Daily Sun (July 27 2015) - IT’S A big church with more than 600 members.
But yesterday, none of the chairs were occupied as the congregation protested against their puffing pastor.
WALKING OUT OF THE SERVICE TO HAVE A SMOKE IS ONLY ONE OF HIS SINS!
“Reverend Tshidiso Sibi isn’t fit to be a pastor,” claimed Nomthandazo Mohlabane, a member of the Methodist Church in Dobsonville, Soweto, Gauteng.
“He’s just here for money. He doesn’t care about the spiritual wellbeing of his congregation.”
Two services are conducted every Sunday – one at 7am and the other at 9am. But yesterday, the worshippers lost out on their day of praising the Lord as protesting members blocked others from getting inside the church by locking the gate.
At about 9:30am, superintendent Moagi Sekhejane came and broke the lock with a bolt cutter. However, members still refused to go into the building and stood outside the premises.
Only a few worshippers eventually went inside.
“There won’t be a church service today until our grievances are addressed,” said angry church members.
Members allege the church owes the Council of Methodist Churches in Southern Africa about R155 000.
“We never owed a cent. But since he took over three years ago, we are in arrears,” claimed church member Phindi Gosani.
“He doesn’t attend to funeral services.
“He doesn’t visit the sick at their homes or in hospital. He stays away from us.”
She claimed the church leader was lazy and didn’t want to perform any of the church services.
“He doesn’t serve Holy Communion, but instead orders ordinary church members to do it,” she alleged.
“He sits outside to smoke during the church service, as if he’s not part of us.”
Daily Sun spoke to Reverend Sibi. He said he would not say anything, but would follow the church’s procedures to resolve grievances.
Superintendent Moagi Sekhejane told Daily Sun he was arranging a meeting for tomorrow with the pastor and the congregation.
“The church’s financial books have also been sent to the treasurer to investigate if the funds were misappropriated,” he said.
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