…Suspends couple for sacrilegious act
It was utter confusion at the Assemblies of God Church, Ehere, Ogbor Hill in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia state, as the Church pastor, Rev. Eze Ogba refused to formally wed a groom and bride, over the alleged pregnancy reports of the bride
It was gathered that the couple, Isreal Kennedy and his bride, Rose, and other guests were all present in the church for the ceremony which was slated to hold after church its normal Sunday service. However, the church was said to have ordered a pregnancy test to be conducted on the bride which later revealed that she was pregnant. Following the development, the priest of the Church announced that the wedding had been cancelled. Confusion followed the decision to cancel the wedding as both families of the intending couple tried to have the board of the church rescind the decision. As this was going on, the Church pastor was seen interviewing the bride who pleaded her innocence.
The families of the groom and bribe were said to have gone to a nearby church that performed the wedding which also hosted the reception ceremony.
A member of the church who spoke anonymously disclosed that it is the culture of the Assemblies of God Church to refuse wedding ceremonies for pregnant brides.
He said; “It is the tradition of the Assemblies of God Church not to wed pregnant brides, it is not a new thing. The groom and bride who presented themselves for the wedding knew that the Church cannot join them in matrimony because the bride was already pregnant. They were to be joined after the service when the result of the test ordered by the church would have been ready. After conducting the pregnancy test on the bride, the church found out that she was pregnant and announced that the wedding was cancelled.”
Some members of the church who considered the huge amount spent by the families in preparing for the ceremony said the church ought to have performed the ceremony and later disciplined the groom and the bride.
It was later gathered that both the groom and his bride were suspended in accordance with the Constitution of the Church.
