A new Executive Council, led by Acting Chair, Sister Victoria Clarke, has taken over leadership at Brotherhood of Cross and Star (BCS).
The development followed directive by Sole Spiritual Head, Olumba Olumba Obu, popularly called O O Obu
She pledged that her era would witness key reforms and create new funding sources to drive evangelism and growth.
It was gathered that this would be the first time in the existence of the BCS’s history that such position would be allowed to leave the Olumba Olumba Obu’s family.
Addressing adherents at a reception in her honour, which also coincided with 2025 International Women Fellowship Day in Uyo, Clarke vowed that such development designed by Obu, would spur her to take the faith to greater heights.
Describing the peaceful and orderly transition as victory for all devotees especially the womenfolk, the Acting Chairman, who doubles as the President of the International Women Fellowship (IWF), assured of diversification of funding sources from the traditional tithes collections to business, technology and others.
She explained that such multiple funding sources would help drive the growth of the organisation through pilgrimages and other missionary works.
Sister Clarke noted that for this very dignified achievement, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu had shown to the world that the Kingdom of God does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of gender.
“We have spoken much about transition, but there is another very important issue that this appointment of Acting Chairman has addressed; and that is the issue of the liberation of women.
By this, He (Olumba) has shown the world that in the Kingdom of God, there is neither male nor female.”
Sis. Clarke also observed that her appointment as the first non-biological family member of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu had broken a leadership pattern where the administration of the Kingdom was hitherto concentrated in their hands only.
“Since the Father has broken that pattern of leadership remaining within the biological family of Olumba, it will never reoccur here. Brotherhood has come of age. It is no longer what was perceived to be; a family institution,” she stressed.
The Acting Chairman, who admitted the enormity of work to be done in the areas of prioritising evangelism, financial diversification, establishment of income- generating businesses, among others, however insisted that with the support from all members and grace from God, these urgent issues would be addressed.
Calling on all BCS members to lend their support to these daunting tasks, the Acting Chairman thanked Olumba Olumba Obu, participants at the event, College of Bishops, Chairperson of the International Planning Committee, among others for their efforts towards her reception, urging every member to join hands in ensuring that her administration succeeds.
According to her record, the Acting Chairperson was born in 1950, in the United Kingdom (UK), where she also did most of her studies.
Before her latest position, she had traversed several nations in the West African sub-region, and the Caribbeans to build cathedrals for the worship of the Father.
Chairman on the occasion, Deaconess Maria Onyeacholem, thanked members of BCS for their show of love and unity, by turning out en – masse for the warm reception and enjoined members to support and make useful contributions for the overall success of the event, as such contributions, she noted, would invoke God’s blessings upon them.
Earlier in his homily, the Officiating Priest Christ, Witness Ime Akpakpan, reminded BCS members that God would always bless them with gifts according to their capacity, but added that expectations abound that such gifts must be used to advance God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Expounding on the theme: “Use Your Talent and Possession to Serve God”, the Officiating Priest further admonished members that in view of God’s gifts to them, accountability would expediently come in the end.
Witness Ime Akpakpan, who drew his message from Luke 12:48; Matthew 19:21 and Acts 4:34-35, therefore, assured BCS members that those who would invest their resources according to what they were endowed with, would reap a good reward from God.
Eminent dignitaries included; Bishop Emmanuel Shegum; Bishop Alex Igwe; Bishop Iwat Etuk; Bishop Anthony Udeh; Bishop Bassey Ephraim; Bishop Sape; National and State Leaders’ Representives and Council members.
