Church bans sex in premises
31 July 2010, 10:45
By Thabiso Thakali
The Central Methodist Church in central Joburg has banned sex, alcohol and smoking in its premises, which houses thousands of refugees, as part of new rules to restore its tarnished reputation.
The church's Bishop Paul Verryn told the Saturday Star that these were some of the social problems that the church had struggled with over the years. "You can't have this kind of outreach programme without having every conceivable kind of social problems," he said.
"We've got eight rules in the building... We've got to watch the abuse of women and the abuse of children. No smoking, no drinking in and out of the building, no fighting, no stealing and no sex in the building unless you are married."
Verryn said residents were also required to keep the church clean at all times and to attend church services every evening.
Two weeks ago, the police arrested a man from the church after he allegedly raped a woman at the church's home-based care centre.
Verryn said that when he heard of it, he had personally reported and opened the case with the police and ensured that an arrest was made.
Although the number of refugees living the church had declined from more than 3 000 a year ago to just over 1 000, he had seen an "incredible increase" in the past week amid threats of xenophobic attacks.
Verryn said that during the 2008 xenophobic attacks, police had to foil two possible attacks on the church building, and it had been the same now.
He said police had since increased patrols around the area to avert similar threats.
However, as he continued to restore order in his church this week, his superior, presiding Bishop Ivan Abrahams, served him with court papers challenging the lifting of his suspension.
Abrahams has lodged an application with the Johannesburg High Court seeking to overturn the decision by arbitrator Peter de Motte to lift charges against Verryn.
At the centre of the dispute is the Methodist Church's decision to suspend Verryn for taking the initiative last year to have a court appoint a legal curator for the interests of the children staying at the church.
Verryn was also charged with breaching an instruction not to speak to the media.
But two months ago, his suspension was lifted when the charges against him were set aside after it was found that the church's legal adviser was also the district disciplinary registrar.
The charges against Verryn were dismissed on a technicality, and he was free to return to the pulpit.
Verryn would not comment on this matter yesterday when asked by the Saturday Star.
The Central Methodist Church in central Joburg has banned sex, alcohol and smoking in its premises, which houses thousands of refugees, as part of new rules to restore its tarnished reputation.
The church's Bishop Paul Verryn told the Saturday Star that these were some of the social problems that the church had struggled with over the years. "You can't have this kind of outreach programme without having every conceivable kind of social problems," he said.
"We've got eight rules in the building... We've got to watch the abuse of women and the abuse of children. No smoking, no drinking in and out of the building, no fighting, no stealing and no sex in the building unless you are married."
Verryn said residents were also required to keep the church clean at all times and to attend church services every evening.
Two weeks ago, the police arrested a man from the church after he allegedly raped a woman at the church's home-based care centre.
Verryn said that when he heard of it, he had personally reported and opened the case with the police and ensured that an arrest was made.
Although the number of refugees living the church had declined from more than 3 000 a year ago to just over 1 000, he had seen an "incredible increase" in the past week amid threats of xenophobic attacks.
Verryn said that during the 2008 xenophobic attacks, police had to foil two possible attacks on the church building, and it had been the same now.
He said police had since increased patrols around the area to avert similar threats.
However, as he continued to restore order in his church this week, his superior, presiding Bishop Ivan Abrahams, served him with court papers challenging the lifting of his suspension.
Abrahams has lodged an application with the Johannesburg High Court seeking to overturn the decision by arbitrator Peter de Motte to lift charges against Verryn.
At the centre of the dispute is the Methodist Church's decision to suspend Verryn for taking the initiative last year to have a court appoint a legal curator for the interests of the children staying at the church.
Verryn was also charged with breaching an instruction not to speak to the media.
But two months ago, his suspension was lifted when the charges against him were set aside after it was found that the church's legal adviser was also the district disciplinary registrar.
The charges against Verryn were dismissed on a technicality, and he was free to return to the pulpit.
Verryn would not comment on this matter yesterday when asked by the Saturday Star.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of Saturday Star on July 31, 2010
Durban
