As UG Christian News reported last week, internationally acclaimed Preacher E.A Adeboye resigned his role as general overseer of the 5-million-member Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria.
Unknown to many, what the Pastor did was in compliance with the Country’s National code on corporate governance 2015 for not-for-profit organizations (NGOs).
The new codes of corporate governance issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Nigeria are expected to manifest on more Churches although the council has said that Orthodox and Mosques have adjusted to the new policy while Pentecostal churches are still adamant.
FRC issued two of the codes after conclusion of works on it by the Steering Committee on Corporate Governance Codes that drafted it.
Section 9:3 of the code stipulates that leaders or founders of nonprofit organizations—including churches and ministries—must hand over leadership to a non-family member after 70 years of age or 20 years of being in charge. Adeboye is 74, and has been leading his megachurch since 1981.
If fully implemented, 90 percent of the populous West African nation’s evangelical church founders and leaders would be required to step aside.
As CT also reports, affected prominent pastors would include David Oyedepo of Living Faith Ministries Worldwide (1 million members); Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (500,000 members); Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy (400,000 members); and Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre (300,000 members). Countless other pastors with smaller congregations would also join the massive wave of forced resignations across the oil-rich nation.
Following E.A Adeboye resignation, Nigeria’s evangelical community is responding with outrage, setting off heated debates over pastoral succession.
Many condemn the regulations, alleging they were designed to meddle in church affairs and to muzzle evangelism efforts. But others are hailing the code, saying provisions for pastoral succession are in the best interest of churches.
As we write today, reports claim that this code has been suspended however, this has not stopped the debate on pastoral tenure and succession among Nigerian believers.
editor@ughristiannews.com
