Opinion: The need for accountability in the church

by Olukayode Odeyinde

In our desire to silence Mr Jim Obazee and the FRC a few months ago, the key point of the need for accountability and openness in Church finances was lost in the entire brouhaha.

While I also took sides with the Church then, it will be naive to believe or suggest that the current opaqueness in the finances of a substantial number of Churches is sustainable or the best for the body of Christ.

Nigeria is a very religious country,so religious that people give up their entire savings/earnings in the name of one offering or the other and keeping information on the management of such funds to only the General Overseer and a privileged few will only breed distrust, unnecessary rumours and hatred for the Church and it’s leaders.

I grew up in a Baptist Church and was used to attending what we called Church-in-Conference (CIC). At this meeting which typically holds monthly, the pastor gives an account of the Church’s activities and finances and members can seek clarifications and make far-reaching decisions on the Church’s administration. Although a lot of people might disagree with this method, this level of accountability keeps the pastors in check and make a lot of members feel a sense of belonging and ownership.

With such level of accountability at churches that generate next to nothing, it is alarming that many of the top churches who even undertake profitable endeavours find it difficult to open their books to their members let alone the public. A quick search on the websites of all leading Churches shows nothing on their income or expenditure.

Of course, this has far reaching effects. The Church in Nigeria already carries a moral burden that is compounded by the kind of funds that is perceived to be generated and a new generation of believers who are ready to touch the ‘Anointed’. This is evidenced in the phenomenal growth of movements such as the #Freethesheeple movement and the unabated bashing of even the most revered apostles of the gospel on the new and social media.

The Christian Association of Nigeria must rise to the occasion and save the Church from further disgrace, they must begin to regulate the activities of Churches and make financial openness and responsible governance a prerequisite for membership. If the Church fails in this onerous task, it is a matter of time before government (through another Jim Obazee or agency) muster the will to do it on it’s behalf. Until then, the Church will continue its downward slide in the court of public opinion.

May the Lord bless the Church, heal our land and grant our spiritual leaders the wisdom to do the right thing.


 

Olukayode Odeyinde lives in Lagos and tweets from @kharyourdey101

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