ANGLICAN priests are requesting the church to lower the criteria for the Diocese of Namibia bishop position, saying the bar has been set above their qualifications.
Two weeks ago, the church sent out nomination forms for bishop candidates for the Diocese of Namibia where those interested in the position are required to have a bachelor’s degree in theology.
The church will have its elective assembly next month at Odibo in Ohangwena region where the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Namibia will be elected.
VOICES OF DISSENT
A series of voice notes from the church priests’ WhatsApp group, Clergy Matters, leaked to The Namibian show that several priests are in support of the lowering of requirements, with some proposing that the requirements be rejected.
“We do not want a foreign bishop. They are setting these criteria looking at the weakness at the Diocese of Namibia. We are saying this because the outgoing bishop is from the same country as the archbishop. We might get another bishop from South Africa,” one of the priests said.
One of the reverends, who identified himself as Mathew, claimed that those at the church’s top echelons do not have the interest of the church at heart, but they are serving their own interests.
He further said the church should elect an Oshiwambo-speaking person as its bishop. He added, “If we elect a foreign bishop, when he goes for confirmation, the church will pay for his accommodation at guest houses. Let’s work together and elect a Namibian bishop.”
However, one of the contenders for the bishop’s position, Taara Shalyefu, said in a voice note, also posted in the group, the criteria are in line with canons 4 and 18, which were revised in 2019 at the provisional synod.
FEMALE BISHOP?
The Namibian is informed that the church only has one priest who has a bachelor’s degree in theology, but one of her male colleagues said the female bishop might not gain support as the “church is not ready to have a female bishop”.
The office vicar general Nicky Barth informed church wardens to submit names of candidates for the office of bishop in conformity with the provisions of the church canon.
It is also indicated in the correspondence that for a priest to be considered for election, they shall be at least 40 years of age.
Other requirements are that the nominee must have been ordained and in full time ministry for not less than 10 years.
Nominated priests are also required to have led a sound Christian spiritual and social life; must have a good reputation; be a person of integrity; and must have experience in pastoral ministry.
The nomination is expected to be sent to the chairperson of the advisory committee Mathew Nghihangwa before 4 March this year.
The church indicated that every nomination should have two seconders, who should provide supporting motivation for their nomination.
“The nominator should obtain the consent of the nominated candidate, which should be submitted in writing. The two supporters of the nomination must provide a supporting motivation each for the candidate they are supporting. Also note that if the nominated candidate is in full-time employment elsewhere, they must be prepared to resign and work full-time as bishop, if elected.”
THE HOPEFULS
The Namibian is informed that those who are interested in the position are Anglican St Thomas (Oshakati) priest Nangula Kathindi, Onangwe parish pastor Phillipus Hainane and their St Michael Ongwediva colleague Shalyefu, who is also the mayor of Ongwediva. However, none of the priests allegedly have this qualification.
Contacted for comment two weeks ago, Shalyefu confirmed that he wants to be bishop and several people have allegedly approached him telling him that they want to nominate him.
“I will still have to think about whether you need to be spiritually ready, and the Spirit hasn’t spoken to me. I will have an answer in March. My conscience tells me to participate,” he said.
Kathindi declined to comment on the matter, saying she is still waiting for nomination.
Anglican executive director Archford Musodza says the requirements are formulated according to the church canons.
He also says these requirements are not only applicable to Namibia, but also to Anglican dioceses of South Africa, Lesotho, Angola, Mozambique and Swaziland.
The bishop will replace bishop Luke Pato, who retired last December. Pato, a South African clergyman, was assigned to Namibia in 2016 as the Anglican bishop of Namibia .
This was after the death of bishop Nathaniel Nakwatumba in 2015. He was supposed to be in that position for three years, but in 2019, Anglican archbishop Thabo Makgoba extended his term by two years.
He was sent to prepare the church for the election of a new Namibian bishop.
However, such elections never took place and the bishop allegedly took the position for himself.
Several pastors have since been involved in a power struggle with Pato, with some shown the door for questioning the bishop’s legitimacy.
This led to one of the church priests Lukas Katenda forming his Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of Namibia (REACH-NA).
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