Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly Tunde Bakare, on Monday urged church leaders to demonstrate exemplary leadership by complying with the laws of the land, saying the church does not belong to any man.
Bakare spoke in Lagos in reaction to the recent stepping down of Pastor Enoch Adeboye as general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in deference to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) code for church leaders.
The FRC rule established by the Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria, Act No 6, 2011, stipulates a maximum period of 20 years for heads of registered churches, mosques and civil society organisations.
Bakare said Jesus is the owner of the church and not a general superintendent or general overseer.
“I do not work in Financial Reporting Council. Nobody has served me any notice.
“I’m a trained lawyer and I try to be law-abiding, but that is not to say that any of the people mentioned has not been law-abiding.
“But whether we like it or not, one day we`ll have to leave office.
“You can’t go on forever.
“This is the way I want you to see what happened to Pastor Adeboye – that God granted him grace, for so many people they will collapse before they know when to leave.
“But to have someone succeed you in your life time and to continue when you have mentored that person is a great achievement.
“Whether you are a general superintendent or general overseer, Jesus is the owner of the church not any of us and if He wants to do things to see Nigeria change, it must begin from the House of God; we must live by example.
“So, I think what he did was noble. Whether we like it or not, it is the way to go.
“There is nothing to fear in complying with law and regulation; we must not be a lawless people.
“So, we must live by example and what has happened is good for all.”
Adeboye on Saturday announced his stepping down as the general overseer of the Redeemed Church Nigeria but continues to oversee the global arm of the church.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sacked Executive Secretary of the council, Jim Obazee, and announced Daniel Asapokhai as his replacement.
