Assemblies Of God Did Not Appoint Rev. Joseph Ushie As UCOR Chaplain

**It’s the ranting of a drowning Man*

Our attention has been drawn to a publication concerning the purported dismissal of Rev. Engr. Joseph Ushie by Assemblies of God Nigeria and the attempt to portray this development as effectively determining his position as Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption (UCOR).

For the avoidance of doubt, Assemblies of God Nigeria did not appoint, nominate, post or second Rev. Ushie to UCOR.

When UCOR required a Chaplain, it did not approach Assemblies of God Nigeria for a minister. UCOR approached Rev. Ushie personally. He accepted the invitation, underwent the prescribed selection and interview process, and was subsequently appointed by the appropriate organs of the Chapel.

This historical fact is fundamental and must not be distorted.

We recognise the right of Assemblies of God Nigeria to regulate its internal affairs and determine the ministerial or membership status of persons within its denomination. However, a denomination cannot, merely by an internal disciplinary decision, be presumed to terminate an appointment it did not make.

The question of Rev. Ushie’s standing within Assemblies of God is therefore distinct from the question of who lawfully occupies the office of Chaplain of UCOR.

Rev. Ushie has served UCOR faithfully and continues to enjoy substantial support among the worshipping congregation. Following the appropriate processes, his tenure as Chaplain was renewed by the relevant UCOR authorities. The congregation and its legitimate leadership cannot simply be wished away because certain individuals have become uncomfortable with his continued service.

We therefore reject any attempt to use a denominational disciplinary process as a backdoor mechanism for determining the leadership of an interdenominational university chapel.

Assemblies of God may determine who remains an Assemblies of God minister; it does not follow that it can unilaterally determine who serves as Chaplain of UCOR when it neither appointed nor seconded Rev. Ushie to that office.

The validity of his appointment must be determined by the governing instruments and lawful organs of UCOR and, where disputed, by the appropriate judicial process—not through intimidation, administrative fiat, denominational pressure or media narratives.

We urge all concerned to respect due process and refrain from actions capable of disturbing the peace of the University and its Christian worshipping community.

UCOR is an interdenominational Christian community, not an extension of any single denomination. Its leadership must be determined according to its lawful governance structures.

Truth must not be sacrificed for convenience, and institutional power must never be allowed to replace due process.

Let the law, the facts and the legitimate governance structures of UCOR speak.