Watoto Church, formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) is a Pentecostal church headquartered in Kampala, Uganda. Watoto means "the children" in Swahili.
The church was founded in 1984 in Kampala by Canadian missionaries Pastor Gary Skinner and his wife, Marylin.
Initially, it operated out of Kampala's Imperial Hotel before the leadership took over a disused cinema which was renamed The Centre.[3] Today, Watoto occupies its own purpose-built campus in Kampala and earns £13.3 million a year.[4]
The church's vision states that "We are an English-speaking, cell based community church, celebrating Christ, growing and multiplying, as each one reaches one touching those around us with the love of Jesus bringing healing to the cities and the nations."
Congregation
The church has an average congregation of 37,000 people who also meet in smaller cell groups. Each cell comprises about 7 to 10 members who meet at least once a week in members' homes.
Leadership
Watoto Church has a leadership structure, with the Church Council at its apex. It is the overall policy organ of Watoto Church and all its ministries. The council is responsible for strategic policy decisions as well as the management and smooth running of the church. It is made up of the Pastoral Team, the Elders' Team and the Deacons' Team.[5]
Leadership Transition
On 3rd February 2023, Gary and Marilyn Skinner, the founders of the church, formally stepped down from their 40-year role as team leaders of Watoto Ministries. They were succeeded by the current leaders, Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo. Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo[6] is the current team leader of Watoto ministries, assisted by various campus pastors and other ministry leaders. The pastoral team, led by Pastor Edward Mwesigye, is responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church and its membership.
Other Teams
The deacons' team is responsible for the physical needs of the church.
Their responsibilities include:
Drafting of policies to govern day to day operations of the church, use of church property, handling of church finances, staff and any other aspect of the church as and when the need arises.
Oversight of the financial and business affairs of the church. They assist in ministry of ordinances, hiring, discipline, and removal of church employees and ensuring that the pastors and all the employees of the church are adequately remunerated.
The deacons also assist in management, upkeep and maintenance of the church property. On behalf of the Church Council, the deacon's team is also responsible for the appointment of all the department team leaders of the church.
The elders' team is responsible for governing the direction of the church, guarding its doctrines, and together with the pastoral team, providing direction and authority within the church.
Children's Work
Watoto Church is home to Watoto Child Care Ministries, a ministry that assists vulnerable children and women in Uganda and which is best known for its Watoto Children's Choirs that tour internationally,[7][8] proselytizing, and raising money for the organisation. Watoto currently operates 3 villages for orphaned children[clarification needed]. These are home to more than 3000 children.
Performance
Watoto Church produces an annual Christmas cantata, as well as a gospel drama play every four years known as Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames. The shows are a mixture of live performance music, dance, scripted drama, sounds and lighting effects. Historically, the cantata has run through the week before Christmas.
ISO Investigation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church was criticised for refusing to postpone or cancel a scheduled tour of its children's choir. According to Uganda's child affairs minister, the Internal Security Organisation needed to investigate Watoto church for alleged breaches of child labour laws.[9]
Views on Sexuality
Watoto Church believes that sex may take place only within the confines of a monogamous, heterosexual marriage relationship. For this reason, Watoto Church has received criticism for its stance on homosexuality.[10] See Scott Lively visit [11][12] and the 2014 Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act[13] allegedly arose as a result of the conference.[14][15]
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