Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has been appointed as the Patron of the Ecumenical Synod of Bishops, Archbishops, and Senior Clergy Inc. (ESBAASC).
The announcement was made during ESBAASC’s international conference, held from August 22 to 25 at Emmanuel Park, RCCG Redemption Camp, as reported by Church Times. The conference, themed “Religious Tolerance in Nigeria and Across the Nations of the World,” focused on the challenges and strategies related to fostering religious tolerance.
ESBAASC is a coalition of Christian leaders dedicated to promoting unity, dialogue, and cooperation among different Christian denominations. During the event, Pastor Adeboye was nominated as Patron by Archbishop Prof. Kehinde Olubunmi, the International Prelate and Chief Host of the event.
Additionally, Archbishop Prof. Mary Ajisafe, the Overseer of Peace of God Ministry in Lagos, was appointed as Matron of ESBAASC. Both appointments were received with enthusiastic applause from the attendees.
Archbishop Olubunmi emphasized the group’s efforts to work with global organizations to promote religious tolerance in Nigeria and extend these efforts across Africa.
Represented by RCCG National Overseer Emeritus, Pastor Joseph Obayemi, Pastor Adeboye reflected on his experiences growing up, highlighting instances of peaceful coexistence with people of various faiths. He emphasized that true religious tolerance involves mutual understanding and unity among diverse cultures.
Pastor Adeboye also addressed the issue of religious and sectarian violence in Nigeria, stating that much of it is politically motivated and often occurs during times of economic and social tension. He encouraged attendees to advocate for religious tolerance, underscoring that true believers should prioritize love and the preservation of life over violence and division.