QIC-United Evangelical Church
The United Evangelical Church (Founded as Qua Iboe Church) is a Christian denomination in Nigeria. It has existed since 1887. [1] It has more than 1,000 congregations and 80,000 members. The church was founded by an Irish missionary, Rev.Samuel Alexander Bill the first of many missionaries who served with The Qua Iboe Mission, now known as Mission Africa, which is based in Belfast. The Mission and Church were initially named after the place where the mission began its work, at Ibeno near the Qua Iboe River in the present day Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The church and mission have been entirely independent entities since 1984, but the two continue to work together closely.
The Church has its headquarters at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. United Evangelical Church is a Bible believing church and does not practice doctrines that do not have any biblical background.
The Church maintains a four tier structure. There are the local units, which comprises of individual branches overseen by a local pastor, their is a Superintendency which comprises of different local branches at close proximity to each other and must not be less than 10 units, overseen by a Superintendent. A collection of 5 or more Superintendencies, makes up an area conference in what can be likened to the diocesan system of other protestant churches. The assembly of all the area conference including the mission fields, makes up the National Conference and Rev Chimaobi Emelogu (JP)[2] is the current National Conference Chairman while National Secretary of the church is Rev ASJ Udoeyen and its Board of Trustees Chairman is Elder Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok (RTD). The National Conference Chairman is the spiritual head of the church and oversees gatherings at the national level
A breakaway group continues to term itself the QIC, but the United Evangelical Church is recognized by Mission Africa as the only true successor of the QIC. [3] [4]