Many Nigerian Pastors Are Gay —Bishop Ighele

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Homosexuality or sexual relationship between persons of the same sex, though  condemned in the Bible, is gaining ground in many Nigerian churches with pastors  involved in the ignominious act, a Lagos based bishop has disclosed.

Bishop Charles Ighele, General Superintendent of the Holy Spirit Mission Church also  known as Family Church located in Akowonjo, a suburb of Lagos, South West Nigeria,  revealed that he has delivered some pastors out of the abominable act.

The bishop who teaches family intimacy on television said in an interview: “Gay  relationship or marriage is completely evil. Everywhere in the bible, homosexuality  is condemned. You see, there is this laissez-faire attitude, people are free and do  what they want. This western culture has also affected the church. But gay marriage  or relationship is evil and completely anti-Christ.

“Some found themselves in it. Some were initiated into it. For your information, we  have helped many gays out of it, including pastors.”

Ighele said that gays need help as they are grappling with forces beyond their  control.

“I don’t condemn gays. Homosexuality is evil but I don’t call gays demons. It’s just  like somebody who has malaria parasites, he needs help.  These people need help and  it’s a very serious help. Most of them who had come to us or their partners had come  to us, both lesbians and gays, we have helped them out. When you get close to them,  you will have mercy on some of them,” he said.

The bishop has also set up a matchmaking agency to end late marriages among  Christians in Nigeria. The agency is called Charles and Carol Matchmaking Agency.  The bishop’s wife is Pastor Carol Ighele.

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He said: “We have set up a matchmaking agency to solve the problem of late  marriages. It’s a dating agency. Already people are coming in. We are passionate  about it and I can tell you that there are quite some professionals who cannot leave  their offices from morning till night. We will not be matchmaking them, but linking  them.

“We call it linking Abraham’s children, linking God’s children the Abraham’s way.  Just like Abraham’s son, Isaac, was linked to Rebecca. We carried out some studies  and we found out that in those days, my parents and grand parents, all their  marriages were through linking and a lot of them survived and they did better than  today where we pick people along the road. We want to offer some services. You are  linked, you know yourselves and the picture is clear.

“I believe in early marriages. There is a time for one to be born, nine months to  carry a pregnancy. There is a time for everything that nature has arranged for  certain things to be done at a certain time and when that thing is not done at a  specific period, there is lack of confidence. Pressure begins to overtake you. I  believe that there is an age when people must get married. I believe in early  marriages.”

Lagosians who spoke with our correspondent this morning said the matchmaking agency  is not a bad idea.

“There is nothing wrong with a matchmaking agency. I even believe it’s a good idea  because it’s for a noble purpose. It allows young men to find young women and then  develop the relationship which can lead to marriage. But the idea of the agency must  be carefully handled because it is prone to abuse,” Kemi, a busy banker who works on  Lagos Island but lives on the mainland said.

She added: “The pastor should just expose the guys to the ladies. He should let them  develop their relationship and choose marriage on their own,” she added.

“The agency should have some checks to prevent abuses by unserious minded  individuals who may want to take advantage of the agency,” said Ifeanyi.

—Simon Ateba

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