PC Bassa Christians want Rev. Ndip replaced else…
By Wilson Musa
The happenings on Sunday, October 30, 2022, followed months of protest by groups and members of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church, an industrial zone in Bassa, Douala.
On August 4, 2022, some 12 groups of PC Bassa, wrote a petition letter to the hierarchy of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, requesting that their Pastor, Reverend Ndip Philip Nkongho, be replaced immediately. He was accused of unilaterally determining the fate of the Church, stepping on toes by carrying out duties reserved for the Chairperson of the Congregation, and even attempting to replace the resigned Chairperson.
Reverend Ndip Philip Nkongho, has spent more than 8 years at PC Bassa, and Christians say this is enough reason for him to be replaced. They think that longevity has given him “wings to fly”
In this letter to the PCC hierarchy, the Christians had vowed to boycott any fundraising event under the current Pastor PCC group presidents demand the ousting of their pastor – Cameroon News Agency
Despite their threats, the situation remained tense with the Pastor still in active service. On Sunday, October 30, 2022, the Rev Ndip is said to have used the opportunity in a farewell service for a deceased Christian, to organize the harvest thanksgiving but Christians opposed this. They locked up the Church and as he struggled to prevent them from locking the door, he fell.
“Rev. Ndip hardly consults the session before carrying out activities and one day he clashed with the Chairman, Elder Eyong…they first had an open clash during a congregational meeting last year, and earlier this year, the Chairman resigned…this is someone who does not back down when he climbs the pulpit, he blasts Christians and the assigned chairman in his sermons, only the wise know that he is talking about them,” a Christian alleged.
CNA learned that the Moderator of the PCC sent a commission to maintain peace and install the Vice Chairman, but the congregation refused and said there will only be peace if the Pastor is replaced.
“Another issue is that he bypassed all protocol to command for Church Pews,” another Christian said.
Power tussle and longevity in service have become the new ground for Christian versus Pastor battles in the PCC. A recent one is that of PC Kumba where tension reached the point of the Senior Administrative Officer sealing the doors of the Church.
