NSHR meets church critics

THE leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) held talks with the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) at Oniipa on Friday, a source told The Namibian.

According to the source, the Elcin team was led by Bishops Johannes Sindano and Thomas Shivute, while the NSHR team was led by its Director, Phil ya Nangoloh. Although it is not clear what the meeting was about, it is believed that the two parties discussed a recent pastoral letter sent to Elcin members countrywide, in which the church attacked the NSHR.The Namibian has it on good authority that some Elcin pastors have refused to read theletter to their congregations.The letter, signed by Bishops Sindano and Shivute, as well as by Elcin General Secretary Eliakim Shaanika, accused the NSHR of threatening national peace and stability with its submission to the International Court of Justice.”Elcin strongly regards the action of the Namibian Society of Human Rights and other collaborators who want to take to the court the father of the nation, Dr Sam Nujoma, to be judged at the ICC, as unethical and unacceptable, because it causes harm to the self or to the Namibian society, and it is a threat to its peace and stability,” it says.”Elcin honors the Policy of Reconciliation as a complement to Christ’s living gospel of reconciliation,” the letter adds.The letter appealed to all Elcin members to show respect to their leaders, describing it as their Christian duty.Although it is not clear what the meeting was about, it is believed that the two parties discussed a recent pastoral letter sent to Elcin members countrywide, in which the church attacked the NSHR.The Namibian has it on good authority that some Elcin pastors have refused to read theletter to their congregations.The letter, signed by Bishops Sindano and Shivute, as well as by Elcin General Secretary Eliakim Shaanika, accused the NSHR of threatening national peace and stability with its submission to the International Court of Justice.”Elcin strongly regards the action of the Namibian Society of Human Rights and other collaborators who want to take to the court the father of the nation, Dr Sam Nujoma, to be judged at the ICC, as unethical and unacceptable, because it causes harm to the self or to the Namibian society, and it is a threat to its peace and stability,” it says.”Elcin honors the Policy of Reconciliation as a complement to Christ’s living gospel of reconciliation,” the letter adds.The letter appealed to all Elcin members to show respect to their leaders, describing it as their Christian duty.

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