After failing to stop the ordainment of the Dutch Reformed Church's first woman minister, the group that was opposed to the ordination is now embarking on legal action.
The "concerned group" which is composed of some church choir members, has instructed a Gaborone law firm to challenge the ordination of Reverend Mmonie Kgosiemang.
The Administrator of the Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana, Eskiah Mooketsi confirmed that they received a letter from the concerned group's lawyers on the eve of the ordination. The letter threatened that legal proceedings would be instituted if the church went ahead with the ordination.
Mooketsi said they have responded to the concerned group's lawyers and informed them to communicate through the church's attorneys.
The concerned group said they are opposing the ordination of Kgosiemang on the basis that the Church Constitution discriminates against women ministers. However, the church differs with the group on the interpretation of the constitution.
Despite the threat of legal action, Mooketsi does not rule out the possibility of reconciliation with the concerned group members. "As Christians we need to reconcile. We must work on reconciliation," he said.
He further pointed out that the church had ordained Kgosiemang not because they like her. "It was a matter of principle. If we did not ordain her, she might also have said we were discriminating against her because she is a woman. I feel her ordination was a victory for the church. It was also a victory for women in this country. This was an indication that God has spoken," he said.
Delivering a sermon during Kgosiemang's ordination, Reverend Dibeela of the United
Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), advised that Christians are not supposed to take their disputes to courts. "The courts must stay out of these dispute because it is a divine matter," he cautioned.