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| The new presiding bishop of Methodist Church in Kenya, Bishop Isaiah Deye |
The Methodist Church in Kenya has chosen a new leader to bring an end to recent turmoil and divisions within the congregation. On July 20, during the 58th Annual Conference of the Church in Nairobi, Isaiah Deye, aged 61, was elected as the new presiding bishop, replacing Joseph Ntombura, who had been accused of mishandling church funds.
The election of Bishop Deye has raised hopes among church members that the threats of schism and internal conflicts will finally be resolved. In his acceptance speech on Friday, Bishop Deye expressed his humility and honor at being chosen for this significant role. He pledged to lead by example, serving the congregation rather than seeking personal gain, and aspiring to be a role model for all the clergy and laity.
Bishop Deye had been serving in an acting capacity since April when the former Presiding Bishop, Joseph Ntombura, was removed from office due to allegations of financial mismanagement. These allegations had caused significant strife within the church, leading to tensions between Bishop Ntombura and other church leaders. The situation had become so dire that some Methodist churches across the country were contemplating breaking away to form their autonomous conference.
The election saw Bishop Deye receive 76 percent of the vote, earning 281 out of 366 ballots cast. Among his competitors, Catherine Mutua received 35 votes, making Bishop Deye's victory a decisive one. Notably, he is only the second presiding bishop from the country's coastal region, with most church leaders historically coming from Meru, a region in Eastern Kenya.
In his vision for the church's future, Bishop Deye expressed a desire to promote Christian love and service while urging the church to unite behind him. He emphasized the importance of harmony within the congregation to achieve lasting unity.
One of Bishop Deye's initial steps towards reconciliation was to welcome back to the church clergy and members who had been ex-communicated or had left due to disagreements with the former presiding bishop. This gesture aimed to heal past wounds and mend the broken relationships within the community.
The Methodist Church in Kenya has a rich history, with roots established by the British Methodist Church in 1862. In 1967, four years after Kenya gained independence from the United Kingdom, the church became independent and adopted the name "Methodist Church of Kenya." Over the years, it has grown to encompass eight synods, each headed by a bishop, 205 ministers, and 1,000 congregations. The Methodist community in Kenya boasts an impressive 300,000 registered members, with an additional 800,000 people affiliated with the broader Methodist community. The church supports various educational institutions, hospitals, and vocational schools, demonstrating its commitment to serving the community.
However, the church faced challenges in 2015 when Bishop Joseph Ntombura, just two years into his ten-year term, introduced changes to the constitution and implemented new rules. These actions resulted in the defrocking of more than 100 clergy, unauthorized sale of church properties, and the use of other assets as collateral for loans.
Now, with Bishop Isaiah Deye at the helm, the clergy and lay members of the Methodist Church in Kenya are hopeful for a fresh start. Former Bishop Paul Matumbi Muthuri believes that the church is on the brink of renewal and unity, as the recent election has paved the way for reconciliation among the brethren.
Mischek Kobia Michubu, a steward of the Kawangware Circuit in Nairobi, shares this optimism and anticipates that Bishop Deye's leadership will initiate a healing process, leading to the return of members who had left the church in the past decade.
With Bishop Deye's election, the Methodist Church in Kenya looks forward to a new era of unity, growth, and service, guided by Christian love and values.
