Church members say priest must go

By Jade Witten

At least a dozen members of the Holy Redeemer Anglican Church in Sea Point say they are fed up with the antics of their priest, Father Matthew Esau, and want him removed from the church.

On Monday the members staged a sit-out during the service and after church, those protesting were locked out of the building while the rest of the congregation had their tea.

The disgruntled members of the congregation have written and signed letters addressed to Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba citing reasons why they want Esau removed.

In a letter which is in the possession of the Cape Argus, former church warden Alastair Fraser said Esau showed no interest in the growth of the congregation which has diminished by 50 percent since his inception about three years ago.

The letter also slams Esau's managerial style as destructive and says he had no respect for the congregation and often used foul language during meetings.

When the Cape Argus put the members' grievances to Esau, he said: "I know nothing about this or of any allegations or resignations". Esau said he had seen nothing in writing, conducted no meetings nor liaised telephonically with the members.

At least four council members have resigned from the church as they could no longer "deal with his unreasonable and irrational behaviour". They also accused him of greed and arrogance.

"He was a very angry man once it was clear to him that the church council would not allow him to have the whole rectory as office space.

Susan Diedericks, another member of the congregation, said the church was astonished when John Benfield, the treasurer, had resigned.

"It is all a money issue, our treasurer was an asset to this church. Father Matt condemned the cookery book and 2009 calendar because he didn't have a part in it, but it would've brought money into the church," she said.

Elizabeth Gidlan said: "We can't accept Holy Communion out of his hands. We are sick and tired of this man".

The controversial Esau made headlines when he pleaded guilty to misappropriating nearly R500 000 from the now defunct Athlone NGO, Careers Resource Information Centre, in the Cape High Court last year.

He was ordered to pay R100 000 to USAid, the US government's aid agency, and was sentenced to serve 104 hours of community service. His three-year suspension from the ministry was suspended for three years.

The Cape Argus could not get hold of the Archbishop or his office for comment.

• This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on December 15, 2008