The changes resulting from the extraordinary meeting of the board of directors of the Angolan IURD, held on 8 February 2024, were confirmed in executive decree no. 74/24 of 14 March Ministry of Culture and Tourism, consulted this Monday by Lusa.
According to the ministry, changes relating to the new denomination, logos, symbols, statutes and internal regulations are recognized, with the religious confession being called Church of the Kingdom of God in Angola.
The legal diploma also determines that the assets that, on the date of entry into force of this executive decree, are allocated to the IURD, as well as the rights, obligations and processes under its management are transferred to the IRDA, as defined in the approved statute at the meeting last February.
Doubts and omissions resulting from the interpretation and application of this diploma are resolved by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the document also adds, signed by the sector's minister, Filipe Zau.
In November 2019, IURD dissidents in Angola accused the Brazilian leadership of financial crimes, racism, discrimination and abuse of authority, among others, and formed a reformist wing, which was recognized by the Government as the legitimate representative of the Brazilian religious movement.
Subsequently, four members of the IURD leadership were accused, who were acquitted in March 2022, of most of the charges, except for the former person in charge Honorilton Gonçalves, sentenced to three years in prison, with a suspended sentence, for the crime of physical violence and psychological.
The conflict gave rise to wings – the one of Brazilian origin, now led by the Angolan Alberto Segunda, and the dissident wing, Angolan, led by Bizerra Luís – which claimed to be the legitimate representatives of the church founded by Edir Macedo.
The Luanda Provincial Command of the National Police announced, in April 2022, that access to the IURD temples remained closed until the court notified the police authorities to lift them, following an announcement from the IURD about the restitution of the properties.
