Feuding factions of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) today called for truce ending protracted wrangles after signing an accord in an effort to bring peace in the church.
Speaking in Nairobi the leaders who formed splinter groups within the church said that they were determined to end the differences and infighting by making various amendments to the church constitution.
The church chancellor Moses Kirima said that they will be led by Archbishop Julius Njoroge as the National Leader while Fredrick Wang’ombe will head the Finances and Samson Muthuri would take over the education and training.
They reconciled and pledged to work together through its newly created Church National Accord.
To avoid feuds in the Church again, Kirima four archdioceses namely Rift Valley, Nairobi, Eastern and Central have been created and the leadership decentralized.
“We have agreed that the present leadership must accommodate other leaders by having Archbishop Wang’ombe registered as trustees of AIPCA among others. He will also appoint two members to the Central board which will only recognize one arm of leadership,” said Kirima.
Njoroge noted that the splinter groups have been broken and instead a National Secretariat has been created to deal with issues and burning matters of the church. He also said that all the cases in court would be withdrawn by both groups.
“In pursuit of reconciliation and to reduce animosity among our people, there will be no two centers of leadership therefore only one central board committee comprising only of elected leaders. There is no more Njoroge’s and Wang’ombe’s people,” said Njoroge.
On his part, Kirima added that among the constitution changes to be discussed by the leaders is the issue of age where Pastors would be required to retire at the age of 65 while Archbishops would retire at 70 years and the National spiritual leader to retire at 70 years or after serving two-five year terms.
National spiritual leader Njoroge said that the decision to have him take over the church affairs was unanimously reached upon by all the leaders who were determined to end the feud.
“We have agreed that there is only one national leader and in a show of solidarity we will hold the next holy ceremony as one which I will lead,” he said.
The raw heightened after former Archbishop Amos Kabuthu was forced to hand over the mantle by the High Court leading to election of two spiritual leaders to head the church.
Retired Archbishop then handed over to Wang’ombe was elected by some of the Bishops while Njoroge was elected by a rival group early this year.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier this year intervened to end the woes while Deputy President William Ruto urged clerics to focus on uniting the Church when he attended the inauguration of Archbishop Julius Njoroge Gitau at Kasarani Stadium last month.
