By Anietie Akpan
The Commissioner on the Governing Board of the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM), Rev. Osondu Ahirika has charged Churches not to add to the financial burden of their members.
Rev. Ahirika, who made the call on Inspiration 105.9 fm Uyo news programme, “Paper View”, on Monday said, levies from Churches on members who have weddings, burial or child blessing ceremonies is unfair and only adds to the financial pressure on those facing those challenges.
Reacting to the call by the General Overseer of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor F. W. Kumuyi on Churches to focus more on human capacity building and the welfare of members than building gigantic structures, Rev. Ahirika corroborated that, saying the Church as originally conceived was meant to bear one another’s burden and not increase their frustrations.
Rev. Ahirika who is the General Overseer of Green Pastures Ecumenical Church admonished Churches to refrain from the practice of imposing levies and sundry demands on members before accepting to participate in the burial of their deceased loved ones or other ceremonies.
While calling on the Church to join in the campaign against extravagant burial, marriage or child blessing ceremonies, Rev. Ahirika who is also an academic doctor, argued that although the primary duty of the Church is to ensure the spiritual well-being and salvation of members, “demonstrating charitable works and extending support to vulnerable members is the true gospel”.
Rev. Ahirika explained that the levies or demands placed on members by Churches during these ceremonies only create more problems for the bereaved families some of whom either go to borrow money, sell or mortgage their property including lands which they forfeit when they cannot pay back.
He further lamented that these are members who have contributed in many other ways to the growth and development of the Church and therefore do not deserve to be fleeced even as the Churches also go ahead with fundraising during these ceremonies.
Interacting with newsmen after the programme, Rev. Ahirika said EARCOM has been at the vanguard of advocating for moderation in spending on burials and weddings as some families after such ceremonies crumble into bankruptcy, debt burdens and collapse of businesses.
He therefore appealed to religious leaders to lead the reform and emulate the early mission Churches which built schools, and hospitals developing members through scholarships, free Medicare and vocational training among other human capacity-building measures.
