…There’s no RCCG Worldwide—Adegboruwa
…Oyedepo, Oyakhilome, Oritsejafor, Adefarasin, others to retire
The Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG) has made further clarifications regarding the retirement of its general overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
Daddy GO, as Adeboye is fondly called, announced his retirement last Saturday at the Annual Ministers’ Thanksgiving held at the church’s Redemption Camp and introduced Pastor Joseph Obayemi as his successor, Funsho Odesola and Joseph Adeyokunu as the new church secretary and treasurer, respectively.
But Adeboye’s son, Leke said his father had only stepped down as the GO of RCCG Nigeria but would remain the GO of RCCG Worldwide.
The implication of the pronouncement is that Adeboye had ceased to be the GO of the church in Nigeria while he remains the church’s spiritual leader worldwide and general overseer of its international arm.
NewsGazette gathered that Adeboye, while announcing his retirement was told the gathering: “At least, nobody can stop me from being a general overseer in other countries of the world.”
He was also reported to have accused the federal government of meddling with the affairs of churches in Nigeria.
Furthermore, he reportedly said the government also interfered in the administration of churches by stipulating mandatory office tenure for general overseers of all registered churches in the country through a regulation.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who is also an RCCG pastor, said RCCG Worldwide does not exist.
“I must also state that the confusion being created by some people that Pastor Adeboye is the GO of the RCCG Worldwide is unnecessary. There is no such organisation as the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide. He is the Global Missioner and Spiritual Leader of the Church. There is nothing like RCCG Worldwide,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said Adeboye “has been of tremendous positive influence on me, and on so many other leaders worldwide.”
He added: “I and all other members of the church will miss him and his wisdom and counseling but we are glad that he is still around for the monthly Holy Ghost services.”
As earlier reported by NewsGazette, Adeboye’s exit is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council (FRC), guiding all registered churches, mosques, civil society organisations.
They have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations. In retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families.
Portions of the regulation: “The founder or leader of a NFPO (not-for-profit organisation) 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.
“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.
“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.
“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 fulfillment of the organisation’s mission.
“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 the section above should only relate to the board of trustees as in section below, except the constitution of the organisation otherwise provides.’’
By the FRC provisions, some church leaders who have spent more than 20 years as general overseers will relinquish their positions.
Some of the leaders who are likely to affected by the regulation include Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, who has spent 22 years as the GO; Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (35 years); Pastor Kumuyi (43 years); Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of Word of Life Bible Church (29 years); Rev. Chris Okotie of the Household of God ( 29 years); Kingsway International Christian Centre’s Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (24 years); Winners Chapel’s Bishop David Oyedepo (35 years).
Others are Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Believers’ Love Word International (26 years); Pastor Samuel Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church (39 years); Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre (21 years); Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly (27 years); House on the Rock’s Pastor Paul Adefarasin (22 years), among others.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES: PUNCH, VANGUARD
