Methodist Church rocked by split after Ntombura rejected by synod

A section of Methodist leaders addresses the press outside Kileleshwa Police Station, Nairobi, after holding a protest against Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntambura. [Elvis Ogina Standard]

Bundi said he would not be fazed by attempts to remove him as synod head, after the Methodist Church Conference Office, the MCK governing arm, suspended him through a letter dated January 6, 2022.

In the letter seen by The Standard and signed by Administrative Bishop Richard Muguongo, Bundi was accused of being among leaders who want to break away from MCK's authority.

The bishop was also accused of being part of an "extraordinary Methodist members meeting held on August 21, 2022, chaired by former presiding bishop Dr Lawi Imathiu in Kaaga, where you were among the ministers that appended their signatures approving the formation of a Transitional Adhoc Connexional Committee that was to lead an illegal takeover of the Methodist government".

Bundi was asked to vacate office and hand over any belongings of the synod in his possession.

But the bishop said he was not going anywhere. "I will stay put and will not be removed as long as the church members are with me. We will spiritually fight tooth and nail to protect property that belongs to Nkubu synod."

He added: "We will stand autonomous. We do not want any interference by the conference".

Bishop Ntombura has accused former Methodist leaders of being behind those rebelling against his leadership.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the Methodist Church are very happy. This is the golden time of MCK since it was founded in 1862."

MCK, he added, "had done the greatest job of building and improving its existing churches."

Ntombura said worshippers who had remained faithful to the church were wealthier, including the ministers, and that the church had more educated people than before.

MCK's status, he said, was "very good" and "the young people were no longer running from church."