By Ven. David Nwanekpe
I have witnessed things in the Church that continue to trouble my spirit. This is not gossip. This is not speculation. It is a burden I carry and a truth I must speak.
There is a story I know—some may doubt it—but I stand as a witness to its reality.
A priest—not just any priest, but an Archdeacon—was posted to serve under another Archdeacon. For two whole years, while serving under this man, he was:
- Never allowed to preach
- Denied the opportunity to lead prayers
- Not permitted to conduct a single church service
He was systematically silenced.
Beyond this, he never received a share of any thanksgiving offering or gift from the congregation. Everything that passed through the altar was carefully withheld from him. His vicar blocked him at every turn.
Some might find this hard to believe. But I tell you—such things happen. I have seen it with my own eyes.
When the Oppressor Wears a Collar
And yet, when clergy cry out about oppression, blame often goes straight to the bishops or the episcopate.
But I ask: Was this vicar a bishop?
No. This was wickedness carried out by a fellow priest against his brother priest.
“The evil that men do lives after them.”
Today you may stand in a position of power. Tomorrow, the tables may turn. The son of the oppressed curate may one day be the boss of the son of the oppressor.
Life belongs to no man.
Can We Not Live in Love?
As if that story were not enough, allow me to share my own recent experience.
A senior leader here in America called me, bitterly complaining about a man he claimed was failing in his leadership assignment. He painted a picture of incompetence and negligence.
But to my shock, this same leader had already called that man privately to praise him—even writing a letter to commend him for a job well done.
Yet, behind his back, he turned to accuse him to me.
Why this double life?
Why pretend?
Perhaps he expected me to react harshly so he could run back and report my words. Is this what leadership has become?
A Theatre of Pretenders
This is not an isolated case.
The same leader who once spoke ill of me—who maligned my ministry and my person—was the same man who later called me to say:
“You are the best in what you do.”
These contradictions leave me deeply worried and reflective.
Why is there so much wickedness in the Church?
Why are our leaders not honest about the offices they occupy?
Why has the holy altar become a hiding place for men with dried-up, bitter hearts?
The Church’s True Calling Is at Risk
The Church was meant to be:
- A healer of wounds
- A refuge for the broken
- A place where truth and love abound
But now, it is fast becoming a theatre of pretenders and deceivers.
Many who wear cassocks have turned the Church into a field of disappointment for those genuinely seeking hope.
Is it any wonder the world now mocks us?
A layman once said to me:
“Perhaps your bishops and clergy have been secretly told there is no heaven, and they have refused to share it with us.”
As painful as that sounds, can we truly blame him when we see what the Church has become?
Not a Message for Others Alone
This is not a message for others alone.
It is a call to repentance—for me, for you, for all of us who claim to serve God.
- The cassock will not save us.
- The vestments will not speak for us on the last day.
- Only love, truth, and genuine humility will restore the Church to the path Christ intended.
Let Every Soul Examine Itself
Ask yourself:
- Are you oppressing others under you?
- Are you speaking with two tongues?
- Are you living the faith you preach?
Power is temporary. Life is fleeting.
The grave has no space for our titles.
Only our deeds will speak after us.
A Final Plea
Whether bishop, priest, church worker, or layperson:
- Treat people rightly.
- Love sincerely.
- Speak honestly.
Christ did not call us to pretend.
He called us to love.
