Clash at synod

 A GROUP of 37 pastors and delegates trying to enter to the Gut Nius Lutheran Church conference in Enga are nursing injuries after a scuffle with security guards who barred them from the meeting.

They were among the 341 church members in a faction led by Bishop Nick Aiyane who were locked out of the church’s national synod at the Pausa Secondary School in Wapenamanda, Enga.

Bishop John Timothy, the chairman of the national pastors conference, said the group was trying to get into the school hall around 6am but were held back by security guards at the gate.

Timothy said the faction led by Bishop Nick tried to get into the hall after seeing Head Bishop David Piso lead his delegates into the school around 4am.

He said three pastors who were seriously injured. They were Moses Kombe, Seth Paul and Jason Sere.

Timothy said the group was chased towards Yakamanda village

He said they took the injured pastors to the Wabag police station and lodged a formal complaint with the police before taking them to hospital for treatment.

He called on the two factions to be united before holding the synod to elect the head bishop.

Provincial police commander acting Supt George Kakas said he led his policemen into the school just in time before the problem goes out of hand contain the situation.

He said police would investigate the matter. 

The synod continued as usual yesterday.