Don’t mix spiritual activities with politics —Outgoing TAC president

The outgoing national president of The Apostolic Church (TAC) in Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Olutola, has counselled churches to not to mix spiritual activities with politics, so as not to lead people away from the gospel.

He also called on churches to “fight corruption” with everything they had, saying it was one of the responsibilities the church, as a body, had towards nation building.

He said this on Thursday at a press conference held at the premises of TAC in Ketu, Lagos, as part of events lined up to mark  his retirement.

His retirement takes effect from April 30, 2017, and he is expected to hand over to Pastor Emmanuel Awojide, who, for years, has been a member of the National Executive Council (NEC), and LAWNA Executive Council.

Pastor Olutola, who is also the chairman, Lagos Western and Northern Areas (LAWNA) Territory, pointed out that one of the ways the church could fight corruption was not to mix spiritual activities with political issues as much as possible.

“Corruption is coming to the church, but the church must fight it. At TAC, we have made it clear that on no account must any officer, pastor or leader discuss political issues in church. It has been discovered that discussion of politics in the church could easily sway people away,” he said.

Pastor Olutola, who was “unanimously” appointed the national president of TAC on July 31, 2011, retires at 84 years of age after putting in “52 years meritorious service,” in God’s service.

“The Lord God has graciously used me in this past eight years as LAWNA Territorial chairman and national president in fulfilling His purpose of restoring the glory of the church in the nation. We are able to strengthen the unity of the church, not only in Nigeria, but also overseas, bringing the six territories/fields in the nation under one constitution,” he said.

While reeling out some of the achievements the church under his leadership, Pastor Olutola said God helped to “open Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU), as well as open the national temple of the church.”

He also said he was able to serve as the national president of CPFN/PFN bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and a member of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), among others.

Aside the appointment of a new and incoming national president of TAC, other appointments, as announced by Pastor Olutola, included: Pastor S.G.O. Uyeh as LAWNA Territorial Vice Chairman; Pastor J.O.D. Ekele, LAWNA Territorial Administrative Secretary and Pastor J.O.A. Fadipe, as LAWNA Territorial finance secretary.

Their appointments, according to the him, takes effect from May 2017.

“As I am retiring, let me reiterate that I am still in the Lord’s service and will be available from time to time to give support to the cause of the church of Christ and the new leadership,” he said, thus clarifying what his next line of action would be.