THE RBAK FINAL REPORT ON RECONCILIATION (THIS IS THE ACTUAL REPORT)

ASSOCIATION OF REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCHES OF KENYA

THE FINAL REPORT OF THE RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE PRESENTED  ON 17^TH FEBRUARY 2011 KAMKETO TBC NORTH POKOT

I.                   The first meeting was held at Oyani on 24^th February 2010

 (Ref. Meeting 1 February 2010)

II.                An invitation letter was sent out dated 4^th March 2010 inviting all the parties to the meeting at Nakuru but the eight brethren did not respond or attend.

(Ref: letter dated 4^th March 2010)

III.             The second meeting at Nairobi on 20^th April 2010 was meant to execute plan B because all the parties failed to turn up for the Nakuru meeting.

(Ref: Meeting 2 2010 on April 2010)

IV.              A letter was sent out to all the parties on 16^th May 2010 for the meeting to be held at Kericho on 28^th May 2010. The meeting was held as scheduled but the eight brethren failed to turn up in Kericho and instead responded with a ten-page letter and text messages.

(Ref. Meeting 3 minutes)

V.                 The meeting also chose the sub-committee to compile a draft report regarding the issues and present it to the committee for considerations. These were:

a)    Washington Omondi Gengah                       Chairman

b)    David Ngetich                                                Secretary

c)     Daniel Adunde Ngollo                                  Representative (Ref. 3^rd Meeting 28^th May 2010)

VI.              a)  The sub-committee came up with the draft report that was read out at the Kisumu meeting held in December 8^th 2010 at Kisumu Baptist Seminary.

b) The committee requested the RBAK chairman to write an invitation letter to the eight brethren (Anderson, Bussey, Masunga, Musembi, Ogallo, Oluoch, Otieno, and Pabari), Keith Underhill, GBM, ARBCA and Alfred Place Baptist Church to the Association meeting at Kamketo TBC North Pokot where the two parties would be brought together.

(Ref. 3rd Letter a and b of 8^th December 2010).

VII.            

1)     Time was given to all the parties to prepare

2)     We have sufficient information to make us come to a settled conclusion.

3)     After all the efforts to meet face to face with all the parties, the eight brethren were unwilling to meet with us while on the other hand Underhill always responded to all the invitations.

4)     Regardless of all the Biblical principles taken to solve this conflict, the eight brethren were not willing to meet Keith and the Mediation committee to bring about peace and reconciliation.(Ref. The Eight brethren’s accusatory statement, Keith’s response statement and TBC Nairobi report).

5)     From the evidence presented, Brother Keith confessed and repented before the church (which most of the eight were part of) and the ARBCA led mediation team (Ref. TBC Nairobi report and Keith’s response report).

6)     The problem which caused division among the reformed faith in Kenya was purely between the two elders of TBC Nairobi i.e. Pastors Masunga (now in Injili Bible Church) and Underhill

7)     Premature decisions made by ARBCA and GBM served as a breaking point and precipitated the situation further (Ref. The Eight brethren’s accusatory statement).

8)     Exercise of power, local and international connections, prompted invitation of foreign mediators without involving RBAK, where their church was a member. This was neither Biblical nor procedural as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith says (Cf. 26:15).

9)     The unwillingness of the eight brethren to meet with us shows that they are not committed to the unity of the body of Christ.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.     There is an urgent need to inform all the sending churches in the West and mission agencies i.e. ARBCA, GBM, UFM etc. to tame their missionaries in Kenya.

2.     The role of missionaries should be well defined by both the sending and receiving churches or mission agencies.

3.     The RBAK only to receive the eight brethren if they would be committed to Biblical reconciliation in love, peace and unity of Christ.

4.     The continuity of the RBAK committee to complete the undone work.

CONCLUSION

1)    The situation is not completely out of hand. But it can be harmonized by dialogue which will eventually create room for repentance and forgiveness and finally give birth to a united Reformed faith movement in Kenya. This can only be achieved if the eight brethren humble their pride and exalt the grace of God in salvation and promote holiness in their hearts and lives.

2)    As a result, we all unanimously support and are fully behind Keith Underhill because he has repented and always ready to meet with the eight brothers face to face.

3)    The RBAK Association members voted unanimously to adopt this report and approved its publication as extensively as possible.

4)    The RBAK Association voted to approve the continuity of the Committee.

The report Prepared and submitted to the RBAK delegates from the member churches and approved on 17^th February 2011.

THE COMMITTEE

1.      Thomas Lokerisa      Kamketo TBC             Chairman RBAK

2.      David Ngetich                        Chebang’ang GBC      Secretary

3.      Daniel Ngollo             Osani TBC                  Member

4.      Fred Lodeki               Oyani TBC                  “

5.      Isaac Kelegwa            Nyamanga TBC          ”

6.      Murungi Igweta         Nairobi TBC               “

7.      *Bernard Kirimi        Miathene TBC                        “

8.      *Charles Abwok        Siaya TBC                   “

Absent with Apology:

Washington O. Gengah

John Muketha

THE RBAK FINAL REPORT ON RECONCILIATION

 

THE REFORMED BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF KENYA

P.O. BOX 87 20225

KIMULOT

26^th April 2011

Dear Brethren,

RE: AN APPEAL TO YOU ALL

Greetings in Christ’s Name from your brethren in the RBAK Churches.

During the last Reformed Baptist Association of Kenya Annual General Meeting held on  24^th February 2011 in Kamketo, Pokot North, we received the final report from the Mediation Committee set up by the Association on 24^th February 2010 at Oyani, Migori.

It came very clearly that the brethren chosen tried as much as possible to meet with all the concerned parties to bring about mediation and reconciliation since the Biblical method of resolving conflict is meeting face to face. They kept all the parties well informed of the following step about all the meetings. Sadly, the brethren accusing Keith Underhill were not willing to meet with us in his presence. We thought that they would have a biblical ground for refusing this effort but there was no Biblical reason given. The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, that we all hold so dear, is also very clear on how we are to resolve such conflicts:

XV.  In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned;[ Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23, 25] howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.[ II Cor. 1:24; I John 4:1]

1689 LBCF XXIV:XV

It is on this ground that we appeal to you brethren to agree with one another (2Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:2) for it is good for your own pursuit of godliness and the edification of the church of God. How can you live as enemies with one another when you all have been ransomed by the Lord Jesus Christ, have had your sins forgiven, you have all been brought into the commonwealth and family of God? How can you glory in division when our Lord is praying for us to be united just like He and the Father are One? Our unity is one of the grounds for the world to Believe!  (John 17:21). Is it not to disobey the Lord? For how long will you let this schism to persist when it is hurting the work of the gospel in Kenya and overseas? Is it not putting Christ’s Name to shame brethren? How can you keep quiet for so long when the Name of Christ is at stake in Kenya?

Based on this we urge all the brethren who reads this to talk to all these brethren and seek to use every means available, according to the Word of God to bring about harmony through repentance and reconciliation.

ARBCA and GBM started a mediation effort that they left on the way when the fallout took place. They left the four Kenyan Mediators to carry on with the work. We all need to get together to put all godly pressure to this brethren to agree with one another – not just for their sake but for the sake of the Lord. We highly respect our brothers in America and Britain but as we pointed out in the report, their decisions precipitated the situation further. Please try to make a remedy for this. Involve us since we are the ones on the ground and know more than you do. If this situation is not rectified it will continue the work here further and further. We had invited you all to the February 2011 meeting in Pokot North but you did not acknowledge even receiving the invitation yet these are penitent issues brethren. We cannot wish them away or sweep them under the carpet. Our children are coming and history will judge us harshly if we do not deal with the issues affecting the Reformed Faith in Kenya. We must act with speed because many are being loosing heart on account of this.

Keith repented before ARBCA Mediators and Trinity Baptist Church yet all these brethren did not. They have continued to accuse him without laying even a single blame on themselves! We find it hard to believe that they would be completely guiltless in all these matters. We are particularly appalled that the issues of a local church were being broadcast all over. We find it hard to accept that RBAK was not involved and yet TBC was and is a member hitherto. We find it hard that you brethren who are accusing left the church of Christ under other circumstances and reasons only to turn around later and support the few who were not pleased. We find it hard to believe that all the doors of meeting with us have been tightly closed and our efforts have been ignored. They dismissed us to be working for Keith - surely brethren let us not go this way. Our aim has been to seek peace and harmony for the sake of the Body of Christ. This is why we are urging you to come back to the drawing board without condemning anyone.

We all have a responsibility to bring these men who were once together in mind and spirit back together. We should NOT let them go their separate ways when they all profess the same faith and are within the same geographical realm. Please let us act speedily to bring this to pass. Do not ignore us for the sake of the Name of Christ.

Yours in Christ,

DAVID NGETICH

RBAK CHAIRMAN

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

ASSOCIATION OF REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCHES OF KENYA

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1.     Purpose:

The purpose of the Association is to provide the local churches with an organized fellowship for mutual encouragement and counsel, through which they can better fulfill the purposes for which they exist. This Association in no way compromises the independence and authority of each of the local churches within it.

2.     Membership:

Membership of the Association is open to all the reformed local churches in Kenya that make written application, signed by two office bearers including the following statements:

2.1. Acceptance of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as true to the Bible.

2.2. The church has an official membership of baptized believers, with the number of members and the date the church was constituted indicated.

2.3. The date of the church meeting that voted to apply for membership in the Association.

Note:  Brethren engaged in church planting, but who do not have a constituted church, may be invited by the Chairman. Such must agree to section 2.1. If present, they will not form part of the quorum or be entitled to vote.

3. Organization:

3.1 Delegates.  For Association meetings, each participating local church shall officially appoint one but not more than two delegates to represent it, one of whom should be a pastor where possible.

3.2 Meetings. The Association shall meet annually. Additional meetings may be called as required. All member churches must be sent written notice of the time, place and purpose of all meetings at least one month in advance for business to be valid.

3.3 Officials. At each annual Association meeting, a chairman and a secretary shall be chosen. No such officer shall serve for more than two consecutive terms of one year.

3.3.1 The Chairman shall preside over every Association meeting for his year of office. He has no special power in the Association, being just one of the delegates, and has no authority whatsoever to deal with matters concerning any of the local churches. If invited by any local church, he shall minister only in the capacity of his position in his local church, and not that of being Chairman of the Association.

3.3.2 The Secretary is to record and distribute to all member churches the proceedings of the of the Association meetings, and to send out any other relevant information such as forthcoming meetings, conferences, etc.

3.4 Quorum.  A quorum is formed if two-thirds of member churches have, either sent delegates, or sent a letter of apology (which must include a statement that it will abide by all the decisions made at the Association meeting for that year).

3.5 Voting. Each local church has one vote. At least 75% of the local churches present and eligible to vote is required to pass a recommendation.

3.     Authority: 

As a voluntary fellowship among local churches, the Association shall have no authority to make demands of any sort upon any member local church. When requested by a local church, the Association may give advice to the church, but it has no power to enforce its judgment. The Association may request a local church to take on a specific responsibility, such as to arrange a conference, but this is always subject to the decision of the local church. If any joint project shall be considered, such as literature, evangelism, education, conferences, it must be under the direct control of one of the local churches.

The Association may not respond to requests of individuals or groups within churches. However, if a member church ceases to uphold this constitution, then it may be excluded from the Association by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and eligible to vote at a duly called meeting. When such action is taken, notice of the action and its reasons must be given to the church that has been excluded.

The RBAK's Confession of Faith

CONFESSION OF FAITH

We take the whole Bible, the 66 commonly received books of the Old and New Testaments,

as our confession of faith. Although we accept no man-made confession as finally

authoritative, we receive the 1689 Baptist Confession as true to the Bible. We present below

a summary of what we believe the Bible teaches to instruct and guide our members and to

preserve us against false doctrine.

1. Scripture: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are equally and in every part the

Word of God, without any error, a sufficient and final revelation of all saving knowledge, faith

and obedience. They must be received as the final authority in all matters of faith and

practice. No other writings are accepted as Word of God or as having any such authority.

2. God: There is only one eternal God, who is Spirit, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all

things. He is self-sufficient, having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in them

all. He accomplishes all things according to His will and for His own glory, yet He is not the

author or approver of sin, nor does He destroy the responsibility of His intelligent creatures.

This God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God in three equal and distinct

persons.

3. Man: God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, by a definite creative act, after

His own image. The historic fall from the original righteousness in which mankind was

created is the source of all the evil in the world. The guilt of Adam's sin is reckoned to all his

descendants, so that all men are conceived in a state of guilt, corruption, separation from

God and condemnation to eternal death. This state is known as original sin, and from it

proceed all actual transgressions. Therefore, although completely responsible to God to

perform what He has commanded, man is completely unable of himself to do any spiritual

good, not even to repent of sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Salvation Planned: From all eternity God has planned to save for Himself out of lost and

fallen humanity an innumerable multitude, not because of any foreseen faith or merit on their

part, but because of His mercy in Christ, who He appointed as the only Mediator, the prophet,

priest and king of those whom the Father had given Him. All whom God has thus determined

to save will certainly be called, justified and glorified.

5. Salvation Accomplished: According to the plan of God, Christ, the eternal second Person

of the Godhead, united to Himself a real human nature through the womb of the Virgin Mary,

becoming fully God and fully man in one Person, yet without sin. For the salvation of His

people, He perfectly kept God's holy law, voluntarily suffered and died as a full and sufficient

substitutionary sacrifice for them and thus making reconciliation to God for them. He was

buried, rose bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven with the same body and sat down

at the right hand of the Father. In heaven He now reigns over all things for the church and

makes continual intercession for His people.

6. Salvation Applied: The exalted Christ sends forth the Holy Spirit to apply the fruits of His

accomplished redemption to all His people, which application is essential unto salvation. The

new birth, the giving of a new heart, by which the sinner is enabled to repent and believe, is

not an act of man's free will and power, but the result of the effectual and gracious working of

the Holy Spirit, who works when, where, and how and in whom He pleases. By this work,

often referred to as regeneration, the Spirit enlightens their minds and renews their wills and

affections, as God effectually calls them into fellowship with His Son through His Word. The

immediate fruits of regeneration are:

6.1. Repentance - Repentance is a gift of God, whereby the Holy Spirit convinces a

person of the wickedness of his sinfulness and his acts of rebellion against God, so

that he turns to God in sorrow in order to walk in obedience before Him and to please

Him. No one is saved without genuine repentance and unreserved submission to

Christ as Lord.

6.2. Faith - Faith is a gift of God by which a person receives and rests on Jesus Christ

alone for salvation, as He is freely offered to sinners in the Gospel. Although a

person is saved through faith alone, this faith never stands alone but is accompanied

by all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.

6.3. Justification and Adoption - Justification is an act of God's free grace by which He

pardons all the sins of His people, past, present and future, and reckons them as

righteous in His sight on account of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and

not because of anything done in them or by them. Faith in Christ is the only

instrument of justification. All those who are justified in Christ receive the promised

Holy Spirit of adoption, so that they are truly sons of God.

7. Sanctification and Perseverance: Sanctification is two-fold -

(i) Definitive: at conversion believers are united to Christ in His death to sin and

resurrection to new life. As a result the rule of sin in their lives is broken and they

willingly seek to be ruled by the Word of God.

(ii) Progressive: sanctification, which is the process of being entirely conformed to the

image of Christ, will be perfectly completed only on the last day. It is the work of the

Holy Spirit in us through our mortifying sin and obeying the commands of God.

Because of indwelling sin, all believers experience a constant welfare between the

flesh and the Spirit. However, the indwelling of the Spirit is the seal and guarantee

that every true believer will persevere in the faith until the end.

8. The Church:

8.1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of the universal church, His body, which is

made up of all the people of God of all ages. Christians ought to gather together in

local churches, to each of which Christ has given the necessary authority to

administer order, discipline and worship. A true local church is recognized by the true

preaching of the Word of God, proper administration of the ordinances, and the

exercise of spiritual discipline. The only officers of a local church are its elders and

deacons.

8.2. Ordinances: Christ has instituted and given to His church two ordinances, Baptism

and the Lord's Supper:

8.2.1. Baptism is an ordinance of Christ in which a believer is immersed in water

upon profession of faith as a sign of his union with the Father, the Son and the

Holy Spirit. Baptism does not make a person a Christian, nor is it essential to

salvation, but it is a means of grace to believers who are being baptized. It is

a sin to neglect this ordinance because Christ has commanded that believers

be baptized.

8.2.2. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Christ in which the assembled believers

eat bread and drink the cup. These are signs of the broken body and shed

blood of Christ. This ordinance should be observed repeatedly by the Church

until Christ returns. It is in no sense a sacrifice but is designed as a memorial

of Christ's death, and it is a means of grace by which believers draw near to

Him in faith. It is also an affirmation of the unity of all true believers.

8.3. Government: The office of elder has alone been appointed by Christ. Such elders

are given spiritual authority to oversee the local church in accordance with Christ's

Word.

8.4. Evangelism and Missions: It is the duty of every church and every Christian to extend

the Gospel to all men everywhere, in recognition of the insufficiency of natural

revelation unto salvation and that there is salvation only in the Name of Christ. Faith

comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, and so the principal means for

discipling the nations is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. The goal of

such work is the establishing of other local churches, under the headship of Christ,

with their own officers directly responsible to Christ.

9. The Christian Life:

9.1. The Law of God - God's revealed will is summarized in the Ten Commandments

which, although they cannot justify the sinner, are binding on all men and form the

continuing rule of life for every believer. This includes a regard for the sanctity of the

Lord's Day, Sunday, which is the day set apart by believers unto the Lord in the New

Testament in fulfillment of the fourth commandment.

9.2. The State - Civil government is ordained of God, and it is the duty of every Christian

to submit to the civil authorities in all matters consistent with the teaching of Scripture.

Christians are especially commanded to pray for their rulers.

9.3. Christian Liberty - The Christian must always seek to have a conscience void of

offence towards God and man. God alone is the Lord of the conscience, and the

believer is not held subject to the doctrines and commandments of men which are in

any way contrary to or not contained in His Word.

10. The Last Things:

10.1. Death - The bodies of men at death return to dust, but the souls of the righteous to

rest with God, and the souls of the wicked to be reserved under darkness until the

judgment.

10.2. Return of Christ - At a day and hour which no man knows, Christ will return to this

earth personally, bodily and in glory.

10.3. Resurrection and Judgment - On that appointed Day, God will judge all men by Christ

Jesus. The bodies of all who have died, both the just and the unjust, will be raised

and united with their souls. The resurrected dead together with all those who are

alive at His coming will be publicly judged according to their works. The wicked will go

into conscious and everlasting punishment, and the righteous into everlasting life.