Lutheran bishop excommunicated

This article was in the National paper on Wednesday, March 24th 2010,
but it took us a little while to get our hands on the paper because we
have to go to Mt. Hagen to get it, or else read someone else's (which we
did). I suppose on some level, it's nice to know that if you live in
Kenai, Nebraska, Texas, or really anywhere, church politics don't change
much... and on another level it's really sad... This is only part of
the story as all stories like this go, the more you learn about the
situation, the deeper the rabbit hole goes, such as Bishop elections
where the police may or may not have been bought off to intimidate
people and monies from overseas that may or may not be
misappropriated... the list goes on and on.

For reference, where I live now is in Enga province, and Birip is about
a half hour down the road from me. Also the GLC is the church that was
started here by LCMS missionaries and turned over to full national
leadership around 1975 (this is also PNG's independence year).

There are two pictures with the article; one shows David Piso with the
caption: "David Piso... has not responded to the excommunication." And
one picture shows Bishop Nick: "Bishop Nicodemus Aiyene... church will
appoint acting bishop soon."

The article is as follows:
LONG serving bishop of the Gutnius Lutheran church (GLC) in Enga
province David Piso has been removed as head of the church.
During a gathering, about 155 pastors of the GLC voted in agreement to
excommunicate Mr. Piso as bishop of the GLC.
This move came as over 200 pastors registered themselves to meed for
their 2nd National Pastors Conference last March 10-12 at the Saint
Timothy Lutheran Seminary at Birip, outside Wabag town.
Deputy bishop of GLC and chairman of GLC National Pastors Conference
Bishop Nicodemus Aiynene said the decision to excommunicate the bishop
was based on more than 100 grounds of alleged misconduct,
misappropriation, poor and bad leadership, and serious threats on the
church doctrines that had contributed towards the collapse of the church
structure and organizational governance.
He said the church's constitution, especially article 12, empowered the
pastors to vote the bishop out.
"The pastors have exercise what is known as the process of the Office of
the Keys to excommunicate the bishop.
"This means David Piso is no longer a Christian member of the GLC, and
he, therefore, automatically loses the office of bishop that he was
elected to hold," Bishop Aiyene said.
Mr. Piso had been serving as head of the church for over 29 years.
The church's Synod, scheduled for June, would have marked his 30th year
at the helm.
Bishop Aiyene said Mr. Piso had the opportunity to return to the church
and be recalled as a Christian if he repented and said sorry for his wrongs.
He said Mr. Piso had not responded to the decision of excommunication
served on him by Wabag police last Friday near the Ipatas Centre in Wabag.
He said the church council was expected to meet soon to make and acting
appointment of the bishop position.