Mombasa Synod breaks away from Methodist Conference, cites leadership discontent

Church leaders, ministers, and stakeholders in the synod expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Methodist Conference and issued a series of resolutions outlining their future actions.

The resolutions were signed by Bishop Joshua Mithika, Mombasa Synod Treasurer David Kaburia, and Mombasa Synod Secretary Rev. Patrick Kimuu.

“We have detached and distanced ourselves from the Methodist conference up to and until when our issues are addressed,” the statement read.

The synod declared it would no longer remit any funds to the conference or participate in any of its activities.

"We shall not remit any funds to the conference nor participate in any conference activities or meeting whatsoever," the statement declared. 

The synod also stated that it would not accept any new ministers from the conference and would instead make its own appointments. “We shall not receive any new minister into our circuits or allow anyone to go. On an unlikely event of a vacancy, we shall employ our own and NOT from the conference office,” the leaders affirmed.

The synod also made it clear that it would not engage with the Church Relations Committee (CRC), calling it an “illegal entity.” 

The Mombasa Synod further announced that it no longer recognizes Rev. Isaya Deye as the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church in Kenya, stating, “We no longer regard or recognize Rev. Isaya Deye as our Presiding Bishop and we therefore shall not take any instruction from him.”

Bishop Mithika emphasized that the synod’s actions were taken to address what they view as an unsatisfactory leadership structure, which they hope will be resolved in time.