GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has warned the Federal Government to stop meddling in church matters.
This is just as the renowned cleric advised the members of the church to register as card-carrying members of political parties.
Speaking at the 2017 Ministers’ Annual Thanksgiving, on Saturday, at the Redemption Camp, Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State, Adeboye expressed worries over deliberate anti-Christian laws being churned out by the Federal Government to interfere in church affairs.
“The government has been showing increasing interest in church affairs. Unfortunately, for us in RCCG, it might not be very helpful,” Adeboye said.
He further accused the government of not allowing the church (RCCG) to continue with its stipulated lifetime 100 per cent salaries to its pensioners.
“For example, when I decided on what will be the pension of our pastors, what I decided is not done anywhere in the world. That somebody will retire and continue to earn full salaries all his lifetime.
“This, I started, but government stepped in and made a law that we should be contributing to pension fund.
“We have to obey and we started doing that. The result is that pastors don’t get as much as they were getting under our own previous arrangement. But, what can we do? We have to obey the law,” he disclosed.
Speaking further, Adeboye disclosed that other fresh laws had been enacted by the government to ruffle the feathers of the church in the country, with a particularly targeted at the RCCG.
According to him, “Now there are fresh laws. We have a rough idea of what the law is about.
“Some people believe that RCCG is becoming too influential and we’re going to be more influential. When you get home, tell members to join a political party.
“Join a party and become a card-carrying member of any party. Just join any party. We shall decide issues right from the ward level.
“If you are not active at ward level, you’ll do what they plan and say at the top. Enrol in any party of your choice and have a card.
“When holding meetings at ward level to choose delegates, be there.”
“One Muslim in Ibadan said years ago that he didn’t know what’s wrong with Christians; that we help them to occupy political positions and refused to capitalise on our population. That’s going to change from now,” Adeboye stated.
On the tenure of general overseers of religious bodies in the country, Pastor Adeboye disclosed that in the “new law that has been announced, they said that nobody can be overseer for more than certain number of years.
“And according to that law, people like me, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Bishop Mike Okonkwo were already gone.”
Adeboye, thereafter presented Pastor Joseph O. Obayemi, as the new General Overseer of RCCG (Nigeria); Pastor Johnson Odesola as Secretary and Pastor Adeyokunnu as Treasurer of the mission.
Pastor Obayemi and Odesola were former Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Finance and Special Assistant on Administration and Personnel respectively.
Speaking further on the new law, Adeboye, while presenting the new appointees, said: “They also said we must have a secretary; they said we must have a treasurer too. So, I present to you, Pastor Obayemi, Pastor Odesola, and Pastor Adeyokunnu.
“As God will have it, the people have been prepared for the jobs for years. For instance, Pastor Obayemi has been in charge of the salary review committee for years and inland missions.
“He’s been our representative at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for years, so, he’ll be doing what he’s been doing.”
Adeboye, who did not specifically announce his new position, said he has no problem performing his God-given role.
“About me, no problem. RCCG is in 192 nations of the world and the Overseer in Nigeria will not drive me out of the camp.
He won’t stop me from doing the Holy Ghost Services, and he won’t stop me from visiting you,” he said.
Adeboye joined RCCG in 1973 and was appointed the General Overseer in 1981, after the demise of Ondo-born founder of the church, Reverend Josiah Akindayomi.
Adeboye remains General Overseer RCCG Worldwide —Son
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has said Pastor Adeboye remained the General Overseer, Worldwide.
A statement by Leke Adeboye, the clergyman’s last son and personal assistant, said the clarification was coming on the heels of misrepresentation of Adeboye’s announcement at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving, held at the Redemption Camp on Saturday: that the Church in Nigeria was now to be led by Pastor Obayemi.
Adeboye said the clarification was sequel to the new legal requirements of the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all registered churches, mosques, and Civil Society Organisations.
“Part of the statement read: The regulation stipulates that heads of non-profit organisations like churches now have a maximum period of 20 years to lead their organisations while in retirement and are not permitted to hand over to their families.
“Adeboye reiterated that Pastor Funsho Odesola, will now serve as the new Church Secretary while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu, is the new church Treasurer.
“He advised all members of RCCG to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning.
“He also appealed to members to educate people around them and not spread inaccurate information, stressing that Pastor E.A. Adeboye “remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.’’
Provisions of code of conduct for non-profit organisations
<strong-Position of the Founder or Leader
9.1. The Founder or Leader of a NFPO occupies a special position in the Organisation and is committed to the success and longevity of the NFPO. Accordingly, a Founder or Leader should not take on too many responsibilities in the organisation or have an indefinite term in the running of the organisation.
9.2. Where for any reason, a Founder or Leader of NFPO also occupies any of the three governance positions of Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees, the Governing Board or Council, and the Headship of the Executive Management (or their governance equivalents), the following provisions shall apply before the end of the organisation’s financial year in which this Code takes effect.
9.2.1. The Founder or Leader shall cease to occupy these three governance positions simultaneously. This is to ensure the separation of powers and avoid possible concentration of powers in one individual.
9.2.2. The Founder or Leader may, however, choose – subject to the agreement of the organisation’s apex authority as expressed in the Annual General Assembly, Annual Meeting, Annual Stakeholder Engagement, Annual Conference, Annual Synod, Annual Fellowship Assembly or their equivalents – only one of these three governance positions subject to his current tenure. This is to ensure a clear division of responsibilities at the head of the organisation between the running of the governing body and the executive responsibility for the management and fulfilment of the organisation’s mission.
9.3. Where the Founder or Leader has occupied all or any of these three governance positions for more than twenty years, or is aged seventy years or above, the choice in Section 9.2.2 above should only relate to the Board of Trustees as in section 9.4(c) below, except the constitution of the organisation otherwise provides. In the case of religious or cultural organisations, nothing in this code is intended to change the spiritual leadership and responsibilities of Founders, General Overseers, Pastors, Imams and Muslim Clerics, Presidents, Bishops, Apostles, Prophets, etc. which are distinguishable from purely corporate governance and management responsibilities and accountabilities of the entities.
9.4. Conflicts with Founders or Leaders should therefore be addressed by: (a) recognising and respecting past achievements and strategy of the Founder or Leader with assurances that change has become inevitable to enable his dream live on; (b) making provisions if not already in existence, or drawing the Founder’s or Leader’s attention to the maximum tenure already stipulated by the Charter and imploring the Founder or Leader to respect it; (c) considering and ensuring Founder’s or Leader’s continued advisory or spiritual role by creating a Board of Trustees (BOT) for which the original Founder or Leader can become the First or Life Chair; and (d) elevating deserving and senior members of the organisation to the Board of Trustees.
Source: http://www.financialreportingcouncil.gov.ng/ and Tribune
