Real reason we’re probing g@y claims against our youth pastors – RCCG

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has provided reasons for its decision to investigate accusations of misconduct involving two of its youth pastors, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Pastor Sunday Akande, the church’s National Overseer, told PUNCH that this issue was unprecedented for the church, which is why it is being taken seriously. According to Akande, a panel has been established to examine the allegations, and suitable measures will be implemented based on the findings.

Akande stated, “The reason for the suspension is to also allow persons who were said to have been molested or harassed to come forward and testify against the pastors. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has come forward yet as a victim of harassment.

“This is the first time an allegation like this has been raised against the church. If we see anything like this, the church will investigate it and see how we can address it. As far as the church is concerned, we don’t condone this kind of thing.”

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The controversy began last week when the news blog Gistlovers accused two RCCG youth pastors of leading teenage boys into homosexuality, asserting that they used their mentorship roles to influence young men inappropriately. According to the blog, a 20-year-old individual, who asked to remain anonymous, alleged that the pastors “influenced many into being gay.”

The blog post further claimed that one of the pastors, along with a close friend who also served as a teens’ church coordinator, engaged in misconduct by using fake Bible study sessions to attract young boys for inappropriate activities.

One of the accused pastors has denied these allegations, issuing a statement to clarify his position. “I have never demanded sex from any male as payment or gratification in order to give them assistance, platforms, or positions. God is the only kingmaker, the only one who can raise and erase kings, give positions, and platforms,” he said.

He also addressed the alleged screenshots of conversations with an alleged victim, explaining that he was participating in a WhatsApp group discussion about male reproductive health and self-esteem for teenage boys. He noted that the group covered topics like hygiene, suitable underwear choices, and confidence regarding body image.

The church officially suspended the two pastors involved, as indicated in a letter dated October 28, reaffirming its commitment to uphold biblical teachings.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the pastors has submitted a petition to the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Alagbon, seeking an investigation into Gistlover for alleged defamation. The family’s legal representative, Adekunle Adeyinka, stated in the petition that the claims were baseless and had caused the pastor emotional distress and security concerns due to the actions of anonymous individuals.