REJOINDER ON THE PURPORTED DISMISSAL OF REV. ENGR. JOSEPH USHIE AS CHAPLAIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR CHAPEL OF REDEMPTION BY THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, ENUGU, NIGERIA: THE GENERAL PUBLIC DESERVES THE TRUTH AS ENSHRINED IN ECCLESIASTICAL TRADITIONS

By Lawrence Mpama

PREAMBLE
Rev. Engr. Joseph Ushie is an undeniable thoroughbred of the Assemblies of God, having been born, nurtured and groomed through the very firm foundation and tenets of the church.
From 1st February 2021 when he effectively assumed the Chaplainship of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption, he had enjoyed remarkable followership, rooted in the very essence of ecclesiastical traditions and sustained by his personal drive, spirituality and leadership acumen.
Never had he been found wanting in the discharge of his duties as Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption. This is a position he was appropriately appointed into, by virtue of a rigorous, merit-induced selection exercise, that was duly and widely publicized, following which many candidates applied. His appointment was therefore not a hoax, neither was it an exercise that was shrouded in secrecy. Even his fellow applicants for the same position applauded his eligibility and subsequent appointment to the exalted position. The world was deeply aware of it.

GENERAL PRESENTATION
It is only natural and a virtue bordering on honour, integrity, honesty and personal conviction that truth should always be upheld, particularly in ecclesiastical matters that touch on the very foundation upon which the Christian Faith is built.
It was in furtherance and fulfillment of the above, that Rev. Engr. Joseph Ushie, tendered his Letter of Resignation on the attainment of the age of 60, the required statutory age for retirement from such religious positions. The decision to resign, in a letter dated 21st January 2026, was duly and appropriately communicated to the General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Enugu Nigeria, through the District Superintendent, Calabar.
The refusal to grant approval was dated 3rd February, 2026 while the letter of dismissal was dated 13th June, 2026 without even according Rev. Engr Joseph Ushie, any fair hearing.
It should be noted for the purpose of clarity and good judgement by the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption, the National Headquarters of the Assemblies of God and indeed, the general public that the Assemblies of God Nigeria, did not appoint, nominate, post or second Rev. Joseph Ushie as Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption.
Consequently, for the Assemblies of God Nigeria, to link its internal mechanisms and administrative procedures to the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar, is not only wrong but also an administrative abnormality.
This very time-tested and historical fact must not be twisted or remodelled or dishonestly distorted by anyone, group of persons or corporate body.
Furthermore, the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption did not request the National Headquarters of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, for a Chaplain but handled the matter on its own when it needed a Chaplain to oversee its affairs. The very probing questions of Rev. Joseph Ushie’s status with the Assemblies of God are therefore fundamentally distinct and different from the Office of Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption.
It is therefore out of tone with reality, quite shocking and very disappointing that upon requesting for Voluntary Retirement as stated above, the National body of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, ignored his letter of retirement but instead, directed the District Superintendent Calabar, “to immediately post Rev. Joseph Ushie to any place of ministry in the Assemblies of God Nigeria in your district”.
How fair, proper, considerate and right is the above treatment being visited on someone who has offered acknowledged services without blemish for decades?
Again, attention must be drawn to the established fact that the Assemblies of God Nigeria, did not conduct the selection interviews and other processes leading to the appointment of Rev. Joseph Ushie as Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption. So, where exactly does the church come in here after its refusal to listen to Rev Ushie’s defence? And, to worsen matters, the Church also declined to listen to the Calabar Presbytery, the home Presbytery of Rev. Joseph Ushie.
In line with its adherence to the truth and due process, the Calabar Presbytery stoutly stood its grounds and refused to be compromised.
In another twist to the issues, the Church refused to present a copy of the petition against him to Rev Ushie, denied him his inalienable right to fair hearing and refused the Board of Trustees position on the renewal of Rev Ushie’s second tenure. Their actions were not in good faith and Rev Ushie has long served them with his Letter of Resignation.
The Church is definitely not an avenue for bad blood and personal bickering but a place for the worship of the one true God as the presiding officers preach and draw their flock onto the path of spiritual salvation.
From the foregoing, it is clear that the petitioners are trying all they can to create the untrue impression that Rev. Ushie should not remain as the Chaplain on the false grounds of his dismissal by his parent Church. How devilish can people go!
Going by the date of dismissal, Rev Ushie had since tendered his Letter of Resignation and Retirement before the church’s own communication on the issues. After the refusal, then came the dismissal.
The position of this Rejoinder is therefore simple, common and straightforward with the following very key submissions:

1. The National Headquarters of the Assemblies of God Nigeria was not instrumental to the emergence of Rev Ushie as the Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel in 2021.
2. The National Headquarters of the Assemblies of God Enugu Nigeria, was not communicated to, in order to seek its consent before receiving Rev Ushie as Chaplain of the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption.
3. The seeming and quiet disturbing interference of the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar in the affairs of the Chapel is wrong, illegal, unconstitutional and completely at variance with the Constitution of UNICAL Chapel of Redemption.
4. The Chapel is a non-denominational entity duly registered with the appropriate regulatory body, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
5. Imposing a Presbyterian clergyman as Head of the Chapel is utra vire because of the known and widely acknowledged interdenominational status of the Chapel on the campus.
6. The Chapel has, right from its inception, never been under the control and the management of the University of Calabar.
7. With the above, it is abundantly clear that the Assemblies of God Nigeria and indeed, the University of Calabar, are all out on a mission of tarnishing the image, person and invaluable services of Rev Joseph Ushie.
8. While acknowledging the fact that the Assemblies of God Nigeria has the exclusive rights in administering its affairs, fairness and natural justice demand that the public be presented with the true position of issues by listening to and giving a fair hearing to both sides of a dispute.
9. It is therefore disgusting and disturbing that from the circumstances surrounding this dispute, fairness, objectivity and due process were never allowed to take root, hence, the action(s) already taken against Rev Joseph Ushie.
10. The home Presbytery of Rev Ushie and the closest to him, the Calabar Presbytery was not given meaningful opportunity to present its position on the matter.
11. Flowing from the above, the Presbytery has refused to support actions it considers unjustified against him.
12. Condemning a Minister of God or anyone for that matter, without fair hearing, falls short of the elementary principles of natural justice and the virtues of the Christian Faith.
13. Insufficient regard was equally extended to the issue of renewing Rev Ushie’s second tenure as Chaplain.
14. Having tendered his Letter of Resignation, the Assemblies of God Nigeria should not be seen to be tampering with Rev Ushie’s status as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ.
15. There are legitimate concerns and reasons to believe that individuals within the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption may have utilized unscrupulous means of exploiting their relationships and denominational channels to pursue an evil agenda against Rev Joseph Ushie, which should be thoroughly examined, rather than being dismissed. *PRAYERS* Prayers are that this controversy should not be reduced to the convenient narrative of a “disobedient” Minister versus his denomination.
    At the heart of all this, are fundamental questions of fair play, fair hearing, ecclesiastical justice and the right of the Chapel congregation to have its opinion on the matter, respected because they are directly in line with the effect of any negative action(s).
    Rev. Engr. Joseph Ushie has served the Chapel with commitment, dedication and enjoyed substantial support and successes within the congregation. Those who however, disagree with his position are free to do so, but disagreement must never become a substitute for due process.
    Rev. Ushie deserves to be heard.
    The BOT, the UCOR deserves to be heard, the Calabar Presbytery of the Assemblies of God as well, all deserve to be heard. Justice cannot be served by hearing from just one side of a dispute.
    Over and above all, the truth deserves to be heard because only the truth can save us and that is what we preach and should uphold at all times.
    The truth does not need timelines, it is constant.

By Lawrence Mpama.
Active member of Unical Chapel of Redemption.