Ordinarily, the Christmas season ought to be a time of joy, peace and tranquility. Not so at the Methodist Church of Kenya – with unending wrangles rocking the the top leadership.
Early last month, a faction of church officials ousted the current Presiding Bishop, Joseph Ntombura, who was attending a Conference in Ghana.
Upon returning to the country, Ntombura maintained he was still the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church in Kenya and President of Africa Methodist Council, terming the appointment of Dr. Stephen Kanyaru as the interim Bishop a sham.
But in quick retaliation, Dr. Kanyaru’s faction has today maintained that Bishop Ntombura remains suspended by the Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference, and is therefore not authorized to transact any business on behalf of the Methodist Church.
“The attention of Interim Leadership of the Methodist Church of Kenya (MCK) has been drawn to a notice published in the Daily Nation on 17th December 2021 alleging the defrocking and excommunication of some members of the MCK,” reads part of a memo from Kanyaru’s faction published in the dailies on Thursday.
According to the Interim leadership organ, the alleged excommunication was irregular, unfair and against the rules of natural justice.
“The Standing Committee does not have any powers or jurisdiction to defrock or excommunicate any member. The term ‘excommunication’ does not exist in the Methodist Standing Orders. Only the local Churches have the authority to discipline and expel their own members,” reads the protest memo.
Kanyaru and his team have severally maintained that Bishop Ntombura cannot continue leading the church, citing his failure to submit his academic credentials and the non-procedural sacking of over 40 clergy members.
The MCK standing orders requires that the Presiding Bishop must have Masters Degree and a basic degree in Theology.
“We therefore request all MCK members and partners to rally and realign their efforts and energy behind the interim leadership in restructuring the management of MCK for the realization of the aspirations of all its members and the fraternity at large,” the memo from the interim leadership further states.
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