Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane is asked to help

FOR the first time in three weeks, St Matthew's Church members from Brits in North West worshipped in a church when they visited the St Alban's Cathedral in Pretoria yesterday.

Last week the St Matthew's parish worshipped in a vacant store in Platinum Mall in Brits. Two weeks ago they held a service in their pastor's living room.

This came after their church was sold by the diocese to a pre-school - allegedly without their knowledge.

They were instructed by the diocese to worship at St Margaret in Oukasie or St Jude in Hartebeespoort. They refused to go to Oukasie since the church has no building and is renting a hall from the local Roman Catholic Church.

Their church was allegedly closed because of their small membership.

Church warden Portia Motsepe said: "It feels good to worship with other people in a real church."

The congregation is also reluctant to worship at other venues as their preacher's (Father Ken Thompson) mother's ashes were strewn there earlier this year.

Thompson's wife Alta said: "If we knew they were going to sell the church we would never have strewn her ashes there. We would have taken it to her husband's grave."

She said another couples' ashes were also strewn on the rose bushes.

But the St Alban's parish is not without its problems.

Before yesterday's service, there was uncertainty on whether worshipping would happen at the cathedral. This after Bishop Johannes Seoka sent out a letter saying he was the only one allowed to decide who mounts the pulpit.

The congregation took him to court last week after he suspended church activity after he was accused of taking R500,000 from the church coffers and paying his bond. with it. He also allegedly took money to fight a church dean.

The court ruled that lay ministers should lead the church during mediation. The priest then sent out letters that he was the only one who could give access to microphones.

Church wardens said: "We are going to send him letters to withdraw that. He cannot dictate who can preach. There is a court agreement."

After the service Sibusiso Mnguni read a letter from church administrator saying: "Please be advised that no further information of any nature regarding the financial control of the parish account will be made available to any person at the cathedral ..."

The church has 30 days to seek mediation and Mnguni told congregants that they had asked Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane to help with the processes.

Last week Seoka said church members were acting in an unChristian manner by talking to him through the courts.