Church of Christ in Congo
The Church of Christ in Congo or CCC (in French, Église du Christ au Congo or ECC), is a union of 62 Protestant denominations, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is often simply referred to as The Protestant Church, as it federates the vast majority of the Protestants in that country. It is the largest United church in the world, ahead of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). It constitutes the second largest Protestant denomination in the world, or the largest, depending on the status of Church of England. It is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa.
Protestant union
The CCC functions as a religious institution, and provides a central administration, and a spiritual forum for the numerous Protestant denominations. It functions under a national "synod", and an executive committee. Both of these entities are assisted in their tasks by a national secretariat.
The CCC is said to be part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, but it also insists on maintaining unity in diversity, as they see it as being the only system common to the Holy Bible, the primitive church, and African traditions.
Leadership
The Church of Christ in Congo is led by a President that holds the rank of Bishop, and two Vice-Presidents. As of 2005, the First Vice-President is Reverend Mpereboye Mpere, and the Second Vice-President is Reverend Ilunga Mutaka.
The President of the CCC is Monsignor Pierre Marini Bodho. As such, Mgr. Bodho is the presiding minister of the Cathedral of the Protestant Centennial in Congo (French: Cathédrale du Centenaire Protestant au Congo) - a.k.a. the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa (French: Paroisse Internationale Protestante de Kinshasa) - the de facto head church of the CCC.
Following the end of the Second Congo War, transitional institutions were established, consisting of the former warring parties, as well as representatives of the non-belligerent opposition, and representatives of the civil society. Consequently, during the 2003 to 2006 transition period, following the end of the Second Congo War, as a reasonably neutral and consensual figure, and as a representative of the organized religion section of the civil society, Mgr. Marini Bodho served as the President of the Senate, the upper house of the Congolese Parliament.
In the 2006 elections, Mgr. Marini Bodho won a senate seat and is since serving as a senator.