-Faithful demand financial transparency, accountability and formal legal compliance
-Suspension of all illegal transactions of church funds
By Innocent Fowung
(UK Correspondent)
The Coordinator of Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC United Kingdom (UK) and the EU Diaspora, Rev Dr. Amos Chewachong, has maintained silence despite demand by church members across different parts of the country, following serious concerns plaguing the church. With Christians’ real concerns of how church money has been spent over a long period of time with no accountability and demanding from their pastor to answer these issues, instead the ‘man of God’ has “resorted in intimidation, bully and sending threats to Christians, including the Press”.
One of the Christians said, “maintaining silence raises more dust”. Another Christian said, “the same concerns are coming from other parts of Europe, particularly the Scandinavian countries (Finland, Denmark and Sweden)”. PCC UK is facing the test of time, as Christians are deeply concerned that “PCC has been operating for more than seven years, neither a Charity nor Registered Limited Company. We may be operating illegally over the years in the UK”, one of the Christians told The SUN.
A brief search from GOV.UK website regarding the Legal Structure of Churches in England and Wales, reveal that “to be recognised as a practicing Church in England and Wales, a building must be registered as a place of worship, meet certain criteria related to its religious purpose and provide public benefits. The process involves certification under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 and demonstrating that the churches’ activities are for the public benefit”.
Someone asked why the church needs financial accountability? The church like many other organisations, need to protect its assets from pilferage by their church leaders (pastors or administrators) with sticky fingers in the till. In the case of PCC UK, Christians have requested for utter transparency of all church financial transactions through an independent auditor. Even the late Pope Francis had complained about the evil and malign influence of “clericalism” in church.
The SUN Newspaper gathered that PCC UK is currently divided in camps, as there are those that support pastor in his wrong doings while ‘genuine ‘Christians stand for the truth. Whichever camp a Christian belongs to, or those moved by emotions because of personal friendship, the truth is that financial accountability of the church is very vital, since money support ministry and fuels outreach. When church finances are managed wisely, it empowers growth, deepen community impact and reinforces transparency. The lack of financial accountability often leads to difficult conversation and strain among church members.
One of the Christians said, “all what we are asking from our Coordinator is to reassure us that our church finances are used responsibly through accountability and transparency. No one has said that Rev Chewachong has put money into his personal account, but all we need is accountability and transparency. That is why Christians are reluctant to give money anymore to the church because there is no accountability, until every penny raised through Personal Donations, Harvest-Thanksgiving has been accounted for”.
What does the Bible say regarding financial health; Luke 16:10 reminds us, “whoever is faithful with Little, will also be faithful with Much.” This is a simple but powerful Truth. When Christians see their church practicing what it preaches about financial wisdom, they are more likely to trust leadership and continue to support the mission. It is worth noting that managing church finances well, foster trust, ensures transparency and makes giving as easy as possible for its Congregation.
The SUN Newspaper gathered that some Christians who have personal relationship with the coordinator, have tried to advise him on one-to-one regarding these issues, but “he brushes them aside and sees them as rebels”. Sango Michael Awanaya of the Birmingham Care-taker committee (Carecom) said, “if someone is closed to you and sees you doing the wrong thing and does not tell you the truth, that person is not a good person”. “The truth will always prevail”, he concluded.
As Christians continue to lament and contemplate on what to do, the Northampton, Birmingham and Derby Carecoms quickly seized the opportunity when the Pastor wrote a letter to the congregation titled: “From the Pastor’s Heart: Vision, commitment, and Unity”. The Northampton, Birmingham and Derby Caretaker Committees (Carecoms) decided to respond to the pastor’s letter.
-Response from Northampton Carecom:
Speaking on behalf of the Northampton congregation, the following made up the elected Care-taker-committee: Na Joyce A, Dr F Ngole-Masango, Na Alida W, Bro Anthony N, Na Linda W, Na Nagele T, and Bro Anye M. In response to the pastors’ letter, they seized the opportunity to express their deep concerns about the worrying issues affecting not only their spirituality growth but also their inability to continue supporting the church without any financial accountability.
Their letter began by reminding the pastor about his recent meeting with leaders of newly formed Carecoms that met in April 2025. “This was instigated by the delegate meeting coming up in June 2025 rather than Ecclesiastic Service to the Church. It was purely because of financial obligations the Pastor wanted to reiterate, so that leaders can pay in money into the account of an individual even though the church is not a legally registered organisation”. During that leadership meeting, issues of formal registration of all the prayer cells in England were raised and the pastor was reminded that all the money collected by the prayer cells, will be tailored to their formal registration. This is so as we are all operating as legal entities in the eyes of UK Law, regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales”.
Another key point raised was the illegal operation of PCC, and the pastor was reminded that, “PCC Midlands and Scotland has been operating illegally in the eyes of the Law in the UK for years, and this cannot continue. We are neither registered with Company House as a Limited Company nor registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as a Charity, yet have been generating unaccounted funds with no taxes paid or legal exemptions. Any money that has been sent abroad over the years is international money laundering. As Northampton Carecom, we are distancing ourselves from such illegal practices”.
A proposal/recommendation to the pastor says: “We strongly urge a Formal Registration of all Prayer Cells be prioritised and that all individuals using their private bank accounts to facilitate monetary transaction, should cease immediately”.
The Carecom frowned at the pastor’s ‘Tone and Threats to withdraw Pastoral Care’, Northampton Carecom reminded him of the tone used in his letter as discouraging, “a form of spiritual bullying, which is emotionally abusive. You cannot bully people to give you their money, as you did not pay into their coffers, nor did the Central Church”.
Regarding Financial Contributions and Legal Accountability, the Northampton Carecom expressed their deep concern on how the church funds are managed. As a concern to the Coordinator, “it is sad to think that the distance between Scotland and Northampton geographically is shorter than between Scotland and Germany, Dubai, etc, where you have paid physical pastoral visits. It makes us question motives and financial attractions”.
According to Northampton Carecom, during the April Meeting with all Carecoms, issues of financial accountability were raised. The letter cited that in the past, PCC Midlands and Scotland had agreed that £5000 will be kept aside yearly as untouched reserves. There has been no financial accountability in the church for years. This has been brushed under the carpet. From 2019 to 2023, Harvest Thanksgiving raised each year was £10.000, and they are calling for an independent audit committee to audit PCC account for Midlands and Scotland from 2019.
Northampton Carecom threatened that if action is not taken, “we will distant ourselves from such illegal practices by making contact to the Charity Commission and formalise our registration”. They further stated that if action is not taken, “we will not hesitate to speak to the Superintendent of Methodist Church about these corrupt practices and the threats received from PCC. We will not engage in any financial transaction to the Central Church as we firmly uphold spiritual accountability and abide with the laws”. In their conclusion, they said, “Northampton Carecom responded to the pastor’s letter with the best interest of the church at heart and spiritual growth, uphold core Christian values of truth, accountability, integrity, respect of the rule of law and commitment to the Cross of Christ.
Response from Birmingham Carecom:
Similarly, Birmingham Carecom, in response to the letter received from the pastor dated 01/06/2025, condemned the tone he used. Speaking to one of the Carecom members, Dr Humphrey Sabi, he disclosed, that “the tone used in the letter was unexpected from a Pastor to his Christians. This includes other issues that have been going on since the Moderator dissolved all the structures and asked that we go back to form cells. His letter was not appealing to his people. We are all humans, no matter how big or how small someone is, we all are created by God. Being in position or no position in this life means nothing because God created everybody with love”.
Dr Sabi talked about the historical formation of the PCC UK, using an idiomatic expression: “If you pick an apple on the ground, you need to look up and see where it has fallen from. You do not just pick the apple and then walk away without seeing where it came from”. “We needed to point out to the Coordinator of PCC UK, Europe and Diaspora, that there are people who started this journey before he came. We who were in the church never knew how the appointment came about. We just saw him appear with a letter, being appointed by the previous Moderator, Rt Rev Fonki to oversee PCC UK and Europe.
It should be recalled that PCC UK started with the Women Movement led by Na Juliet Kisob who is now Reverend Juliet Kisob with the Methodist Church. She left to fellowship with the sister Methodist church due to the way things were going at the time. Mr Awanaya added that the Coordinator has never acknowledged the pioneer people who started PCC UK. He does not discuss with his people in the UK but consults Buea. He has no regards for his people but focuses more on his PhD. He appoints people without any consultation and even stated that “when you are not happy with his leadership in PCC church, you should leave. The church is not his, he is part-timer with PCC UK, living in Scotland. And if anyone must leave, it should be him the pastor”, Mr Awanaya told The SUN Newspaper.
One of the Christians in Derby congregation stated that the church in the UK now is dirty and so does not want to belong anymore. The only time this Christian will join is when the current Coordinator is no longer there”. The Christian concluded by saying that “I see the church as a place of worship, but some people see it as a place to show power, or to ‘chop’ like the CPDM in Cameroon. PCC UK was built by the Christians themselves and not by PCC Cameroon. The Christians created the environment to worship, only for them to be imposed without any consultation with a new leadership of a coordinator, which is totally wrong! People started taking steps back because the administration has not recognised the work of those who started PCC UK”, Dr Sabi told The SUN Newspaper.
Christians have criticised the coordinator’s approach of leadership, which is “more focused on appeasing his master that appointed him rather than serving the Christians that needs service”. The SUN Newspaper was told that those who started the church included Rev Sakwe, Na Juliet Kisob, Sango Hans Njoh and Ba Michael Awanaya who built it with the Christians, and it was working very well.
The Birmingham Carecom is not pleased with the current leadership regarding poor management of finances and transparency. “At times, the Pastor might just request money from the treasurer with no clear justification of what the money is meant for. If you want to question it, you are looked upon as questioning the authority or seen as a rebel”. One of the Christians stated that, “you can not take money to go somewhere that there is another person with equal status and can do what you want to do. “He looks down on his fellow colleagues and refer to fully ordained pastors, such Rev Felix Dim (PG Researcher), as Associate Pastor”. Some of these pastors have created congregations, but Rev Amos Chewachong has not, since his arrival in the UK”.
-Extract of Pastor’s response to The SUN Newspaper
Regarding the above Report, The SUN Newspaper – UK Representative, requested a Press Interview with The Coordinator – Rev. Dr. Amos Chewachong on 08/06/25. No response was received. A follow-up call was made on 11/07/2025 and the Pastor refused to agree for a date to be interviewed, instead he was ranting, threatening, and hung the phone.
On the 07/07/2025, Rev. Amos Chewachong sent a Formal Response to The SUN Newspaper Correspondent (UK) titled – “Re: Your Request For Interview and Unethical Publication”. The Pastor stated, “I acknowledge your WhatsApp text requesting a Press Interview concerning allegations reportedly made by some Prayer Cells within the PCC UK community”.
“I choose not to respond at the time because I fail to see how internal matters of the PCC, an established and autonomous denomination are of any legitimate concerns to you, especially given your affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church”. “I asked you plainly: would you have the audacity to publish such pieces about a Roman Catholic Priest without the Churches’ approval or evidence? Despite my silence, you proceeded to write about me in The SUN Newspaper, recklessly introducing allegations of which you possess, at best, limited and partial knowledge. Let me be clear, I will NEVER grant you an interview. If you publish anything else about me, particularly with defamatory intent or lacking substantiated proof, I will initiate legal proceedings in both the UK and Cameroon for defamation and harassment. Clearly, your intension is not balanced journalism but character assassination. Let this letter serve as your final notice”.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr Amos Chewachong (PhD),
Coordinator, PCC Diaspora Europe/The Gulf Missionary Area.