SDA Church Faces Backlash Over Alleged Politicisation of the Pulpit

The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is facing intense criticism following allegations that businessman Kuda Tagwirei was improperly granted access to speak from the pulpit—an act reportedly in violation of church policy, which strictly prohibits political advocacy during services.

Prominent Harare lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has lodged a formal complaint, accusing senior church officials of breaching internal protocols by allowing Tagwirei to address the congregation without the mandatory written clearance. He singled out two church ministers, Mr. Musara and Mr. Timuri, as having played key roles in facilitating the alleged misconduct.

“What our client objects to is a complete reversal of the core values upheld by the Church,” Mpofu’s letter states. “By permitting such conduct, the named individuals have aligned themselves with political rhetoric that has no place on the pulpit and undermines their role as spiritual leaders.”

According to the complaint, the SDA Church’s “Use of the Pulpit” policy explicitly states that no individual may be permitted to speak during services without prior written approval from higher church authorities. Despite this, Tagwirei was allowed to take the stage, where he allegedly used the opportunity to share politically motivated messages.

The letter references Biblical Perspectives (HA 15 05), underscoring that while the Church may influence positive social change, it deliberately avoids becoming entangled in political or economic agendas.

“The Church exists to serve the kingdom of Christ—not the ambitions of political figures,” Mpofu emphasized.

The complaint also points to the Professional Ethics guidelines observed by SDA clergy, which prohibit using spiritual authority to promote personal or political interests. By allowing Tagwirei to speak, Musara and Timuri are accused of lending religious legitimacy to an agenda not sanctioned by the Church.

In addition, the SDA Church Manual makes it clear that pastors, elders, or any church member may not use the pulpit to push contentious political viewpoints. The actions in question, according to Mpofu, represent a “complete departure” from the intended spiritual function of the pulpit.

“The violation here is glaring, deliberate, and unjustified,” reads the complaint. “Such actions should never be tolerated within the structure of a church that claims to uphold holiness.”

Mpofu further argued that both the Zimbabwe East Union Conference (ZEUC) and Zimbabwe Central Conference (ZEC) constitutions—along with broader Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) policies—were disregarded in the handling of the event.

“There is only one kingdom with eternal authority—the Kingdom of Christ—and it is solely for this purpose that the pulpit exists,” the complaint concludes.

As of now, the SDA Church has not issued a public response to the allegations or the formal demand letter. The incident has sparked considerable concern among members, with calls growing for an internal review and possible disciplinary action.

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