Pastor Mensa Otabil Explains Why Building Factories and Schools Is Not the Church’s Responsibility

Renowned Ghanaian pastor and founder of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, has sparked public discussion after stating that building factories and schools should not be considered the primary responsibility of the church.

According to him, the church must concentrate on its core religious responsibilities rather than taking on duties that properly belong to other institutions and sectors of society.

Pastor Otabil explained that the church has a specific mandate, which includes preaching the gospel, nurturing the spiritual lives of believers and providing religious guidance to its members.

He argued that expecting churches to build factories and schools as part of their primary responsibilities amounts to misunderstanding the purpose for which religious institutions were established.

To illustrate his point, the respected preacher compared the situation to asking a lawyer to convert his chambers into a hospital simply because people in society are falling sick.

He explained that although lawyers and doctors both serve society, they have different professional responsibilities and should not be expected to perform duties outside their respective fields.

Using the analogy, he maintained that the church should equally be allowed to concentrate on its spiritual assignment rather than being judged primarily by the number of factories, schools or other physical infrastructure it establishes.

His comments have generated conversations about the responsibilities of religious organisations and their contribution to Ghana’s development.

While some may argue that churches should play a more active role in providing social amenities, others maintain that religious institutions should not be expected to replace the responsibilities of government.

The discussion also raises questions about the distinction between the spiritual mission of the church and the voluntary social interventions it undertakes in communities.

Pastor Otabil’s position has therefore brought renewed attention to the debate over what society should reasonably expect from churches beyond their traditional religious activities.

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