The International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) will remain closed for in-person church services despite a decision by the government to ease restrictions and allow church services to resume.
An official communication from the head office of the church said after considering the directives from government and protocols required for church services to re-commence, it has decided against doing so on an in-person basis.
“No ICGC local branch shall be open to run in-person church service until so advised by the Presbytery,” the communique said.
It added that “All ICGC local assemblies will continue to fellowship together on-air and online as we join the General Overseer on Sundays for services, as we do now.
“Local pastors will continue to minister to their congregations through online, on air, and social media channels during the week (Mondays –Saturdays).”
The ICGC said it will use the month of June to assess the effectiveness of protocols given by government for the return of churches and make a decision.
“This will enable us to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the protocols throughout our churches nationwide.”
Churches were given the go-ahead to resume in-person services under strict protocols by government last Sunday in a speech by President Akufo-Addo.
Among other things, congregations are required to be limited to 100 and adhere to other strict protocols including restricting services to one hour.
That does not seem to have convinced the ICGC, whose founder Pastor Mensa Otabil had already said last month that it was the wrong time for churches to consider gathering again.
“It may not seem suitable to us but that is the price we pay to make the world a better place” he said. “This is not the time for churches to consider gathering together in assemblies because the crisis before us is not going down.”
By 3news.com | Ghana