Synod rejects campaign to split ACK Mbeere Diocese

ACK Mbeere Diocese Bishop Moses Masamba (centre) with members of the special synod that rejected splitting the diocese. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

Delegates have rejected a push to split the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Mbeere Diocese.

Delegates from the 62 parishes who met at the Siakago diocese headquarters ruled that the faction pushing for the split neither represented the rest of the congregation nor did the issues they raised.

They also resolved that the faction did not follow the church’s procedure in agitating for the split.

Each of the 62 parishes had sent three delegates - a priest and two lay leaders - to the crucial meeting.

The church’s lawyer, Wairimu Rugaita, and key leaders and professionals from the region attended.

Bishop Moses Masamba, who read a statement on behalf of the synod, said the allegations by some Christians that the church leadership favoured the north side of Mbeere diocese were false.

He said the church’s development projects and resources were equitably distributed in all the parishes.

“We resolved to forgive our brothers who have been pushing for a split and giving out wrong information. The diocese is celebrating 100 years since inception in 1919. It has grown and faced challenges, but has a way of solving them,” said Rev Masamba.

The synod further dismissed a campaign by the people advocating a split to boycott paying of quotas to the diocese.

Rev Masamba urged the congregation to continue paying the quota as it was a biblical requirement.

On claims that the church had demoted priests from some regions, Rev Masamba said that was a misunderstanding.

He explained that the affected pastors had been promoted to directors of boards and their titles changed from that of archdeacons.

He said the pro-slit faction has on several occasions, been invited to consultative forums to deliberate on the issues they had raised, but never turned up.

“We will invite them for another forum to discuss some of the issues they might still be having. We welcome any Christian with a vision for the diocese to come forward and share it with us in a procedural matter.