Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

I am not sure if I joined the right board but I am a former member of the ICOC churches of Christ ( The one people consider a cult) By reading some of the posts here it looks like the mainstream COC was a bit rough as well. When I left it was before the internet and cell phones ... etc so I thought I was suffering in silence thinking my soul is damned for running away from what I felt was abuse, extreme manipulation and control. I would like to know if there are other former ICOC members here. I was with the Kansas City ICOC branch from 1988 to 1991.

Welcome! I am from just the mainstream CofC. But very interested in hearing about your experiences....

Hi hls!
You are certainly welcome, but yes, this particular support board is primarily for people out of the 'standard' variety of coC churches, rather than the ICOC. But of course, that's almost trivial information - the two do have a lot in common. All I'd suggest is, when you post about ICOC things, please don't use acronyms/terms which are peculiar to the ICOC - spell things out!

Most ex-coc folks on this site won't recognize some of the ways words were used in the ICOC that are distinct to that group.

But the overall UNDERSTANDING of the KINDS of things - yes, there is a lot of overlap between the more controlling CoC churches and the ICOC, certainly - and the doctrinal elements carry over just fine (unfortunately).

Welcome to the board! We are glad to have you!

I am a bit familiar with the ICOC, my husband and I visited with folks who had left. They were traumatized. So controlling. They had to report on who they had proselytized that day. They were not allowed to date outside the church.

My husband and I were ostracized from the non-institutional branch of the regular CoC. His family withdrew from him and wrote him up in a brotherhood publication as a false teacher.

Welcome, KC!! Yes, you are welcome here.

From what I've heard, the ICOC is kind of like the non-instrumental church of Christ (NICOC) on steroids!!

There is also an ex-ICOC group, or several, somewhere on the internet, that you might relate to more than this one. Hopefully you can locate one of thsoe too. I don't know that we have any ex-ICOC folks on here right now; we have usually told them about the option of a true ex-ICOC group in the past. That's only because we felt that might be more relatable for an ICOC ex.