Brazil's Presbyterian Church advises members to avoid Legendários movement

The Supreme Council of the Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (IPB) met in Manaus on 28 April and issued a resolution recommending that its deacons, elders, pastors and members neither join nor promote the Legendários movement. The church judged the movement’s practices – pragmatic, neo‑Pentecostal and experiential immersion experiences for men – as incompatible with historic Reformed doctrine.

Legendários, founded in Guatemala in 2015 and operating in Brazil since 2017, conducts 72‑hour mountain‐immersion events for men and claims a presence in 24 countries with over 220,000 participants. The IPB decision is advisory, without penalties, leaving each local congregation to decide its own stance. Legendários responded that it received the resolution “with serenity and respect” and clarified that the document does not forbid participation, only recommends local autonomy.

During the same council, delegates also debated political guidelines, including proposals to restrict affiliation with communist, Marxist or atheist parties and to consider labeling fascism, Nazism and Christian nationalism as incompatible with Presbyterian faith.