By Noela EBOB BISONG
New leadership at the helm of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon PCC takes shape Monday, November 18. The outgoing Synod Clerk, Rev Miki Hans is tipped favourite to becoming the next Moderator of the religious body, after Saturday’s Synod committee nominations put him ahead of contender Rev Jongai Polycarp for the position of Moderator. Rev Miki is said to have secured 104 nominations against 51 for his rival. A third contender, Rev Numfor Godwin who did not secure a reasonable nomination was disqualified from the race.
For the position of Synod clerk, Rev. Ayuk Solomon Etta and Rev. Mokoko Simon Elive who secured 82 and 52 nominations respectively are contesting the post, while Rev Mokoko Thomas Mbue who had 16 nominations was dropped.
The elections which are taking place in a quiet but seemingly tensed atmosphere are hoped will redress months and even years of bad blood from various camps within the PCC.
Fonki fires parting shots at critics
During his last address to the Synod as Moderator of the PCC on Sunday, November 17, at the opening of the 67th Synod at PC Buea Town, outgoing PCC Moderator, Rt. Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba used the opportunity to give a parting shot at his critics.
In a message titled; Blessed Assurance, God is on Our Side, Rt. Rev. Fonki said, “If the Lord were not on our side, we would have given up to our enemies. He has given us the power to overcome our enemies and they have been torn apart from the inside. Our help is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth…We saw the power of the unrestricted God. The church of God is still alive and vibrant. Praise God, the church is indestructible.”
He said; “We are opposed by the people of the world who know nothing about the church. They have even gone to recruit Christians from other churches. If God were not on our side, the PCC would have been torn apart. You cannot bring down the roof of the PCC”, he alerted.
In a direct attack, Fonki said, “The church is not governed on social media. Let them call themselves House of Truth with deceitful people, they should continue granting press conferences and using all social media platforms. The church of Christ will never come to its knees before the people.
The church is rooted on God and cannot be uprooted by men”, he said.
The said ‘House of Truth’ mentioned by the outgoing Moderator, is a group of about 15 PCC Christians, said to be bona fide Presbyterians, (made up of former members of the Synod Exco, members of Board of Trustee, elders), who in a piece titled: “Call for overhaul of PCC electoral process, last October 2, outlined nine preoccupations and 10 recommendations, urging the Moderator, Rt Rev. Fonki to resign. The group says it stands to reform the PCC and reinstate its lost glory, which it holds the mandate of Rt. Rev. Fonki has contributed much in tarnishing the image of the PCC.
Remembered for a number of infrastructural development and for having managed the church through the COVID-19 pandemic, Rt. Rev. Fonki’s time at the helm of the PCC (10 years) nonetheless has been marked by a host of scandalous utterances, hate, divide, accusations and counter accusations, insults amongst other vices, orchestrated mainly on social media.
.Many await with fresh expectation what the new leadership will bring on the PCC table.