Pastor Enoch Adeboye. Image: PUNCH.COM
Preventing non-members from preaching in parishes is justified by the RCCG.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has provided an explanation for the decision to forbid outsiders from preaching in any of its parishes.
The Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration, Pastor Oladele Balogun, signed a January 5, 2024, memo titled “Invitation of Guest Ministers in RCCG” that went viral on Monday.
It said that “no external preacher, speaker, or minister should be permitted on any of our altars or platforms.”
All global pastors in charge of regions and provinces, deputy continental overseers, assistant continental overseers, and continental overseers were included in the communication.
The text of the memo stated, “We refer to our memo dated December 14, 2023, with Ref: RCCG/ADM/OAB/JP/MEMO/14/12/2023 on the above subject matter, and wish to inform you that the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has issued a further directive prohibiting any external preacher, speaker, or minister on any of our altars or platforms.
Anyone wishing to invite a guest minister, speaker, or preacher to their parish must make sure the person is a recognised member of the RCCG.”
The memo also threatened to remove any minister who disobeyed the order from their ministerial responsibilities in the Mission and to subject them to “severe disciplinary measures.”
However, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, the RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, clarified the memo in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday night, stating that while it was an internal document, the directive wasn’t actually a ban but rather a guideline to make sure permissions were obtained before inviting external members.
“It’s supposed to be an internal document,” Olubiyi stated. Furthermore, it’s more of a rule or guideline than a restriction in and of itself. The church is urging that permission should be obtained before any of our branches invite a preacher from another church or ministry.
He added that this was consistent with the doctrines and beliefs of the church.
However, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, the RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, clarified the memo in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday night, stating that while it was an internal document, the directive wasn’t actually a ban but rather a guideline to make sure permissions were obtained before inviting external members.
“It’s supposed to be an internal document,” Olubiyi stated. Furthermore, it’s more of a rule or guideline than a restriction in and of itself.
The church is urging that permission should be obtained before any of our branches invite a preacher from another church or ministry.
He added that this was consistent with the doctrines and beliefs of the church.