Why we’re probing gay claims against youth pastors – RCCG

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has given the reason for investigating the allegations of sodomy against two of its youth pastors.

The National Overseer of the church, Pastor Sunday Akande, who spoke to The Punch, said the case was unprecedented, hence the church was ready to give it the necessary attention.

Akande said a panel had been set up to investigate the allegations against the pastors, adding that appropriate action would be taken.

He said, “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.”

A controversial news blog, Gistlovers, had last week called out two youth pastors of the church for allegedly luring teenage boys into homosexuality.

The blog also accused them of negatively influencing teenagers under their mentorship.

According to the blog, a 20-year-old boy, who requested anonymity, claimed the youth pastors “influenced many into being gay.”

“This gist is not complete without naming, a very close friend of (the youth pastor) and also a former coordinator in the teens’ church at RCCG Region 2 (they were both coordinators). He was raising young boys in his former house at U-turn and he slept with all these boys, and they were even holding fake Bible study just to create a meeting point for this brostitution,” a post by the blog read.

One of the accused, in a statement, said he had never sodomised or had sex with any male teenager.

“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 stated.

On alleged screenshots of a conversation with an alleged victim, he said he asked questions “during a conversation in a male teenagers’ WhatsApp group where discussions regarding male reproductive health and self-esteem took place.”

According to him, the teenagers were taught about proper hygiene for reproductive health, the right kind of underwear to buy, and that the girth and length determine the underwear size.

“I also explained that their sizes should not affect their self-esteem and that they are perfectly and uniquely created by God.”

However, the church suspended the two men at the centre of the drama.

In a letter dated Monday, October 28, the church said the suspension was by its commitment to uphold the teachings of the Bible.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the pastors has filed a petition to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, against Gistlover for defamation of character.

The family in the petition signed by their counsel, Adekunle Adeyinka; called for the investigation of the blog, insisting that the allegations were unfounded and had caused their son “emotional trauma and has put their security at risk from attacks by these faceless individuals.”