The Redeemed Gospel Church in Embu East is on the verge of crisis after a reverend was allegedly suspended under unclear circumstances.
Reverend Martin Mugendi of Gikuuri RGC has reportedly been suspended for up to six months by the church hierarchy in the Mt Kenya South East region.
In the suspension letter dated May 14 and signed by Bishop Linus Murithi, as seen by the Star, the letter alleges that Rev Martin Mugendi failed to remit funds to the church's national treasury and disrespected seniors among issues.
"Pastor, your shortcomings as a minister of the gospel with the Redeemed Gospel Church are overwhelming, with notable issues being failure to remit funds as stipulated by the church rules under Article 22 sub article 22-5 & 22-6 of the church constitution," the letter reads in part.
"Failure to mobilise the church to support or contribute towards the just concluded International Power Conference and the retirement package for the national officials."
However, the suspended Martin Mugendi has denied the allegations and said the move is as result of personal interests from the current regime.
He alleges that the newly anointed bishop was on a revenge mission to reportedly weed out those who didn't support his appointment.
"Since Bishop Murithi took office we have had issues but and I urge him to concentrate on uniting everyone instead," he said.
While speaking to the Star, Bishop Murithi also said the decision was accelerated by Reverend Mugendi alleged uncalled behaviour of ignoring church overseers who had visited the Gikuuri Redeemed Gospel Church in Embu East.
He said it's normal for any given overseer to pay a courtesy visit to any church and get a chance to address the congregation a chance they were allegedly denied when they visited on Sunday, May 12.
"On Sunday, May 12, two of my junior area overseers and sub-regional overseer visited Gikuuri Redeemed Gospel Church and were denied a chance to address the faithful. The two were meant to inform the congregation of the good news of having new leadership and nothing more," he said.
On disrespecting the church overseers sent to his church, Mugendi said there was no prior information on their visit and he could not accommodate them in the tight church programme.
"I've been holding this church for the past seven years and I've never seen anything like that. I expected them to make prior arrangements and communicate before arrival," he said.
Mugendi has, however, been ordered to hand over church properties in accordance with the commitment form signed when joining the organisation.
