SDA Standoff: Faithful eject pastor in row over changes

Trouble is brewing in the local Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church after some members rejected plans to move them to new bishopric.

At least 28 churches in Nduru District, which is under South Kenya Conference, have refused to be moved to the newly created South Gusii Conference headquartered at Kenyenya.

The churches, mainly in South Mugirango Constituency, have vowed to remain in South Kenya, whose headquarters is in Kisii town.

And on Saturday, members of Esaka SDA church ejected Pastor Rex Ondari, who is in charge of Nduru District, after he announced plans to move them to a new district, Omobera.

This disrupted the service as irate faithful forced Ondari to cut short his speech as he was booed and jeered. Nduru District comprises 28 churches.

Faithful who kicked the pastor out of the church compound said they would not be forced to join a new conference against their wish.

“I have come here to preach the word of God and not fight with worshipers. If they are against moving to the new conference as proposed by the church leadership, I have no option but to leave and report to my bosses,” said Pastor Ondari.

Boikanga MCA Joseph Chweya, who attended the service, called for calm and asked the leadership of South Kenya Conference and South Gusii Conference to resolve the issue amicably to avoid causing divisions.

“I am calling on the SDAs top leadership to listen to what their members are saying and make a decision that would ensure there are no divisions and fights in the church so we can set a good example to the society,” said Mr Chweya.

Sam Manyara, a church elder, said regulations stated that they could not be forced to join a new bishopric against their wish and asked the leadership to respect their decision to remain in South Kenya.

"Members of our 28 churches wanted the leadership to allow us freedom to decide where they want to be," he said.