Pastors' petition to regulate Bible Studies divides House

A petition lodged at the National Assembly to regulate the proliferation of theological institutions and Bible schools has left the House ideologically split.

A section of lawmakers has backed the petition premised on their fear of religious extremism taking over the country, while another has warned that such regulation would be  impossible” as this was like crafting a theological curriculum for all the churches.

The petition filed by Pentecostal churches seeks to regulate proliferation of theological colleges in the country through the enactment of legislation.

Reverend Josiah Njiru, chairman of the Association of Pentecostal Vocational Training Institutions of Kenya, in the petition argues that in recent years there has been a a proliferation of theological colleges, Bible schools, and online ministry training platforms, especially those affiliated to Pentecostal, charismatic and indigenous movements, many of which operate without an episcopal order.

“While this growth has enhanced access to theological education, it has also led to challenges. Absence of a standardized curriculum, questionable accreditation of some institutions, emergence of diploma mills in quotes and unverified degrees, doctrinal confusion and pastoral unpreparedness and disparities in ministerial competence across denominations,” reads the petition in part.

Njiru also raises concerns that the lack of a recognized regulatory framework tailored to theological education has implications for credibility, quality as assurance and the integrity of ministry within the church community. He notes that existing statutes such as the TVET act, the Universities Act and the Kenya National Qualifications Framework Act primarily do not cater for the unique character of sacred and spiritual training.

“The petitioner prays that the house consider enacting a law to allow the Pentecostal and evangelical religious sector to establish a self-regulatory authority to manage theological education. Such an authority will accredit theological institutions and programs recognize prior learning RPL protecting those already serving in ministry and preserving doctrinal integrity among its following,” stated sessional Speaker and Gilgil MP Martha Wangari during her communication to the House on Thursday.

“I hereby commit the petition to the public petitions committee. The committee is required to consider the petition and report its findings to the house and to the petitioner in accordance with the standing orders,” she added.

This was however followed by disquiet from members.

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo, while agreeing that the petition raises pertinent issues, said it was baffling that such a petition could be presented in parliament.

“For a start, honorable speaker, the religious community has been against any form of regulation for very good reason because they want to be allowed to express and submit their views and doctrine to their followers unchallenged and I mean without any drawbacks. And now we get baffled if they even want to regulate how they teach, how they train, how they do what whatever they do, it is very interesting,” he said.  

“…as much as there's that freedom of expression as much as there's right to petition, I truly believe this petition could end up being a waste of public time and public resources.”  

Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro threw the ball back to the religious organisations, emphasizing on the need to allow the religious bodies have their own self regulation through interdenominational structures.

“I mean, really, honorable speaker people get dreams at night to go and preach. people get visions, people are called to preach. It’s servantship. You cannot police servantship. We need to be very careful on that,” Osoro emphasized.

Emuhaya MP Milemba Omboko raised concerns of the emergence of the Pentecostal church as a monopoly in the regulation of theological institutions and churches.

“I have respect for the petitioners who are in the gallery but I find them possibly looking for a way of becoming a monopoly in running colleges… Remember, theology goes as far as to deal with eschatology, dealing with matters death, end of the world and apocalypse. So, I don't know how parliament can really make a regulation on this,” observed Omboko.

But on the flipside, those who expressed support for the petition cited the Shakahola massacre and the Kwa Binzaro cult deaths as the consequences of an unregulated religious space.

“It is time that we take it up as a house, and come up with the regulations because what we are seeing in Shakahola and other places is radicalization. We have cults in the name of religion. I want to ask the Karemba, the chairperson of the committee not to focus on this petition alone but look into religious institutions as an entirety so that we come up with a legislation which cuts across the religions in this country,” Marakwet East MP David Kangogo.  

Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli cautioned the House against “running away from its responsibility”.

“The development of mediocre pastors cannot be allowed. It is not sensitive to our education to let people who are not educated to teach people who are not educated. How can the blind lead the blind? I think we should support this petition.  it really is merited,” held Sunkuli.

His sentiments were lauded by Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima; “In one way or the other, this parliament and the State have failed the Kenyan republic for failing to regulate these institutions. When we say that we keep away or we keep our hands off of it, we are exposing the society to unnecessary suffering and to the unnecessary institutions, colleges and pastors who are just there to extort money from the public.”