ONGWEDIVA – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) has dismissed six pastors after they took up employment opportunities with the Namibia Correctional Service (NCS). 

The said pastors allegedly circumvented standard internal procedure to secure employment, something those at Elcin’s helm did not take kindly. 

On the receiving end of the boot are women and two men, including Reverend Esron Heita Kapolo, who died last week. 

Kapolo was empl oyed at the correctional facility in Keetmanshoop. 

Last year, NCS opened vacancies, seeking pastors from various churches to apply. 

Mostpastorsspokeanonymously to New Era on Tuesday, as they fear further victimisation from Elcin’s powers that be. 

“We applied, and attended training which took place at Omaruru,” said one of the pastors. 

Another pastor stated that after being accepted by NCS last year, they wrote a letter to the top management of Elcin to inform them of their decision to join NCS. 

“It took them a while to respond. We then attended training from April until June 2024. They responded at the last minute, telling us that if we went to NCS, we would lose our jobs at Elcin, and no longer be considered pastors of the church,” one pastor narrated. 

The pastors added that the commissioner general of NCS, Raphael Hamunyela, waited for Elcin’s response to their request. 

Another pastor said Elcin disapproved of their decision to join NCS, as it had not been made through the church’s official channels. 

One pastor emphasised that Elcin’s constitution, specifically Article 77, grants church workers the right to seek employment outside the church if the worker notifies church leadership and receives endorsement. 

“We followed what is outlined in the constitution two months before the training. Our requests were ignored by the leadership until the appointment date,” the pastor said. 

The reverend added that no clause in the Elcin constitution gives the church council the power to prohibit a worker from seeking employment elsewhere. 

The only consideration should be whether the job aligns with the church’s ethical standards. 

“The pastors’ requests for endorsement were not welcomed nor fairly dealt with,” another clergyman said. 

The man of cloth pointed out that the Elcin rules stipulate that pastors who wish to work for the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), Namibian Police Force (NamPol) or NCS must be identified by the church leaders instead of applying themselves. 

However, the pastors claim that this internal selection process is not holy or fair. 

“It’s difficult for us to be selected by the management of Elcin. We have been waiting to be chosen, but they just pick their favourite candidates,” one pastor lamented. 

A reliable source confirmed that the pastors were frustrated. 

They had taken it upon themselves to apply for positions at NCS. 

They added that they had completed training, and were sent to various correctional facilities across the country. 

“We are no longer working as pastors at NCS. We only provide counselling services and Bible studies. We no longer perform baptisms, confirmations or give Holy Communion because Elcin stopped us,” another preacher said. 

She added that their work at NCS is now limited. 

“We have to call an outside pastor to come and perform baptisms, confirmations and other services that we used to do,” the reverend stressed. 

The pastors expressed frustration that, despite their training and calling, Elcin prevented them from practising their ministry while working at NCS. 

They said they submitted a petition to their leaders, urging them to reconsider the issue. 

When approached for comment, Elcin spokesperson Thomas Uushona confirmed that the six pastors took up employment without the church’s blessing. 

“Elcin has rules and regulations that pastors must adhere to. Elcin is responsible for sending pastors to work at NamPol, NDF and NCS, as well as various sectors, but not pastors deciding on their own,” Uushona said. 

He added that the pastors did not follow the church’s regulations. 

He said if a pastor chooses to work in a department outside the church, they are no longer considered active in their structures. 

“We received their letter. Management is still working on it,” he said. 

When New Era contacted Bishop Dean Hilya Nghaangulwa of the Eastern Diocese, she refused to comment. 

Meanwhile, Bishop Gideon Niitenge of the Western Diocese did not answer his phone. 

– fhamalwa@nepc.com.na