The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has announced the establishment of an investigative panel in response to allegations of sodomy involving two of its youth pastors.
Pastor Sunday Akande, the National Overseer of RCCG, told Sunday Punch that the church is approaching the situation with the utmost seriousness, calling it an unprecedented event in the church’s history.
He assured that any necessary actions would be taken based on the panel’s findings, emphasizing the church’s commitment to its moral standards. “The outcome of the investigation will determine the next steps,” he said.
Akande explained that the suspension of the pastors is intended to encourage anyone who has been molested or harassed to come forward and testify. To date, he mentioned that no victims have come forward.
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“This is the first time an allegation of this nature has arisen against the church. If such claims are made, we will investigate and address them appropriately. The church does not condone such behavior,” he stated.
The controversy was ignited last week when a popular news blog, Gistlovers, accused the two youth pastors of allegedly luring teenage boys into homosexual relationships and negatively influencing their mentees. The blog featured a statement from a 20-year-old male, who wished to remain anonymous, claiming that the youth pastors “influenced many into being gay.”
The blog post included allegations about one of the youth pastors, describing how he allegedly lured young boys under the guise of hosting Bible study meetings, claiming they were part of a “brostitution” scheme.
In response to the allegations, one of the accused pastors denied the claims, stating, “I have never sodomized or had sex with any male teenager.” He added that he has never sought sexual favors in exchange for assistance, insisting that “God is the only kingmaker.”
Regarding alleged screenshots of a conversation with an alleged victim, he explained that the discussion occurred in a WhatsApp group focused on male teenagers’ reproductive health and self-esteem. He clarified that the conversations included proper hygiene education and guidance on appropriate underwear sizes, stressing the importance of self-acceptance as uniquely created by God.
Despite the denials, the church has suspended the two pastors involved in the allegations.
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