There are fundamental questions and concerns that need to be asked about the governance structures of churches, especially Pentecostal organisations in Nigeria and beyond. And more often than not, because of the way some zealot members typically bristle at the very idea of public debate about church governance, it is often difficult to have rational and productive conversation. However once you get this out of the way, and get past the layers of sentiments and emotions, it is possible to see a bit more clearly.
On the recent news making the rounds about Citadel Global Community Church, led by the presiding pastor, Tunde Bakare, the substance of the story does not, in my view, warrant all the sounds and fury. There is nothing inherently wrong with a church organisation taking a loan or making investment. The established international denominations such as the Catholic Church and the Anglican communion run investments all the time. The Vatican has one of the largest investment portfolios of any religious organisations in the world. These include stocks and bonds, and real estate, for good measure. And while the Holy See, as the Vatican jurisdiction is known, has been, from time to time, embroiled in controversies throughout the ages, it has also been known to put its resources to good causes, including social intervention projects throughout the world.
So coming back to the Citadel loan story. The information is that the church has obtained the loan to build multipurpose facilities within its property. These include an event centre, a banking hall, some shops, and school facilities. One main idea that the church has is to develop facilities that can be available for optimal use. It also had a plan to use the income generated to offset the loans. I don’t see any problem with these ideas. In fact, I think other churches can draw from this model.
The more substantive conversation, to which conscious and inquiring citizens should exercise themselves, is the link between this innovative, income generating model, and the spiritual and social mission of the church. The church is not, after all, a commercial entity with the core aim of profit maximisation. That does not mean it cannot and should not make profit. It is more a question of “what does it do with its income and resources, with regard to its publically declared aim to “proclaim good news to the poor…bind up the brokenhearted…proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”? In effect, there are questions of public interest, which citizens should ask with an open mind, and which the church should address with calmness and humility- away from the often frenzied dialogue of the deaf that characterises public debate on issues.
I have also heard claims and counter claims that Bakare’s political adversaries are behind the latest cycle of news about him being in debt to the tune of several billions. His detractors, it is argued, see him as a major rival in the lead to the 2023 election. Maybe this is true. Maybe it is exaggerated or altogether false. For conscious citizens, what really matters - what should really matter - is not the political football. Certainly not in a country where the really pressing issue is the dysfunctional structure that has brought the nation to its death throws, and to which vulture politicians - across the main political parties - are helllbent on defending.
