David Bweyinda, a well-known pastor and pioneer gospel musician is encouraging born-again Christians in Uganda to reject ‘scientific church services’ in the country ahead of proposed reopening.
In a Facebook live broadcast on Friday, Bweyinda purported that guidelines formulated by scientists to be adopted by places of worship “undermine” and “ridicule” the Christian faith.
“Defy and say not to the scientific church services,” he started.
Pastor Bweyinda disagrees with holding church service for only 40 (forty) minutes or (1) one hour.
Citing Luke 4:40 where laying on of hands was associated with Christ healing the sick, Bweyinda decampaigned social distancing guidelines that forbid church leaders from laying their hands on congregants or conducting deliverance sessions, saying this contradicts “God’s principles”.
He said believers take Hebrews 10:25 seriously when it says ‘we ought not neglect meeting together.’
In the same breath, Bweyinda condemned restricting the sick, and those below or above a certain age bracket from attending church services.
“We are here to demonstrate the power of God. When you tell the sick not to come to church, you are making us powerless,” he said.
“Jesus sent us out to heal the sick,” Bweyinda added.
He told Church leaders not to collaborate with scientists or politicians in formulating any policies for managing the re-opening of places of worship and prayer during the coronavirus pandemic.
He wondered why Church leaders should undergo training about Covid-19 prevention yet other sectors were not tasked to do so before reopening.
“Every time a church is funded by a government, it cannot function,” he said.
Bweyinda also used the live broadcast to call out various politicians that turned church buildings into political centres and campaign grounds during the lockdown.
Museveni, Scientists and the Church
President Yoweri Museveni together with the Ministry of Health stated earlier that to permit re-opening of places of worship for communal worship and religious ceremonies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be formulated and implemented for the purpose of minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus.
They (church buildings) have been under lockdown since March, 2020.
“Churches have been talking of opening but of course you know that they attract a lot of people from different sources. So, I have asked the scientists to continue discussing with Church leaders how they think it can be done safely. But for now, let us maintain what we have been doing (status quo), and they discuss with scientists,” Mr Museveni said in his latest address to the nation on COVID-19.
“Some have been talking of (allowing in) few people per session. Let the scientists discuss with the Inter-Religious Council all those issues and once they agree with the scientists, I will be very happy to support it,” he added.
‘Pilot Project’
Pastor Michael David Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre last week hosted a pilot project on training pastor to fight Covid-19, and said the program is going to roll out nationally.
The meeting was in conjunction with Ministry of Health, National Fellowship of Born again Churches and Inter Religious Council of Uganda.
“About 200 religious leaders have been trained, received manuals and certificates,” the ministry said in a brief statement.
“The church has developed SOPs working with the Ministry of Health and the document has been adopted. Unlike other sectors which opened without training, we have worked with the ministry and adopted the manual template to train all faiths The Born Again Churches have been the first to sensitize and train their ranks . I am privileged to have overseen the process,” Pr Kyazze commented on Facebook.
In various Facebook posts, he had noted that his ministry will not “won’t wait for religious politicians to influence and manipulate church.”
