Calling for a distinguishment to be made, Tongoi told how some of the rogue churches and pastors did not even own a Bible, let alone read its teachings.
“Any ministry that harms people and calls itself Christian, is not Christian!” he declared.
He explained how many of the trouble establishments hadn’t built their faith on the Bible, but instead brought out a lot of their own traditional values.
“Faith in God does not need physical violence. Faith in God is sufficient,” Tongoi said.He called upon churches and the government to “not only condemn this (the child abuse) and speak up on this, but on all violence to children, and provide the love and support vulnerable children need.”
The London symposium also heard Constantia Pennie, Chair of the Children and Youth Commission of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) tell delegates that the problem must be tackled with unity amongst all involved.
In 2005, reports emerged that revealed how a number of African “preachers” were abusing, and in extreme cases sacrificing children in secret exorcism ceremonies in the UK.
However, now one year after the reports, Jesus House, one of the leading black majority churches in Britain, has called on the government to reveal the extent of the problem – or risk damaging community relations, in particular within the African community.
The British government has carried out research into the extent of the ritual abuse of children, but the findings are yet to be made public, despite promises made to do so four months ago.The “missing report”, commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) last year, was due to be published in February, but even though the project only received funding for a 3 month period, a spokesperson for the DFES said this week, “We have no firm publication date.”
Irukwu said that uncertainty over the allegations, combined with the absence of the government's findings, is undermining an entire community that now feels labelled child abusers.
Irukwu said, “It is extremely important to have this research published. We don’t know the truth and real extent of what we are dealing with, and rumours are beginning to circulate.”
The Pastor, who is also Chairman of the largest denomination African-derived Pentecostal churches in Britain, continued, “We are concerned that unless the government handles this wisely, it could in fact drive a wedge between black-majority churches and the wider society, particularly when the newer churches are beginning to make their contribution in addressing some of society’s problems.”
Calling for the government to consult with the black churches more effectively, Irukwu said, “We know it is an immensely difficult position of responsibility, and we want to share that responsibility in order to help them get things right.”
