Pastor Seyi Oladimeji, Dr. Kunle Hamilton and Pastor Nkechi Ene
Senior Pastor of The Carpenter’s House, Port Harcourt, Mrs. Nkechi Ene has said that when it comes to picking the successor of a church founder or head pastor, it is not a filial matter. “A son is not automatically spiritual or called by God to lead a church, simply because his father is the founder or head pastor” she emphasized.
She was speaking at the 11th annual conference of the Church Administrators Society of Nigeria (CASON) held at Pistis Hub, Maryland, Lagos which addressed challenges that churches face in terms of governance and succession planning, in a spirited effort to get church leaders ready to comply with the agitation of government for legal and moral accountability, otherwise risk the penalties of non-compliance.
According to Ene, “There are at least five parameters that must be considered when choosing a successor. One, the call of God should take pre-eminence over the expectation of the congregation. It should also take pre-eminence over family and filial relationship, over seniority in church or family hierarchy, over individual skills – for the Lord still confounds the wise with simple things and people. Number five, the call of God should take pre-eminence over gender. We all must understand that it is not a luxury to be called of God” Ene said.
Pastor Ene who was interviewed on stage by the President of CASON, Pastor Seyi Oladimeji, spoke from experience as successor to the late founder of The Carpenter’s Church, Pastor Charles Omofomah.
Other guest speakers at the conference were the CEO, Eximia Realty Company, Dr. Hakeem Ogunniran and Senior Lecturer, Lagos Business School, Dr. Nkem Iheanachor, on Church Governance; and the Deputy Head of Operations, StanbicIBTC Bank, Mrs. Funke Amobi on Succession Planning.
The Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop (Dr) STV Adegbite, and the Director, Babcock University Centre for Executive Development, Dr. Ayodeji Ajibade also gave goodwill speeches at the conference. CASON-certified Church Administrators came in from different parts of Nigeria to attend the conference.
