Pastor furious with CCN
A Pentecostal pastor has asked the Council of Churches of Namibia (CCN) to withdraw a comment made by its secretary general Ludwig Beukes, in which he called for Namibian authorities to at least set up some form of regulation for religious organisations.
Christian Democratic Party (CDP) secretary-general Festus Thomas, or Bishop Thomas as he is known to his congregants, told Namibian Sun it was not right for the CCN to support activities witnessed in Rwanda, where churches had been banned, and said Namibia had laws of its own to abide by.
“It is not in the interest of the CCN to side with what happened in Rwanda. They [Rwanda] have their own constitution and we have our own constitution. We are unhappy and we would like him to withdraw his comments,” said Thomas.
According to him, the statement made by Beukes had the potential to create harm within the broader Christian community and implored the CCN SG to withdraw his statements.
“CCN must focus on the religious matters of the churches that it represents. CCN must not interfere in Pentecostal matters. If there are burning issues, they must pursue us,” Thomas said.
He said if Pentecostal pastors are accused of wrongful behaviour, authorities would have to bring evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that these pastors had taken advantage of the masses in the execution of their duties.
According to him, there had been instances where the CDP had investigated claims where pastors from Pentecostal churches were accused of carrying out unsavoury activities, but these accusations were found not to be the truth.
Last week Beukes said there was a need for some sort of intervention, in light of what was happening in Rwanda, adding the constitution would need to be respected.
“If you do something like that here it will raise a lot of questions, but it looks like it is the same problem here. There is an exploitation of people by these so-called prosperity gospel organisations,” said Beukes.
According to him, the constitution provides Namibians with the right to association, leaving people free to choose their religious affiliations.
A unit within a ministry specifically dedicated to registering religious organisations would be a great benefit, Beukes said.
“I think government must have a unit where churches can be registered, in the ministry of home affairs for example, where there are basic requirements that they need to adhere to,” said Beukes.
According to him, many church organisations are registered as section 21 not-for-profit organisations with the ministry of trade.
As an alternative these churches must register as welfare organisations, Beukes said.
According to him, it was also convenient for heads of these organisations to use the umbrella term, 'church'.
This, he said, made it necessary for government to look into regulation. Beukes however cautioned there needs to be a broad consultative process, if church regulation was to be introduced.
“It is time for the church to look into regulation, but we would not want politicians to prescribe what churches will preach. Government must not prescribe to the church what to say,” said Beukes.
He also believes that prosperity churches are making more money than shebeens, because they are preying on the desperation of people.
Rwanda's government recently closed thousands of churches and dozens of mosques, as it seeks to assert more control over its vibrant religious community, whose sometimes makeshift operations, authorities say, have threatened the lives of followers.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame said he was shocked by the high number of churches in the small East African country. “700 churches in Kigali?” he said, when commenting on houses of worship in the nation's capital in March. “Are these boreholes (deep wells) that give people water? I don't think we have as many boreholes. Do we even have as many factories? This has been a mess!”
OGONE TLHAGE
Christian Democratic Party (CDP) secretary-general Festus Thomas, or Bishop Thomas as he is known to his congregants, told Namibian Sun it was not right for the CCN to support activities witnessed in Rwanda, where churches had been banned, and said Namibia had laws of its own to abide by.
“It is not in the interest of the CCN to side with what happened in Rwanda. They [Rwanda] have their own constitution and we have our own constitution. We are unhappy and we would like him to withdraw his comments,” said Thomas.
According to him, the statement made by Beukes had the potential to create harm within the broader Christian community and implored the CCN SG to withdraw his statements.
“CCN must focus on the religious matters of the churches that it represents. CCN must not interfere in Pentecostal matters. If there are burning issues, they must pursue us,” Thomas said.
He said if Pentecostal pastors are accused of wrongful behaviour, authorities would have to bring evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that these pastors had taken advantage of the masses in the execution of their duties.
According to him, there had been instances where the CDP had investigated claims where pastors from Pentecostal churches were accused of carrying out unsavoury activities, but these accusations were found not to be the truth.
Last week Beukes said there was a need for some sort of intervention, in light of what was happening in Rwanda, adding the constitution would need to be respected.
“If you do something like that here it will raise a lot of questions, but it looks like it is the same problem here. There is an exploitation of people by these so-called prosperity gospel organisations,” said Beukes.
According to him, the constitution provides Namibians with the right to association, leaving people free to choose their religious affiliations.
A unit within a ministry specifically dedicated to registering religious organisations would be a great benefit, Beukes said.
“I think government must have a unit where churches can be registered, in the ministry of home affairs for example, where there are basic requirements that they need to adhere to,” said Beukes.
According to him, many church organisations are registered as section 21 not-for-profit organisations with the ministry of trade.
As an alternative these churches must register as welfare organisations, Beukes said.
According to him, it was also convenient for heads of these organisations to use the umbrella term, 'church'.
This, he said, made it necessary for government to look into regulation. Beukes however cautioned there needs to be a broad consultative process, if church regulation was to be introduced.
“It is time for the church to look into regulation, but we would not want politicians to prescribe what churches will preach. Government must not prescribe to the church what to say,” said Beukes.
He also believes that prosperity churches are making more money than shebeens, because they are preying on the desperation of people.
Rwanda's government recently closed thousands of churches and dozens of mosques, as it seeks to assert more control over its vibrant religious community, whose sometimes makeshift operations, authorities say, have threatened the lives of followers.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame said he was shocked by the high number of churches in the small East African country. “700 churches in Kigali?” he said, when commenting on houses of worship in the nation's capital in March. “Are these boreholes (deep wells) that give people water? I don't think we have as many boreholes. Do we even have as many factories? This has been a mess!”
OGONE TLHAGE
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