The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) has expressed concern over the rapid proliferation of churches and reported exploitation by some church leaders. In response, the CCN is advocating for self-regulation to ensure the integrity and credibility of churches.

At a recent media briefing, CCN President Reverend Enoch Sakama emphasized the church's crucial role in maintaining national stability and moral integrity. He highlighted the challenges posed by the surge in unregulated ministries and alleged exploitation of congregants by some leaders.

Reverend Sakama noted that discussions about regulating churches have been ongoing, partly driven by government concerns over disordered practices and criminal activities within some churches. Some groups have proposed a Private Members Bill and a Church Governance Bill to address these issues. However, the CCN clarified that it is not involved in the Church Governance Bill being proposed.

Instead, the CCN is developing a self-regulation framework to engage with churches across Namibia. Proposed measures include:
Requiring all recognized churches to be affiliated or registered with the CCN, maintaining a register of all churches and their leaders adhering to a unified ecumenical constitution, signing an ethical code of conduct with accountability measures and setting minimum educational standards for church leaders.

The CCN also suggests conducting a comprehensive assessment involving various stakeholders, including ministries of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety & Security, Industrialization & Trade, and Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication & Social Welfare.