The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) says it will hold its election for a new bishop at all parishes on 24 August.
This comes after the initial elections, scheduled for 10 August, were postponed due to alleged irregularities in the nomination process and concerns of ballot tampering and voter manipulation.
The current bishop, Sageus Keib, is running for the position again.
ELCRN Nomination and Electoral Commission (NEC) chairperson Andreas Katangolo announced this in a recent letter seen by The Namibian.
Katangolo said the church synod will endorse the candidate with the highest number of nominations from the parishes for the office of bishop, and the candidate with the second-highest number of nominations as the deputy bishop.
As a bona fide ELCRN, he urged members to inform their fellow registered congregants to come in large numbers to exercise their right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
He said the NEC has further granted an extension for the registration and nomination process of the parish/congregation council and parish/congregation finance committee, which was necessitated by a request from all stakeholders.
This extension, he said, is granted until 24 August.
The term of the current parish/congregation council and the current parish/congregation finance committee will only expire once the newly elected committee are inducted, he added.
“You are requested to make full use of this opportunity to motivate and encourage members to participate in this exercise of cardinal importance to your parish,” said Katangolo.
However, Non-ordained Members Organisation board executive Seth Gaeb has expressed dismay over the decision to carry on with elections while their concerns have not been addressed.
“We were never consulted on this decision, nor were our concerns addressed. This u-turn is of great concern,” he says.
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