The Evangelical Church of Cameroon, abbreviated in French as EEC, has banned its pastors from making political statements as the country gears for Presidential elections this year.
Pastor Bila Mbenga Alexander, President of the EEC, gave the embargo in a press release dated January 9.
His statement came amid socio-political tensions between the government and some Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.
Earlier this month, some Catholic Bishops called on 91-year-old President Paul Biya not to seek re-election.
The EEC appears conscious of the risk in churches making statements that could threaten the regime’s survival.
The government of President Biya, which has ruled Cameroon for 42 years, has been criticized for stifling freedom of expression.
The EEC has also begun clashing with the government after one of its pastors, Yves Foncha, criticized the regime. This was during a recent church service in Foumban.
The police summoned and questioned him for the statement.
However, the EEC president clarified that statements of some of its workers are not the position of the church.
“It came back to me on January 8th that, following the positions taken by some prelates of the Roman Catholic Church on political matters, some workers of our Church have also made statements in certain media that could sow confusion in the minds of public opinion in general and our Christians in particular,” reads EEC President’s release.
Stating that EEC is concerned about social and political evolution of Cameroon, he emphasized that EEC is an organized institution.
He called on Pastors to respect “its discipline in matters of public communication”.
He prohibited pastors from making statements that the Church’s Synod has not sanctioned.
“I remind the workers of the Evangelical Church of Cameroon that any statement on socio-political issues is the responsibility of the General Synod,” EEC president wrote.
