A heated debate erupted among the members of the Pastor in Council on their WhatsApp group today (3rd of July 2024) regarding the ongoing dispute between the Pastor and the registered Board of Trustees in an effort to resolve all court cases related to the dissolution of the Board. It was noted that some members of the PIC voiced their discontent with the situation, as they felt it did not align with the values of Church leadership and failed to demonstrate a mutual understanding among themselves.
A female member of the PIC expressed her thoughts on the recent Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan on 1st July 2024. She emphasized the importance of genuine reconciliation within the Church leadership, stating that God will not forgive those who work against the unity of the Church. She used the analogy that if Mohammed refuses to meet the mountain, then the mountain should summon the courage to meet Mohammed.
This message serves as a reminder of the actions taken by Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa, who visited Sup Evang Jorotom Parish in 2021 to seek reconciliation, despite the legal challenges the latter had initiated against him. Members such as MSE Banjo, Sup Evang Akintenirwa, Sup Evang Pius Olarewaju, and the late MC Bola Shodeinde etc who dedicated hours at the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos in 2016 to prevent the Pastor’s arrest. Even MSE Banjo even signed an undertaking to ensure the Pastor’s availability whenever the Police required his attention.
Additionally, a member of the Pastor in Council (PIC) on the same WhatsApp group responded to certain members who are hesitant to allow the Pastor to work on the agreement terms. This has caused a pause in the future discussions regarding reconciliation. The male member expressed that these individuals are acting as enemies to the Church, as they are resistant to resolving the matter due to their financial gain from the crisis within the Church.
Another member urged the PIC to redirect their focus on promoting peace and reconciliation. He said it’s deemed shameful for outsiders to be advising a Church of God on how to resolve their internal conflicts. He said it is imperative that we prioritize unity and harmony within our Church.
One member highlighted the lingering memory of the legal battle between Late Baba Bada and Late Baba Owodunni, emphasizing the importance of avoiding a repeat of such conflicts. They stressed the need for the Pastor in Council (PIC) to prioritize working towards reconciliation within the Church, rather than getting caught up in divisive disputes. He suggested that the PIC should not follow the example of the Nigerian Assembly in Abuja, where representatives often fail to truly serve the common interests of the citizens they are meant to represent. Instead, the Pastor in Council should always strive to advocate for the best interests of Celestial Church members.
Furthermore, another member proposed that the settlement of divisions and factions within the Church should be a key focus of the Pastor in Council next meetings. This suggestion underscores the importance of unity and harmony within the Church and highlights the need for proactive measures to address any existing conflicts by prioritizing reconciliation and unity, the Pastor in Council can work towards fostering a stronger and more cohesive Celestial Church.
Ebunola Ebudola
Inasmuch as we all thinking of unity, the utterances of some of those s are sending wrong messages. They worship me with their mouths but their minds are far from me. The use of Registered or non -registered BoT is wrong. Nobody is an island or inevitable. The power that hire you can fire you. I don't think think that our Bluebook has a provision for Life membership of BoT.
It is unfortunate that some of us are profiting in the dispute because of our selfish reasons. We the youths, can seriously mediate for peaceful resolution but our presentation must not support any of the warring parties
Mention the names of those pic members who do not want the unity of the church because of their financial gain, otherwise I will term the accusation a flimsy excuse by the pic members.