No peace yet at ELCB
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday September 29, 2017 10:55
Efforts by ELCB to terminate and withdraw Segatlhe’s membership did not bear fruit because he is still practising as a pastor at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramotswa.
ELCB says Segatlhe is practising as a pastor and illegally staying in the church premises in Ramotswa, resulting in many years of a standoff between the ELCB and the Ramotswa congregation.
Segatlhe and his church had a fall out in 2010 after the ELCB council resolved to appoint one Reverend Kedibonye Botlhole in his position. Some sections of the divided Ramotswa congregation are in support of Segatlhe whilst others support the position taken by ELCB to remove Segatlhe. The factions do not share the same roof and hardly agree on any matters, Mmegi has learnt.
Segatlhe did not take the decision kindly and continued to practise as a pastor despite having lost a case in which he had first challenged his suspension in 2011. ELCB attorney, Tebogo Tladi urged the court to ignore responding papers filed by Segatlhe’s attorneys since they were filed on the day of argument.
However, Segatlhe through his attorney, Kgalalelo Monthe had urged the court to set aside the termination and ordination withdrawal by ELCB as contrary to the constitution.
He sought that, “The decision of the applicant in purporting to have terminated and/or withdrawn ordination of the respondent in the application of 14th October 2015, be set aside as contrary to the constitution and/or other constitutive documents of the applicant. The respondent be deemed to be a member of ELCB in good standing and a pastor in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of ELCB”.
He also want decentralisation, which was approved by the church council in May 24, 2008 be set aside.
In their withdrawal of his ordination and termination of his membership, Bishop Mothusi Letlhage said “In September 2010, you were called for discussion with the church council about your pastoral role at the Ramotswa congregation, but you refused to talk to the church council.
Furthermore, the church council had written several times to you but you failed to respond to any of the letters. It is also recalled that in the month of January 2011, you were suspended from pastoral work for a period of three years by the church council and you didn’t comply”.
The letter further states that the matter concerning his suspension was reported to the November 2011 synod, being the top most highest body of the church as per the church constitution, which confirmed the church council's decision to suspend him, but he did not comply with the order.
It also says that there had been mediation attempts to reconcile with the fired pastor and be given an opportunity to work in the church full time as a pastor at Ramotswa congregation, but he did not accept. Rather, he forged ahead with visits to other congregations where he preached heresy.
Letlhage said the church council discussed the matter and found that such actions of indiscipline disregarded and undermined the leadership of the church. “As from above, I considered very carefully your actions and find that you were disobedient to the leadership of the church, rules and regulations of the church. As a result I deem it fit and appropriate to withdraw your ordination as pastor and terminate your membership from ELCB accordingly as per article 4.6.2 and 13.2.7,” the letter states.