The latest letter received from the KNFC came as a great shock and has deeply troubled my soul. The letter, circulated among the churches by Pr. M.S. Rantsoabe, Executive Secretary of KNFC, is insulting to our family and, most of all, to Pastor L De Waal.

As a close family member of Pastor L. De Waal, I humbly submit that this letter appears to be an attempt to remove a pastor who has served as an ethical, moral, and God-fearing example to many.

I fear that if church leadership can circulate letters under the greeting, "Christian greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ," while knowingly failing to exercise due restraint, ethical conduct, and proper due process, then every church member is at risk of being subjected to similar treatment.

As someone who has been closely involved with my brother-in-law throughout this process, I have witnessed firsthand what this has done to him, his wife, and his family. I have also listened to the disbelief expressed by people outside the church — including his advisers and labour relations officer — who have remarked that the conduct of the leadership and Executive Committee is unheard of. I am ashamed that this is what our church has become. Our calling to "go and teach" has been tarnished.

The behaviour of some leaders appears fearless, as though they believe they can act without consequence, and this only strengthens unethical conduct.

Pastor L De Waal has served this church wholeheartedly for many years. I can attest that he often neglected his own family because of his love for Christ and His church. The leadership at the very least owed him due process as prescribed by labour law, together with respect for his years of service, fairness, unbiased leadership, and, most importantly, Christian maturity.

To avoid speculation, as requested by the Executive Committee, I have taken it upon myself to write this letter and set the record straight. I cannot stand by and allow this letter to go uncontested.

"Christians are people of conviction. Yes, we turn the other cheek, but we also stand firm for what is right."

Forgive me for saying this, but we need to wake up. Ethical conduct within our conferences has been a topic of discussion among members for many years. We all think it, but few are willing to say it. I will say it: greater accountability is required. The outside world should not set the standard for ethical conduct and morality within God's church. Respect is earned, not demanded.

The effect this has had on the De Waal family is beyond what words can express. The conference has done nothing to support this family. There are individuals within the conference who have stood by him and even risked their own positions to show support, but because of fear and intimidation, there is only so much they can do.

There are many who know what is right but lack the courage to stand for it. Are Christians meant to be weak? How will we stand for truth against evil if we cannot stand for righteousness among our own brothers and sisters in the church? What are we teaching our children when we fail to defend the weak, the oppressed, and the vulnerable?

This letter grieves me. Policies are cited as justification, yet families are being destroyed. Policies within the church often seem to benefit only those who create them.

Pastoral families have always been regarded as part of the ministry, yet in this case the conference has failed this family.

The saddest part is that this situation is not unique, which is precisely why I am addressing it. Conferences often operate behind closed doors. Letters of concern from members are ignored and, in some cases, literally discarded. We hear much about transparency, but too often it exists only in written statements.

What is happening in this conference is happening in many others.

Church family, I am deeply concerned about the trajectory of our church. So many pastors have devoted and sacrificed their lives for God's work. We owe it to them to do what is right.

Our love for the Seventh-day Adventist Church is generational. It is part of who we are and shapes our identity. The younger generation is watching us, and we are failing them.

For some, church may simply be an institution, but for many of us it is much more than that. The church, conferences, unions, and all its structures can function only because of faithful, obedient, and committed members.

Unless we become more like Christ, we as the remnant people risk losing our identity. Christ remains our perfect example, while human leaders are fallible, as we have clearly seen.

I therefore ask for greater transparency from the conference.

I do not wish to create a spirit of rebellion among us, but I implore members to take a stand. I know this is the Lord's church, but surely we are also its stewards. Surely we all have a responsibility. What I am saying is what many are already thinking.

If we allow people within the church to speak like lambs while acting like beasts, then we need to become far more vigilant.

I ask that church elders and leaders reach out so that, through prayer, fasting, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may find a way forward. Perhaps we can liaise with leaders from other conferences to ensure that members feel secure, because some self-appointed leaders are failing those they were called to serve.

Once again, I wish to state clearly that this is not an act of rebellion. Rather, it is a plea for involvement and accountability. We are all stewards of God's church. The responsibility rests on all of us, not only on pastors.

We cannot simply worship and remain silent. Our spiritual wellbeing is being threatened. Our identity as Seventh-day Adventists is in danger. If this continues unchecked, there may soon be little future for our young people within our churches because what has been entrusted to us will have been destroyed.

Please receive this letter in the spirit in which it is written — from a heart of concern and with the sincere hope that God will lead and guide us as His people on the ground level of His church.