The Redeemed Christian Church of God has explained that the directive given that non-members of the church should not be allowed to preach in its parishes applies globally.
A memo went viral on Monday, titled “Invitation of Guest Ministers in RCCG,” dated January 5, 2024, and signed by the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration, Pastor Oladele Balogun stated: “no external preacher, speaker or minister should be permitted on any of our altars or platforms.”
The memo which sparked controversy online was directed to all Continental Overseers, Deputy Continental Overseers, Assistant Continental Overseers, and Pastors-in-Charge of Regions/Provinces worldwide.
It read: “We refer to our memo dated 14th December 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 that no external preacher, speaker or minister should be permitted on any of our altars or platforms.
“Anyone intending to invite a guest minister, speaker, or preacher to their parish must ensure that the individual is a recognised member of the RCCG.”
The memo also warned that any minister who violated the directive would face “severe disciplinary measures” and might be relieved of their ministerial duties in the mission.
But explaining the memo further in an interview with The PUNCH late Tuesday, the RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, clarified that the ban was total and that preachers who were not of the RCCG culture were not welcome to minister in the parishes.
Pastor Olubiyi said, “It’s a total ban on all our parishes from inviting people from other churches. Yes, we have a system whereby people are to seek approval but now it’s a complete ban, a total ban from inviting people who are not clearly from the RCCG culture. It’s a total ban on all our parishes within and outside Nigeria from inviting people from other denominations.”
He added: “Any programme, anything we want to do, we must source from people who are clearly RCCG ministers.”
