ELCRN has fallen
C.T. TIBOTH WRITES:
To fully understand the present times in our church, one needs to consult the past. The narrative of a young and vibrant leadership for ELCRN was sold to the unassuming and ignorant masses in 2019, when the hallmarks of ethnic considerations, to the contrary, were crystal clear.
In other words, competency, as a yardstick for a leader, played second fiddle all the way. It is therefore safe to say that the present chaos in our beloved church is a consequence thereof. The moment ethnicity took centre stage, all reasonable expectations of a substantive leader evaporated. What we witness today in ELCRN is a classic condemnation of the past!
Our beloved church is in tatters, strictly speaking. Leaders are unscrupulously feasting on the ignorance of the laity. So many have been successfully reduced and recruited to praise singers and automatic teller machines with no paper trail. They (laity) are the first in the line of duty, with misplaced courage, to defend leaders against what they wrongly perceive to be a war against our beloved ELCRN. The passionate opposition of the ordained (most) towards the idea of lay representation (non-ordained member organisation) therefore comes as no surprise, for they would want to keep the laity mentally captivated for as long as they can. It is going to end, though.
Soon, the people of God will liberate themselves from this mental slavery. This is an institution without a functional roadmap and financial management system, other than leaders acting as victims of unforeseen economic circumstances and begging for money from parishes and elsewhere. We are setup for failure with no substantive governance protocols, which underpin good governance, and therefore susceptible to massive debts and fraudulent activities.
It actually makes sense that we find ourselves in debts of a reported N$20 million plus, because we are yet to see and feel the youthful urgency, energy, and vibrancy in terms of strategic foresight and critical thinking required in these challenging times!
Audited Financial Report: The ELCRN hasn’t seen an audited financial report since the 2019 elective synod, which ironically coincided with the election of the current bishops. Not a single audited financial report has come from the young and vibrant leaders! They are now in the fifth (5th) year of their six-year term. The tragedy is that there is no one within the ELCRN structures to demand accountability from the bishop and his cohorts. Not even the High Synod, which is the highest decision-making body, has the ability to demand and enforce accountability.
Not a single pastor will demand a report from the head office. All they do at the synod is boo the lay delegates like hooligans and orchestrate unconstitutional moves to suppress the voices of the non-ordained. Again, there is not a single pastor to tell the parishes that they have no idea about the financial management of this church. Why should parishes make contributions to the ELCRN headquarters? Why must we support any fundraising intervention of the head office when they have passionately demonstrated a lack of accountability?
Strategic Plan: The stage was set for the new leadership in 2019. In addition to their final audited financial report, the old regime created a strategic plan. This roadmap, which essentially encompassed operational, financial, and human resources aspects of the church, was collaboratively deliberated on and embraced by all the circuits before being adopted by the High Synod.
Fast forward: this important tool is probably hidden in the deserted head office of the ELCRN. So, there was an instrument in place that allowed making short- and long-term plans in consideration of the risks and opportunities. Nothing was done, and again, there is simply no one to demand the implementation thereof.
The constitution compellingly directs for resolutions of the High Synod to be implemented. As it stands, the ELCRN does not have a clear vision, if any, for the future. The sooner we address this, the better. The ELCRN has fallen.
* Rubrieke, meningstukke, briewe en SMS’e deur lesers en meningvormers weerspieël nie noodwendig die siening van Republikein of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) nie. As mediahuis onderskryf NMH die etiese kode vir Namibiese media, soos toegepas deur die Media-ombudsman.
To fully understand the present times in our church, one needs to consult the past. The narrative of a young and vibrant leadership for ELCRN was sold to the unassuming and ignorant masses in 2019, when the hallmarks of ethnic considerations, to the contrary, were crystal clear.
In other words, competency, as a yardstick for a leader, played second fiddle all the way. It is therefore safe to say that the present chaos in our beloved church is a consequence thereof. The moment ethnicity took centre stage, all reasonable expectations of a substantive leader evaporated. What we witness today in ELCRN is a classic condemnation of the past!
Our beloved church is in tatters, strictly speaking. Leaders are unscrupulously feasting on the ignorance of the laity. So many have been successfully reduced and recruited to praise singers and automatic teller machines with no paper trail. They (laity) are the first in the line of duty, with misplaced courage, to defend leaders against what they wrongly perceive to be a war against our beloved ELCRN. The passionate opposition of the ordained (most) towards the idea of lay representation (non-ordained member organisation) therefore comes as no surprise, for they would want to keep the laity mentally captivated for as long as they can. It is going to end, though.
Soon, the people of God will liberate themselves from this mental slavery. This is an institution without a functional roadmap and financial management system, other than leaders acting as victims of unforeseen economic circumstances and begging for money from parishes and elsewhere. We are setup for failure with no substantive governance protocols, which underpin good governance, and therefore susceptible to massive debts and fraudulent activities.
It actually makes sense that we find ourselves in debts of a reported N$20 million plus, because we are yet to see and feel the youthful urgency, energy, and vibrancy in terms of strategic foresight and critical thinking required in these challenging times!
Audited Financial Report: The ELCRN hasn’t seen an audited financial report since the 2019 elective synod, which ironically coincided with the election of the current bishops. Not a single audited financial report has come from the young and vibrant leaders! They are now in the fifth (5th) year of their six-year term. The tragedy is that there is no one within the ELCRN structures to demand accountability from the bishop and his cohorts. Not even the High Synod, which is the highest decision-making body, has the ability to demand and enforce accountability.
Not a single pastor will demand a report from the head office. All they do at the synod is boo the lay delegates like hooligans and orchestrate unconstitutional moves to suppress the voices of the non-ordained. Again, there is not a single pastor to tell the parishes that they have no idea about the financial management of this church. Why should parishes make contributions to the ELCRN headquarters? Why must we support any fundraising intervention of the head office when they have passionately demonstrated a lack of accountability?
Strategic Plan: The stage was set for the new leadership in 2019. In addition to their final audited financial report, the old regime created a strategic plan. This roadmap, which essentially encompassed operational, financial, and human resources aspects of the church, was collaboratively deliberated on and embraced by all the circuits before being adopted by the High Synod.
Fast forward: this important tool is probably hidden in the deserted head office of the ELCRN. So, there was an instrument in place that allowed making short- and long-term plans in consideration of the risks and opportunities. Nothing was done, and again, there is simply no one to demand the implementation thereof.
The constitution compellingly directs for resolutions of the High Synod to be implemented. As it stands, the ELCRN does not have a clear vision, if any, for the future. The sooner we address this, the better. The ELCRN has fallen.
* Rubrieke, meningstukke, briewe en SMS’e deur lesers en meningvormers weerspieël nie noodwendig die siening van Republikein of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) nie. As mediahuis onderskryf NMH die etiese kode vir Namibiese media, soos toegepas deur die Media-ombudsman.
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