Evangelical Church Council demand Bishop’s resignation

March 7, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The Church Council and decision makers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan have presented a strongly-worded petition that demands the immediate resignation of Bishop Wilson Noah.

Sources disclosed that the Church Council also faults the Bishop for failing to visit the deaneries and parishes in greater Upper Nile, Bar el-Ghazal and in Equatoria region.

Because of failing to visit these areas, most of the churches closed and Christians have ran away and joined other denominations, said the petition.

Also contained in the petition, delivered to the Bishop over the weekend, are allegations of corruption and misuse of church properties. They claimed the embattled Bishop embezzled the money from land rented in the capital, Juba and that other properties such as the church generator went missing.

The petition further claimed Bishop Noah has been hesitant to work with the financial committee for proper accountability and transparency purposes.

The suspension and dismissal allegedly by Bishop Noah of priests without following formal church procedures is also mentioned in the same petition.

“Some donors of the church were deported out of South Sudan and others are stopped to visit South Sudan by the Bishop. Because of this, many donors of Evangelical Lutheran Church have resorted not to fund any project again the way it used to be before the death of late Bishop Andrew Mbugo,” further reads the petition from the Church Council.

Meanwhile, Bishop Noah confirmed obtaining the document, but said he would only respond to allegations made after carefully reading the Church Council’s petition.

(ST)