The President of the Church of the Brethren Nigeria, Rev Daniel Y.C. Mbaya, has cautioned gospel preachers against disrespecting the sanctity of the pulpit.
The Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria, EYN, President called on pastors to avoid such terms as placing pastors under some “bigger pastors” as ‘yaran wane’ or ‘ya’yan wane.’
Reverend Mbaya said this at the inauguration service of Principal Officers of the EYN Church (Church of the Brethren).
He spoke in front of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Minister of Education Prof. Mamman Tahir, Senator Amos Yohanna, Senator Ishaku Abbo, members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adamu Kamale, Hon. Zakariya Dauda Nyampa, Dr. Midala Usman Balami, Members of the Houses of Assemblies, Wesley Bathia Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, among other dignitaries.
“I plead with us all. From this inauguration service, can we all see ourselves as ‘Ya’yan Yesu, Ya’yan Ekklesiya ne ba Ya’yan wani ba,” he said.
“We should all work towards defeating this concept, ‘Yan Adawa, opposition’ because in my understanding, there are no opposition or ‘Yan adawa in the Church.
“Because my opinion or idea differs from yours or yours differs from mine, it doesn’t mean I’m an opposition or you are to me. Please, church, we shouldn’t use this term anymore.
“We are to work towards respecting people of other faiths and ensure our peace heritage is upheld as the Nigerian political landscape belongs to all of us.
“Be in a good relationship with traditional rulers, religious leaders of other faiths, and all the communities.
“I see our emergence as a defeat to tribalism and a win for the unity of EYN; we shall not take this for granted.
“I charge pastors and preachers of the Gospel to respect the sanctity of the pulpit. You all know that the pulpit isn’t a place of abuses and insults but of edification, of preaching the word of God.
“I beg of you all my dear colleagues, let us do away with statements like, ‘Yanzu namu ne a ciki,’ to be translated literally, ‘Now our own is in charge.’
