Onakayale ELCIN Pastor suspended

THE Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)has suspensed Pastor Jesaya Hanghuwo of the Onakayale parish.

The suspension, which was confirmed by the chairman of the parish, Elifas Taapopi, has divided the ELCIN congregation in the Western Diocese in Omusati region.

Taapopi said Pastor Hanghuwo was suspended by ELCIN Western Diocese Bishop Veikko Munyika after the Sunday service on 18 January 2015.

No reasons were given for the suspension although he said Bishop Munyika had told the congregation that their Pastor Hanghuwo had been suspended in accordance with article 85 of the ELCIN constitution after church members, including the parish council, complained about the pastor’s conduct.

Bishop Munyika could, however, not deny or confirm the pastor’s suspension yesterday, saying he could not comment on the matter.

A member of the Onakayale congregation, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Namibian that article 85 of the constitution talks about what the church can do if there is suspicion or a complaint against a pastor neglecting his or her family or has been accused of having an extramarital affair.

Another member accused some members of the congregation who have axes to grind with the pastor of bringing false allegations against him so that he is removed from the parish.

“There is now a big split in the Onakayale congregation over the suspension of the pastor and we who are on the side of the pastor are demanding a fair hearing. He cannot just be suspended because some members of the congregation have personal problems with him, especially because of his straight talk,” he said.

The source also told The Namibian that just after Pastor Hanghuwo was suspended, a child was baptised on the following Sunday, and given the name ‘Jesus Christ’, a practice that left the Onakayale congregation shocked.

Meanwhile, the long-standing dispute between the Okahao congregation and the ELCIN Western Diocese, over the transfer of Pastor Hulda Shau to Okambebe parish came to an end, after Pastor Shau decided to leave Okahao Parish to study at the Hifikepunye Pohamba Unam Campus at Ongwediva.

Some members of the Okahao congregation did not want the pastor to be removed from the Okahao Parish while others had accepted the decision taken under retired Bishop Josaphat Shanghala.

The announcement that Pastor Shau was going to Unam was made by Bishop Munyika at Okahao parish a week ago.