Presbyterian Church decides that believers should not participate in the 'Legendaries' movement The Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) approved, on Tuesday (28), in Manaus, a resolution that recommends that pastors, priests, deacons and members of the denomination do not participate in the Christian movement Legendários and other organizations with similar characteristics. The decision was taken in response to a consultation made by a church in Tocantins and states that the Holy Scriptures are sufficient as the only rule of faith and practice, without the need for additional mystical experiences. The Legendários movement stated that it respects the decision and remains committed to the purpose of strengthening families, developing leadership and promoting actions that generate a positive impact on communities. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp ?But in practice, what changes? Check out the main points listed by g1 below: Are members prohibited from participating? No. For pastors, elders and deacons, the Supreme Council made an express recommendation not to participate in, promote or support the Legendários movement or similar groups. For other members, the resolution does not create a ban accompanied by automatic sanctions. The guidance is for leaders to exercise pastoral vigilance and instruct the faithful to remain in what the IPB considers to be "sound doctrine". Do those who already participate need to leave the movement? There is no immediate termination order. The resolution does not oblige participants to abandon the movement, but advises that church councils monitor the situation and evaluate Legendários' influence on members. According to the document, one of the concerns is that the movement could create divisions within churches by establishing distinctions between men who went through the so-called "mountain experience" and those who did not participate in it. For this reason, IPB recommends that men's spiritual maturation occurs in the local church environment, especially through its ministries, such as the Presbyterian Men's Union (UPH). Experts analyze methodology for the physical and emotional exhaustion of Legendaries Can the participant be disciplined? You can, but not automatically. O texto aprovado pelo Supremo Concílio não determina punições imediatas para quem integra o movimento. The guideline is that pastors and Councils handle each situation with "pastoral love and firmness", seeking the edification and instruction of members when they identify practices that are incompatible with the Symbols of Faith and the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. If the local leadership concludes that there is an affront to the principles of the denomination and the believer does not accept the pastoral guidelines, disciplinary measures provided for in the IPB Constitution may be adopted, respecting due process and analysis of each case. Does each church decide how to apply the guidance? Yes. Although the resolution was approved nationally, practical application is up to local churches. The Supreme Council determined that Councils and Presbyteries evaluate each situation considering the characteristics of their community and verify whether the movement's actions contravene the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. In practice, the national decision establishes the theological guideline, while pastoral and disciplinary management is the responsibility of local leaders. Why did the Presbyterian Church make this decision? The theological opinion approved by the Supreme Council points out that Legendários adopts practices considered incompatible with the reformed doctrine and the IPB's form of organization. Among the main points mentioned are: Use of coaching techniques, motivational language and methods considered experiential; Carrying out rites of belonging and maintaining confidentiality regarding part of the activities; Reference to Jesus Christ as "Legendary 001", considered inappropriate by the denomination; Use of dynamics with isolation, food deprivation, physical exhaustion and strong psychological impact; What the church classified as "commodification of faith", by transforming the religious experience into a product or experience for collective consumption. For IPB, these practices move away from the simplicity of the Gospel and can weaken the centrality of the Scriptures, in addition to causing divisions in local churches. 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