United Methodist Church Nigeria ‘thriving’ regardless of break up

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria has taken steps to forge a path ahead and put behind the acrimonious division that noticed some leaders and members of the denomination create a splinter group.

Bishop Ande Emmanuel, who was elected because the bishop of the West Africa Central Convention in December 2024, stated he is dedicated to resolving the challenges that led to the departure of former leaders who went on to type the International Methodist Church of Nigeria. 

Bishop Emmanuel stated he held 25 listening and consultative conferences throughout the 5 annual conferences with a view of uniting all United Methodists in Nigeria. 

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“The aim of those classes is to hunt unity and listen to members’ issues and the way they need us to maneuver ahead,” stated Emmanuel, including that the denomination “stays steadfast and thriving, even within the face of challenges.”

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria’s Normal Secretary, the Rev. Dr Eunice Musa Iliya, instructed CDI in an interview that UMCN has gone “via a variety of challenges for over 23 years as a result of management and energy tussles.”

Iliya traced the denomination’s break up to a call made by former UMCN Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna who controversially resigned months forward of his retirement in August 2024. Yohanna, and a few former leaders of UMCN, had utilized and efficiently modified the registered title of UMCN to International Methodist Church in Nigeria, stated Iliya. 

“The saddest facet of the exit was former Bishop Yohanna and his loyalists’ choice to switch all of the UMCN properties to GMC after the unlawful change of title with out the consent of the church. They left with UMCN cash, all employees and pastors pension, together with all UMCN financial institution accounts and the UMCN headquarters in Mile Six Jalingo. Additionally they modified the signal boards to International Methodist Church,” Iliya added. 

She additionally responded to accusations made towards the UMC about its assist for same-sex marriage. She claimed the allegations had been “misinformation.”

“We wish to state categorically clear that the UMCN is Evangelical in its doctrine and doesn’t settle for, approve nor endorse homosexuality. The UMCN believes that marriage is completely between a person and a girl as stipulated within the Nigerian structure, theology and tradition,” Iliya continued.

Referencing the 2024 United Methodist Church Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Iliya clarified that every area throughout the UMC was granted “autonomy to contextualize its theology, insurance policies and administration based mostly on the legislation of the land, tradition and theology.”

The Charlotte Convention threatened to separate the Methodist Church after members overwhelmingly voted to raise the ban on ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy and the blessing of same-sex {couples}. Tons of of Methodist church buildings throughout the globe disagreed with the choice and moved to sever ties with the UMC. 

On Dec. 17, 2024, the UMC moved to courtroom searching for to have the title change nullified and the property, properties and accounts returned to UMCN. The primary listening to of the courtroom case is ready for March 3, 2025. 

Because the courtroom course of begins, Emmanuel stated the main target can be to unify the church, reconciliation and capability growth to cement the church’s function as a beacon of hope and “a supply of transformation in our nation.”

“I urge all members to stay steadfast and never be distracted by those that try and embark on the inconceivable mission of destroying the church in Nigeria,” stated Emmanuel.

In an announcement, the International Methodist Church Nigeria stated it did not wish to touch upon the authorized dispute due to the “potential for misinterpretation or misunderstanding.”

Bishop John Schol, who had stepped in briefly for 3 months earlier than the election of Emmanuel, stated that as a substitute of specializing in the lawsuit, UMCN had chosen to maneuver collectively “with holy and daring plans to honor Jesus Christ and advance God’s mission and ministry via the United Methodist Church.”

Schol underscored Nigeria’s essential function within the unfold of the Gospel because the sixth most populated nation on the earth. He acknowledged the reunification of a gaggle referred to as the Southern Convention of The United Methodist Church that had separated itself from the denomination for a decade as a result of variations with Yohanna. 

“The unification is a time of renewal and alternative for larger evangelism and mission. UMC Nigeria will unify United Methodists round a typical mission that develops non secular and transformation leaders, making disciples, rising congregations and remodeling the world,” Bishop Schol instructed United Methodist Information.

The UMCN now has 5 regional our bodies that are known as conferences: Southern Nigeria, Central Nigeria, Northeast Nigeria, Northern Nigeria and the Southern Convention. UMCN, along with the Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire Episcopal areas make up the West Africa Central Conferences. 

This text was initially printed at Christian Day by day Worldwide