Okahao parish breaks away from ELCIN

OKAHAOPLACIDO HILUKILWAThe Okahao parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) has for all practical purposes seceded from the church and has become an independent entity.It is alleged that ever since Reverend Hulda Shau-Haitana refused to be transferred to Okambebe earlier this year, the Okahao parish has become a no-go area for senior church leaders.The head of the western diocese Bishop Josephat Shanghala visited Okahao earlier this year, but was allegedly denied access to the parish office and when he tried to address the congregation the majority of the parishioners staged a walkout.In another incident, the diocesan executive secretary Reverend Paulus Heita, and Reverend Maria Shiweva, who is the dean of the district under which Okahao falls, visited the parish but they were told that they were not welcome.This damning information was revealed this week by a faction that has been campaigning for the full implementation of a church resolution transferring Reverend Shau-Haitana from Okahao, Omusati Region, to Okambebe in the Ohangwena Region.The cleric has ignored the church resolution, causing a major split in the Okahao congregation.Another faction dismissed the resolution as the victimisation of a female cleric. They staged a demonstration demanding the suspension of Shanghala, whom they accused of having an autocratic leadership style.However, the pro-transfer faction continues with its demand that Shau-Haitana unconditionally abide by the resolution that transferred her to Okambebe.&quot;A legitimate church resolution has transferred Reverend Shau-Haitana to Okambebe effective from January this year. Her continued presence at Okahao is an illegality, a sign that the parish has practically seceded from Elcin,&quot; a spokesman for the pro-transfer faction, Elia Shilumbu, said.The faction cited several incidents where senior Elcin leaders visited the Okahao parish, but were given the cold shoulder and denied access to parishioners.They also accused presiding bishop and head of the eastern diocese, Dr Shekutaamba Nambala of using a faction to conduct a proxy war against Shanghala.&quot;Presiding bishop Nambala has let us down. He is encouraging disobedience in the Western Diocese, while at the same time punishing disobedient clerics in his own eastern diocese. That is hypocrisy of the highest order.&quot; said Andreas Anguuwo, a member of the pro-transfer faction.Another faction member, Josia Haipinge, alleged widespread irregularities at Okahao, including a former parish pastor who allegedly misappropriated N$50 000 in church monies. It was also alleged that church land was secretly sold to the Okahao Town Council, but the congregation has been kept in the dark to this very day.It was also alleged that the beneficiaries of the illegal dealings are the ones opposing the transfer of the current pastor, because they fear that that would leave them exposed.A committee that was appointed to investigate the Okahao squabbles stated in its report that the Okahao parish finances are in a mess and also recommended the removal of Shau-Haitana as the only way to reconcile the congregation.Heita refused to comment on the findings.Elcin's secretary-general, Reverend Alpo Enkono, earlier refused to comment on the allegations levelled against the top leadership of Elcin, saying that any accusations or counter-accusations at this stage would only damage the reconciliation process that is already underway.But the pro-transfer faction was adamant that any talk of reconciliation must be preceded by the recommended removal of Shau-Haitana from Okahao.&quot;As things now stand, the so-called reconciliation appears to be mere delaying tactics to prolong the unacceptable situation in Okahao,&quot; they said.They also alleged that they are being victimised, presenting as evidence Cecilia Shetunyenga who lost her position in the Okahao parish council and Elia Shilumbu whose job as the parish cleaner was summarily terminated, because both support the diocesan decision to remove Shau-Haitana.

Okahao parish breaks away from ELCIN

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

Okahao parish breaks away from ELCIN

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

Login