{"id":84172,"date":"2025-02-19T18:10:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T18:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/elcins-leadership-conundrum"},"modified":"2025-02-19T18:10:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T18:10:59","slug":"elcins-leadership-conundrum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/elcins-leadership-conundrum","title":{"rendered":"Elcin\u2019s leadership conundrum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Namibia. <\/strong><\/span>The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) is in a leadership dispute that has since spilt over to the High Court for deliberation.<\/p>\n

Three senior pastors \u2013 Fillemon Nepaka, Joseph Shikuma and Lamek Nambahu \u2013 as well as the secretary of the Elcin Western Diocese Male League Josua Nghipandwa, are asking the court to set aside the resolutions taken at the 24th Elcin General Church Synod on 29 and 30 November 2021 (21 Synod).<\/p>\n

The group claims that during the first leg of the 21 Synod, which was presided over by retired Bishop Shekutaamba VV Nambala, Martin Ngodji was elected as the bishop of the Eastern Diocese.<\/p>\n

The position of bishop of the Western Diocese could not be filled, as the candidates failed to obtain two-thirds of the votes.<\/p>\n

However, Gideon Niitenge, who had the highest score, was given the position of moderator.<\/p>\n

Ngodji was due to be consecrated and installed on 14 November 2021.<\/p>\n

However, he died on 17 September 2021, leaving his position vacant.<\/p>\n

On 29-30 November 2021 and during the second leg of the 21 Synod, the church resolved to have Niitenge fill the position of Presiding Bishop on an interim basis, and lead the entire church as such. Hilja Nghaangulwa would lead the Eastern Diocese on an interim basis until the 25th Church General Synod on 12-15 August 2024 (2024 Synod).<\/p>\n

This, the group claims, was done contrary to the church\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n

Legal dispute<\/b><\/p>\n

In court papers filed on 31 January, the pastors claim that Shikuma wrote to the Church Council, raising concern over the disregard of Elcin\u2019s constitution in filling the position of Presiding Bishop and Bishop of the Eastern Diocese.<\/p>\n

However, the council ruled that the appointments of Niitenge and Nghaangulwa were legitimate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe third respondent (Niitenge) was not a bishop, but a mere moderator and could, therefore, not be lawfully-elected as the presiding bishop,\u201d said the group.<\/p>\n

In addition, they claim that Nghaangulwa was likewise not duly-elected as she was not among the shortlisted candidates for the Eastern Diocese.<\/p>\n

The aggrieved pastors further claim that Niitenge and Nghaangulwa went on to chair the 2024 Synod, further violating the church\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe third and fourth respondents (Niitenge and Nghaangulwa) were both running to be elected as bishops respectively at the 2024 Synod. By that very fact, they had no power to preside over the affairs of the 2024 Synod since they were in conflict,\u201d said the group.<\/p>\n

The group is asking the court to direct Elcin to convene an extraordinary Church General Synod within three months to elect bishops for the Western and Eastern Diocese, and have a Presiding Bishop from one of the sister churches preside over it.<\/p>\n

On 7 February, Elcin and its Church Council noted their intention to oppose the application.<\/p>\n

Forging ahead<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite the court challenge, Niitenge and Nghaangulwa were consecrated and installed in their positions on Sunday at a ceremony held in Ongwediva.<\/p>\n

When approached for comment, Nghaangulwa referred the matter to Niitenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cCall Niitenge. He is the right person to speak to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Efforts to obtain comment from Niitenge proved futile, as his phone went unanswered.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Elcin\u2019s secretary general Haufiku Johannes stated that he does not have the authority to comment on the matter, referring the enqueries to Niitenge and Nghaangulwa.<\/p>\n

Nambala, however, confirmed that he had received the letter from the High Court, but declined to provide further details.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m aware of the court letter, but I can\u2019t comment further,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Retired Bishop Veikko Munyika confirmed also receiving the court letter.<\/p>\n

During the installation ceremony, immigration officials and police were present at the Elcin centre, where they demanded the papers of Finnish, American, German and South African members of the Lutheran Church who had come to attend the installation of the two bishops.<\/p>\n

The church has been making headlines since six of its pastors were dismissed for taking up positions at the Namibia Correctional Service.<\/p>\n

Police in the Omusati region are also investigating a case involving the disappearance of N$3.4 million from the church.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Namibia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Namibia. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) is in a leadership dispute that has since spilt over to the High Court for deliberation. Three senior pastors \u2013 Fillemon Nepaka, Joseph Shikuma and Lamek Nambahu \u2013 as well as the secretary of the Elcin Western Diocese Male League Josua Nghipandwa, are asking the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":84171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,12],"tags":[233],"class_list":["post-84172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-namibia"],"yoast_head":"\nElcin\u2019s leadership conundrum - Namibia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/elcins-leadership-conundrum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Elcin\u2019s leadership conundrum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Africa-Press – Namibia. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) is in a leadership dispute that has since spilt over to the High Court for deliberation. 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