“Equality is hard for many of us to understand because we have been brought up with the idea that dignity has to be earned. We dignify the PhD and disrespect the SSCE. We dignify the rich and disrespect the poor.” - Ayo Sogunro






Social media is often agog with flashy pictures of our pastors at well known parishes with beautiful buildings. Seeing our pastors at these A-listed parishes will make onlookers believe all is well. However, we are yet to see pictures or heard of any visit of our pastors to poor parishes. From the look of things it seems it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than our pastors to be seen visiting parishes that are well attended by common members of Celestial Church.

As we put this editorial to pen we envisage a backlash from members of the church, more especially from parishioners of poor parishes. Since the role of the media is to set the agenda, spur meaningful discussions and help leaders to give the best of leadership, we will take the condemnations as the sacrifice we have to pay to ensure we have a beautiful Celestial Church of Christ for all of us. We also hope they will be quick to commend us when our pastors react positively to this issue.
Moving forward, we strongly believe that parishes with lean financial purses need to feel the presence of our pastors more than those with large purses. The neglect of the poor parishes by the leadership of the church is not in the interest of a well developed Celestial Church of Christ.

Majority of these poor parishes are wallowing in abject financial crises due to lean purses, yet remit returns dutifully to the headquarters. Furthermore, a good number of these parishes are not in good conditions, as they are situated in an uncompleted, makeshift or dilapidated structures.

Our leaders should note that this matter deeply resonate in the minds of members as many are extremely concerned. As Leader Folorunsho Michael expressly put it in his article regarding this matter, that it seems the focus of the church is in the monetary returns of the parishes rather than “emphasis on the spiritual and physical growth of the people and the church.”




It is worthy to note that celestians are highly supportive of the pastor their parishes are loyal too, but our pastors need to pay them back with good leadership by moving closer to them. Although, we acknowledge that our revered pastors have a lot in their hands, but we encouraged their handlers to prioritize the visit to poor parishes over that of the A-listed parishes, who do not have enough or any parting gifts to give out.

The advisers and handlers of our pastors may rubbish this clamour for pastoral visitations to poor parishes, but they need to remember that founder of this church, Reverend SBJ Oshoffa was humble enough to visit parishes with lean purses. He was also magnanimous to the extent that he do not accept gifts from them.

Also those who have the ears of our pastors should not have it in mind that this matter is not common to our denomination alone. They must remember that the pictures of our pastors in poor parishes can go a long way in erasing some of the negative perception members of the public have against the church. They also need to know that the refusal of our pastors to visit these parishes, is a form of disrespect to those worshipping at these parishes. Let it be told that the poor parishes matter just like how the rich parishes are. They are all equal before God.
Be that as it may, our pastors can make use of the opportunity provided by the new adult harvest season to pay surprise visits to many poor parishes with promises and commitment to assist with their basic problems. Conclusively, the best morale booster for celestians worshipping in these parishes is to get to see their pastors worshiping with them, as this will make them acknowledge that they are not being neglected by the leadership of the church.
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