News Desk
Peshawar, Pakistan:
A power struggle has erupted between the Diocese of Peshawar and the Church of Pakistan (COP) over the appointment of a successor to Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters, who is set to retire on January 26, 2026. The election to choose a Co-Adjutor Bishop, traditionally held a year before the retirement date, has been postponed, sparking tensions. Bishop Peters has accused the COP Synod and its executive committees of unconstitutional actions and exceeding their authority, escalating the confrontation between the two sides.
In a strongly worded statement, Bishop Peters pointed to the expiration of the Synod’s constitutional tenure in June 2024.
“I want to inform and clarify that the Synod and its executive committees have been demolished after the completion of their tenure as per the constitution since June 2024. The current Synod setup is unconstitutional as per the law and holds no constitutional legitimacy. Hence, it cannot intervene in any matter until it is restored through the constitutional process of re-selection,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with national and provincial assemblies, Bishop Peters explained the interim nature of the current Synod’s role.
“In simple words, we can take the example of our provincial and national assemblies. After completing five constitutional years, an interim setup comes into place, which only runs routine offices but does not have constitutional powers. The current Synod of the Church of Pakistan is in its interim period, without constitutional legitimacy or authority to make important legal decisions,” he asserted.
Bishop Peters further alleged that the current defunct Synod has caused significant disruptions across dioceses by interfering in their affairs.
““The Synod’s interference has led to several unconstitutional actions in various dioceses,” he claimed. “For instance, the Co-Adjutor Bishop election in the Diocese of Raiwind was conducted illegally, while the Faisalabad and Karachi dioceses have been sabotaged and abandoned. Even the Lahore Diocese remains neglected, further deepening divisions within the Church. Now, the Peshawar Diocese is facing similar interference. The Synod must put an end to these unlawful interventions,” Bishop claimed.
Despite the controversies, Bishop Peters emphasized that the Peshawar Diocese remains committed to operating within the bounds of the constitution.
“The Peshawar Diocese will never do anything against the law and constitution but will conduct elections accordingly. However, we will question unconstitutional entities and their ill-intentioned interventions,” he stated.
The bishop outlined two key demands to address the ongoing issues within the Church of Pakistan:
1. Engaging the Lahore Diocese in all processes and recognizing their role.
2. Ending extensions for any bishop in any diocese or position.
Addressing accusations of seeking an extension for his own tenure, Bishop Peters dismissed them outright.
“I want this system of extension to end for every bishop. I believe that we all bishops should now give opportunities to younger bishops to take on the responsibilities of the Church,” he said.
Bishop Peters revealed that the Peshawar Diocese had repeatedly urged the Church of Pakistan to establish a Reconciliation and Inquiry Committee to promote Church unity and engage the Lahore Diocese. However, these calls have reportedly been ignored.
On the matter of reconciliation, he stated:
“In this election of the Co-Adjutor, we want to engage the Lahore Diocese to sort out the lingering dispute, resolve differences, and make a fresh start. The Synod has taken many unconstitutional decisions with its unconstitutional members. They must sensibly engage the Lahore Diocese and pave the path for reconciliation, unity, and the betterment of the Church in Pakistan,” he articulated.
Efforts were made to contact Rev. Bishop Azad Marshall, the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, and his team for their comments on the matter. However, no response was received by the time of publication.
The election for the Co-Adjutor Bishop of Peshawar, originally scheduled for January 17, has now been postponed. The delay comes after tensions escalated following the Church of Pakistan Moderator and Synod members arrived at the Peshawar Diocese without an invitation from Bishop Peters.
The controversy continues to unfold, with calls for constitutional adherence and unity echoing across the Church of Pakistan’s dioceses.