A Theologian at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr. Selome Kuponu, has said that there was nothing wrong with the action of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who dedicated a white garment church last September.
According to the senior lecturer in Christian Studies at the Department of Religions and Peace Studies, LASU, the founder of RCCG, the late Pa Josiah Akindayomi, came out from a white garment church before starting RCCG.
Kuponu, who is also an Anglican priest, told The PUNCH on Monday that there was nothing wrong with Adeboye’s dedication of the Lagos cathedral of the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S (Worldwide), founded by Reverend Esther Ajayi.
The lecturer said Adeboye’s action was good for the unity of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, and all over the world.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that Adeboye, who recently clocked 80 years, said on Sunday that he accepted an invitation to dedicate Ajayi’s church in September 2021 because God directed him to do so.
Many Pentecostals have since criticised the octogenarian preacher for identifying with the white garment church but Kuponu posited that Adeboye’s action was good for the oneness of the Church of Christ.
The theologian, in a chat with our correspondent on Monday, said, “The Church of God is one Church irrespective of every other thing that people are saying.
“I don’t have any negative position regarding what Pastor Adeboye has done. If we have to follow history very well, the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pa (Josiah) Akindayomi, came out from a white garment church to establish RCCG.
“The Church of God is one Church and what we should be advocating is the unity of the Church and not disunity. Regardless of differences, the Church of God must remain one.”
History of RCCG
According to RCCG’s official website, Akindayomi was born in July 1909 to a family in Ondo State, Nigeria and was baptised in 1927 at Church Missionary Society. “Still spiritually unfulfilled, he joined the Cherubim and Seraphim church in 1931,” the profile partly read.
It added, “He became married in 1941. He continued to worship with the Cherubim and Seraphim. In 1947, he started to become concerned that the church was departing from the true Word of God in some of its practices. By 1952, he felt totally persuaded to leave the church…
“Akindayomi also had a vision of words that appeared to be written on a blackboard. The words were “The Redeemed Christian Church of God.” Amazingly, Pa Akindayomi who could not read or write was supernaturally able to write these words down…
“Thus, the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born in 1952, destined by the Lord Himself to take the world for Him. The church continued to meet at 9 Willoughby Street until they were able to acquire some land thereby witnessing a relocation to the present site of the Headquarters of the church at 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos (formerly 1a, Cemetery Street).”
Akindayomi was 71 years old when he died.
“Amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye’s appointment was formalised by the reading of Pa Akindayomi’s sealed pronouncement after his burial,” the profile added.
Last year, Adeboye celebrated 40 years as general overseer of RCCG.
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