ELCT priest responds to allegations

by Valentine Marc Nkwame and Happy Lazaro

The controversy that has been shrouding the town parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCT) since February has taken a new turn as the parish priest responded to some of the accusations against him and some of his colleagues.

The parish priest, Pastor Isaiah Solomon has issued official responses to the scandalous letter, whose copies were distributed on Sunday the 23^rd of February 2003.

Pastor Solomon denies to have embezzled Tsh. 3 million that was raised for the construction of Tumaini Theological University as alleged in the February letter, signed by one A. W. S.

The letter entitled, "Uozo" Usharika Mjini, (The rot in the town parish) also accused the pastor of misusing Church funds, including purchasing the parish’s vehicle at throw away price of Tsh.2 million.

Solomon admits to have bought the vehicle at that amount but argued that, the parish had purchased it at Tsh.2,876,514 in 1990 and that, its value had depreciated to Tsh.2 million shillings.

The pastor also refuted claims that one of the parish workers is practicing voodoo on the church’s premises.According to Pastor Solomon, the parish worker was not practicing witchcraft but instead, she was offering some "medicinal cures" to people suffering from burns and scalds.

As for the parish evangelist who was being accused of bhang smoking, alcoholism and embezzlement of funds, the pastor said, he had no idea of the matter , because even himself had found him working at the parish and has no background history of the evangelist.

Meanwhile, members of the ELCT town parish have called upon Bishop Thomas Laizer to step into the controversy and investigate these claims against the parish leaders.

A letter written and signed by one Filemon Kayani which was sent to the Arusha Times on the 11^th of March, wanted Bishop Laizer to issue an official statement on the matter.

On the other hand, the head of the Arusha Synod, Pastor Solomon Massangwa, said the parish resident choir "Kwaya Kuu Habari Njema" has been discovered not to have a hand in the controversy as speculated before.

Pastor Massangwa told Arusha Times that, during various meeting sessions between the Synod officials and the choir parish leaders, it became clear that, the two sides differed at some points.

However, according to the pastor, none of the choir members or officials admitted to have written or even having anything to do with the letter.

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Last modified: May 01, 2003.
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