Bishop John CW questions leaders who donate millions despite modest salaries
By Paulette Mboga, August 7, 2025Bishop CW has issued a strong rebuke to political leaders who make large donations to churches despite questionable income sources, warning that such actions blur the lines between faith and politics and damage the reputation of the church.
Speaking during a YouTube interview on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Bishop CW made it clear that the church should not be used as a platform for political image-building or a channel for questionable financial dealings.
“If you’re coming to my church and donating 50 million, yet your salary is 1.4 million, please, let’s not pretend it’s not about business,” he said, directly questioning the integrity behind such high-profile donations.
He further emphasised that the church did not play a role in bringing the current government to power and should not be expected to serve political interests. “The church was not involved in bringing into power this particular government. I remember I told the president, build the economy. We will look for our own money. We don’t want handouts,” he said.
Handouts from politicians
Bishop CW expressed concern over politicians using scripture to justify donations that lack transparency. “The minute you come to a church to give handouts defending it with a certain scripture that does not even have understanding… it makes us look bad,” he warned.
He urged leaders to focus on national development and good governance rather than using the pulpit as a place for political theatre. “I told the leaders: fix the nation, and we will generate our resources,” he said, stressing that the church is capable of self-reliance when the economy is functional and inclusive.
Bishop CW also reflected on the wider issue of mixing religion with politics, noting that the situation has led to confusion about the church’s role in society.
“The moment we brought religion into the system and designated Sunday as the day for church activities, that’s when the problem began. We lost the ability to differentiate the purpose and role of the church,” he said.
He added that, historically, spiritual and political leadership have always worked in harmony, each within its role. “From the Bible, you never see a prophet ruling without a king,” Bishop CW concluded, urging for a return to clear, respectful boundaries between the two institutions.