Gauteng's Portfolio Committee on Social Development has threatened to subpoena the Central Methodist Church's custodian Bishop Paul Verryn.

He walked out of a meeting convened to discuss the humanitarian crisis at his mission in the Johannesburg city centre.

Committee members accused Verryn of treating the legislature with contempt.

The bishop failed to attend another special meeting convened by the legislature a week ago, sighting prior commitments.

The committee's chair Molebatsi Bopape said the committee had the power to subpoena Verryn and would do so if necessary.

The committee was also concerned the bishop failed to provide numbers of the people taking refuge at the church after being requested in writing to do so.

Verryn tended an apology via his legal council which was rejected by Bopape.