By ENDURANCE IKANONE

Crisis has erupted at the Bethel Baptist Church, Sapele, leading to the expulsion of the church’s deacons and indefinite suspension of a member of the Diaconate over allegation of assault and attempt to harm the associate pastor, Rev Charles Okpara.

The ugly development in the church came to the fore recently, following an initial squabble that resulted in the molestation of the Associate Pastor penultimate Wednesday after close of a weekly fasting and prayer programme in the church premises.

According to some members who craved anonymity, the crisis stemmed from alleged untamed inordinate ambition of the deacons to wield power at all cost and foisting of dictatorial tendencies over the two church pastors.

The youths in their reactions to the alleged overbearing power of the deacons, culminating in the recent attack on the junior pastor, unanimously agreed to send the deacons packing by the removal of their seats in the church.

The radical young men, supported by church women said they had had enough of the alleged dictatorship and power drunkenness of the deacons

They listed several wrongdoings linked to the muscle flexing deacons, amongst which are complete disrespect, high handedness, disregard for the offices and positions of the pastors and other forms of intimidation against the pastors.

In his response through a phone conversation, Bethel Baptist Associate Pastor, Rev Charles Okpara, confirmed the story of his attack and the position of the youths for sacking the deacons

According to the clergy, he was earlier embarrassed penultimate Sunday while officiating in the child dedication of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Oyoma Ebireri.

He explained how the child, meant for dedication was almost dragged away from his hands by a friend to the family while on the altar to perform the process.

According to the pastor, the church deacons have over the years turned the revered Bethel Baptist Church 5 Sapele into a political auditorium, stressing that their say on any issue was final and superseded any suggestions of the pastors.

There had been several alleged cases of molestation of even the senior pastor, Rev. London Ohwonigho, by the deacons and their allies.

The Diaconate of Bethel Baptist Church is using boys to cause confusion and to undermine the role of the pastors.

Reacting to the allegations, Deacon Moses Agbakoko, after series of unsuccessful phone calls to his number, told newsmen that “the suspected member involved in the crisis is being questioned with others by the Associational Moderator, Rev. Dr. Sampson Ajagbe.

Rev. Ajagbe had earlier waded into the dispute between the deacons and pastors of the church to no avail.

However, latest information from Bethel Baptist Church, hinted that Rev Ajagbe, who is the resident pastor, Baptist Church, Sapele, has called the warring factions to a round table to find a lasting solution to the impasse. (Text, excluding headline: Delta State News Bulletin)

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