By Charles Tjatindi
WINDHOEK
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, ELCRN has denied media reports alleging irregularities and inconsistencies during its 22nd Ordinary Synod.
Earlier media reports in a weekly community newspaper alleged unfair practices and questioned the re-appointment of Dr Zephania Kameeta as Bishop of the church. The article claimed that Kameeta came to power through rigged elections at the church’s last synod.
Quoting a certain Gerson Doeseb, the article claimed that the committee running the elections during the synod went against the constitution of the church body by accepting the nomination of a sole candidate in Dr Kameeta, contrary to the three candidates apparently required by the constitution.
The report further alleged that the newly elected Deputy Bishop, Reverend Paul Kisting influenced the outcome of the elections in his favour by not relinquishing his position on the church’s influential Management committee.
Ernst //Gamxamub, current Deputy bishop of ELCRN denied all the allegations saying Reverend Kameeta was unanimously elected as sole candidate, initially by 47 congregations of ELCRN, then later by all 53 congregations. Since Bishop Kameeta was the sole choice of all the congregations, he became the only one to stand for elections.
“…the nomination commission in honouring the united will of the congregations brought this one candidate to the ELCRN Church council, and ultimately to the ELCRN synod for elections. This process was executed according to the rules and regulations governing the nominations and elections”, he said.
//Gamxamub noted that the unprecedented unity in the nomination is a powerful statement by the members of the ELCRN, whom he said have clearly voiced their unity of purpose and action. He stated that this is a powerful statement against any form of segregation, racism and tribalism within the ELCRN and the church of Christ at large.
The sole nomination of Kameeta as Bishop posed a challenge to the election of his deputy, a position that could be contested by the remaining two candidates out of the three nominated for the Bishop position, according to the church’s constitution. Given the challenge, //Gamxamub related, a list of three candidates for the position of the Deputy Bishop was determined by a secret ballot during the synod. Said //Gamxamub: “The new Deputy Bishop, Reverend Paul Hitani Kisting was then elected by secret ballot with more than 50 percent majority as required by the ELCRN constitution.”
He lashed at the report, stating that the current Bishop-elect did not chair the session on the process of the election of Deputy Bishop, as claimed by the article.
The 22nd Ordinary Synod of the ELCRN was held from September 25 to 30 this year in Rehoboth, and was attended by members from the 53 congregations across the country. The newly elected members of the congregation are expected to take office on January 01 next year.