Enlightened Christian Gathering Finds Peace
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday June 10, 2019 13:47
The church has been entangled in leadership wars over control with some members creating a committee referred to as National Pastors Committee.
The outfit claimed to be the church’s substantive leadership in the country replacing the Executive Committee.Following the altercations, in March, Gaborone High Court Judge Abdool Khan ruled in favour of ECG in the matter.
The court temporarily interdicted Molefe Nkaro, Phillip Mogomotsi Matlala, Isaac Molapisi, Pearl Neelo Jone, Godknows Wateka, Thatayotlhe Noke, Lilian Mmoloki, Tolani Mbakhwa, Daniel Tico Mosala, Kelebogile Rodgers and Tebogo Noke from carrying any sermons under the name of the church.
They were further ordered not to refer to themselves as the church’s substantive committee.
But when the matter returned before Judge Khan recently, the parties agreed to cease hostilities against each other. The leadership also agreed to lift suspensions against the pastors and withdrew the case. The consent was made an order of the court.
As the parties consented to withdraw the application, it was also agreed that the National Pastors Committee formed on March 2019, consisting of the cited respondents be dissolved with immediate effective.
The executive committee of the church in Botswana elected on November 25, 2017 is the only recognised governing body to run national activities of the church until the next elective congress.
Furthermore, court lifted the ex-communication letter imposed on Pelotshweu Baeng and his wife Bathusi Baeng, with immediate effect.
The two remain bona fide ECG members and leaders in the structure of the church in Botswana.
“All suspended pastors are hereby reinstated and their suspensions are withdrawn. All suspended pastors shall return to their respective branches as per the January 2019 transfers and or redeployments with immediate effect,” reads the consent order in part.
The parties also agreed through the court order that all branches of the church should co-operate with efforts of the Executive Committee to complete all audits.
This in compliance with the laws of the country while pastors or any branch failing to comply in this regard shall be summoned for disciplinary hearing through relevant structures of the church.
Furthermore, the court directed that the leadership should ensure that all outstanding annual general meetings be held this year to comply with the laws of the country.
“Unlawful harassment, unlawful arrests and unlawful suspensions of stewards and members of ECG in Botswana should stop immediately and that Apostle Nkaro and Pastor Philip Matlala shall work together with the Executive Committee and the National Pastor to enforce implementation of this order. This is to achieve peace and unity in so far as restoration of order, peace, and order herein are concerned,” read the court order.
The parties also agreed that all monies collected from members of the church or deposited into any other bank account than that of the Central account or any monies received by the said interim committee shall be fully accounted for, by them for purposes of auditing and that pastors shall commit to refrain from the day to day management and operations of the church finances.