Followers of the Anglican Church in Mbeere South, who have been agitating to be split from the ACK Diocese of Mbeere will have to wait longer after the Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit told them to follow the right procedure as contained in the Church Constitution.
Archbishop Sapit who was addressing the faithful at ACK Cathedral Mbeere Diocese in Siakago on Thursday, indicated that the reasons given for the split do not meet the threshold for the split of Mbeere diocese.
“Consideration of financial stability of a diocese is crucial in determining whether it is ready for a split, for now Mbeere diocese is struggling to finish the ongoing cathedral,” he added.
However, the archbishop advised them if they still want to pursue the matter for redress they should do so through following the right process.
“They should follow write their proposal for the split of the diocese to the Mbeere Diocese synod which will then deliberate on the matter and if they vote for the idea it will then be brought to House of Bishops in Nairobi which deliberate on it further,” he advised.
He further said once the House of Bishops approved the proposal, they would then write their recommendations to standing committee of the Provincial Synod, which would then write to Commission for creation of new Dioceses and setting boundaries, which will come to the ground to assess viability of a new diocese.
He said the church follows the right order and is democratic, adding that as the Archbishop, he cannot make a decision for the split of the diocese. “We have a constitution, which guides on how affairs should be addressed,” he added.
The Archbishop however, noted those agitating for new diocese did not follow these steps but wrote to him directly for a new diocese.
He said the reason for his visit was to meet the faithful and address the matter and guide on the right process of agitating for a new diocese.
A section of Mbeere South ACK faithful have been protesting and agitating for the split of the diocese claiming they have been sidelined in service and development by the Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Moses Masamba who hailes from Mbeere North.
The Mbeere diocese was created 21 years ago from the Diocese of Embu which is being led by Rt. Rev. David Muriithi Ireri.
By Kimani Tirus
