The Kenya Methodist Church has ousted Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura Mwaine after he reportedly refused to stand down after serving for ten years.
A church delegation met Bishop Ntombura in his office and announced that it was time for him to step down. The Bishop was accused of declining to delegate authority to his successor.
During a news conference, Bishop Zablon Nthamburi verified that the previous presiding bishop, Joseph Ntumbura Mwaine,’s tenure would conclude on August 3, 2022.
Bishop Ntombura resigned on Saturday, and he is not allowed to access the ministries center until the conference standing committee calls him to take over.
The church took over its conference with immediate effect and has endorsed the Connexional Transition Ad-Hoc Committee (CTAC) to manage the office until a new presiding bishop is elected.
The removal of Bishop Ntombura has caused a stir within the church, but it is hoped that the new leadership will bring positive changes and help move the church forward.
“Today we have come to take over our conference with immediate effect. We have now actually taken office. We endorse the connexional transition ad-hoc committee (CTAC) to manage office until a new presiding Bishop is elected,” said Bishop Zablon Nthamburi.
“We will not allow him to enter the ministries centre until the time the conference standing committee will summon him to hand over,” added Nthamburi.
On March 26, 2023, Reverend Ntombura announced that he would be leaving his post as the leader of the Methodist Church this year.
This decision was made to prevent a split within the church that has been facing increased dissent over the extension of his 10-year term by two years.
Reverend Ntombura had been serving as the leader of the Methodist Church since 2012, and his original term was scheduled to end last year.
