Newspaper Reports Unrest Among Adventists in Botswana
November 26, 2015: Secular news media in Botswana have reported considerable unhappiness among the pastors in the Adventist denomination’s South Botswana Conference. There are “fears” among members “that the issue is likely going to split the church,” reports Mmegi, a national newspaper.
The paper stated that seven pastors will be laid off for “underperformance” based on church member evaluation of their pastors, but were “not given the terms of reference for the evaluation” and were “not formally … informed.” As a result, “pastors are demanding [administrators] explain to them whether [the conference] has financial problems or not and how their performance is measured,” according to the newspaper.
There are local elders “who are against the exercise,” Mmegi was told by an Adventist source. “Some senior pastors have” told the conference president “that a better solution should be sought rather than … retrenchment.”
The Adventist conference “is marred by factions,” the source told the newspaper. Because a constituency meeting is coming up “some believe that the exercise is done … to take down those who are not in support of the current president.”
The source also told the newspaper that the process “is illegal,” although there is no indication of the basis for this statement, whether or not legal counsel has reviewed it. This opinion does hint at the possibility of the situation resulting in litigation.
Pastor Lesotho G. Mosarwe, the president of the South Botswana Conference, told Mmegi he is “not allowed to talk to the media regarding church issues,” according to the newspaper. Then, later sent a message stating “we will come back to you after consulting with our consultants on the matter.”
The conference consists of 80 congregations in seven districts of the relatively small African nation of Botswana. It has a membership of 18,688 among a total population of more than 600,000 with a total of 26 ministers. The growth rate for the conference has averaged about four percent per year for the last decade, more than twice that of the growth rate of the Adventist denomination in North America.
It looks to me like a lot of speculation with little knowledge of the facts.
I agree Gregory which is why I believe this is purely propaganda.
Sweeping all the politics and propaganda under the hut, I think the root of the problem lies with those who are considering litigation. That speaks volumes as to where their heart’s really lie?
“That speaks volumes as to where their heart’s really lie?”
Would you like to reply on what you heard in Volume #1?
All that divides us as a people comes from the Enemy of Souls.
Maybe we shoudl do that here in the west……many pastors would lose their jobs….
Dear beloved of the Lord.
Whilst all of us are free to express our points (opinions???), what is the input from the territory membership?
We had the issue of “Women’s ordination” finally discussed/shared openly, meaning we may have challenges but to quickly label either side when we may not have the true facts on the ground could be wrong. Labelling others with strong terms will not make us “one as the Father is one with Christ” even if they need to be helped to see Christ properly. What if it is true or what if there are other issues other than what the “world” has been given through the media?
Prayer for safeguard from the devil’s attacks in whatever manner is crucial at all times.
Sounds like a lot of speculation or cover up. Let’s wait and see what the area members have to say. And see what the “consultants” have to say. Which is sometimes code for let’s get our stories straight before we go to the press.
Or it is some type of attempt to keep it from the press. I don’t trust the admin/TW at all. So we will see what the end story is.