retrieved 2008-01-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Gawad Kalinga (2005-04-25). "GK History". Gawad Kalinga. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Lipana, Isla (2007-03-22), Financial Statements as and for the Periods Between December 31, 2005 and 2004 (PDF), retrieved 2007-07-25 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  23. ^ Couples for Christ (2006). Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book. Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. pp. pp. 50-51. ISBN 978-971-93571-0-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  24. ^ Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. ""Bro. Frank Padilla has separated from the community..."" (PDF).
  25. ^ Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. "CFC opts to split". Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  26. ^ Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. "Looking Ahead" (PDF).
  27. ^ Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. "Springtime in CFC" (PDF).
  28. ^ Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc. "Q & A On CFC's Financial Situation".


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