Methodist Church in Kenya recalls former defrocked members after court ruling

The Methodist Church in Kenya has recalled back their excommunicated members to continue worshipping with them after the court agreed to reinstate their rights following leadership wrangles that have been ongoing since 2021.

The acting Presiding Bishop Reverend Isaya Deye on Thursday, while briefing the public, expressed gratitude to the court for agreeing with the decision made by the Standing Committee of the Conference to reinstate the rights and privileges of the ministers and members. 

According to Bishop Deye, the court ruling delivered on June 12, 2023, barred the immediate former presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura from exercising any function claiming to be the presiding bishop of the Methodist church.

The court also ordered the recalling of defrocked members whose names had been published in a local daily in 2021.

 “The court upheld the rights of the defrocked ministers and excommunicated members whose names were published in the Daily Nation on December 17, 2021, to continue worshipping and participating in leadership in Methodist church,’’ Deye stated.

This had taken effect after a case filed in court against the former presiding Bishop lingered longer than expected.

The church now welcomes back any of the members who may have left due to dissatisfaction with the Church leadership then, assuring its members, partners and the government to amicably resolve all the issues experienced in the past.

Meanwhile, the church implores the ex-Bishop Ntombura to withdraw all the communications that he has been sending to various organizations and individuals claiming to be the presiding bishop of the Methodist church in Kenya.