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PHILIP BARRETT AFTER a pause in popular protest during the first year of the pandemic, people are returning to the streets.

THREE Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) priests are under fire after a video clip of them seemingly burning papers on which people's problems were written in church last Saturday surfaced on social media.

The pastors are police chaplain Hafeni Mwaningange, Aina Sheefeni of Elcin's Ongwediva Parish, and Christof Mbongo of the Euvathano parish. The three priests allegedly held a church service at the church's Ongwediva parish with more than 100 people from different churches. Some Elcin priests condemned the burning of paper in the church, saying it is not allowed, and is a “new teaching.” The trio, however, defended their actions, saying they burnt pieces of paper to symbolise 'trauma healing'. Those who attended the service were allegedly told to write down the challenges and social problems they are faced with. The pieces of paper were then collected and burnt inside the church by the pastors, while wearing their red-and-white gowns. In a 22 second-long video clip, Mwaningange is seen burning the papers, while a small cross is seen next to the flames. Contacted for comment, Mwaningange said the burning of paper is not new, and is not about false teachings. “I did this many times in church. It's not new, it is only new to those who saw it for the first time,” he said. “We did not talk about salvation. We burnt the pieces of paper for confidentiality, because we did not want anyone to read what was written on them,” he said. He said what he and his two colleagues did was counselling, as Elcin does not have its own social workers. “We did nothing wrong. Those who are saying we have breached the church's doctrine are wrong. They are entitled to their own opinions, but they are accusing us. We did not do what we did for salvation,” he said. Mbongo said he has burnt pieces of paper in church before and that there is nothing sinister about it. Elcin pastor Joseph Shikuma this week described the issue as involving “anti-Christ, false doctrine, shameful acts and unconstitutional tendencies”. “Since Elcin doesn't have a single bishop, these heresies are likely to happen every day and likely to repeat itself (sic). I'm expecting the western diocese to pronounce itself on the matter as a matter of urgency, or give us the benefit of the doubt and be on mute,” he said. “Burning papers as a sign of problem solving is not our dogma, nor our Lutheran theology. We do deceive people, our members, that's your false personal convictions. Those are the perceptions of witch doctors you are practising in the holy church building.” Sheefeni could not be reached for comment. However, in a voice note sent to The Namibian, she said: “It was done to mean that what they wrote on their pieces of paper has not been seen by anyone and that no one will see it.” She cautioned fellow priests against criticising “things they do not understand”. Elcin general secretary Alpo Enkono could not be reached for comment yesterday.

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