Citing both scripture and cultural values that reject same-sex marriages, the leadership of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) stated that the church has not conducted or endorsed such acts.
In a statement on Wednesday, made available to journalists in Taraba State in preparation for its upcoming election of a new bishop for the Nigeria Episcopal Area, the Dean of the Church, Rev. Eli S. Yakku, described Bishop John Wesley Yohanna’s allegations against the UMCN as “baseless and misleading,” stating that “there is no evidence of any church in Nigeria conducting same-sex marriages.”
Describing the allegations as “false,” Rev. Yakku added that such claims are aimed at sowing the seeds of “discord” among the Christian community.
The upcoming election, which The Guardian learned is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, from December 5 to 8, 2024, is observed to have been necessitated following the resignation of the former bishop, John Wesley Yohanna. Our correspondent learned that Bishop Yohanna left the UMC earlier this year to join the Global Methodist Church (GMC).
It would be recalled that Bishop Yohanna attributed his decision to leave the church to allegations that the UMCN endorsed same-sex marriages during its General Conference held in the United States in May 2024.
Debunking Bishop Yohanna’s claims, Rev. Yakku stressed that unity and adherence to constitutional processes are critical to the church. He stated, “We are not against anyone choosing to leave for the GMC, but we must ensure that all actions are lawful and respectful of the church’s established guidelines.”
Yakku, who also addressed what he described as “one of the most contentious aspects of the split, which is the control of the church property,” said, “Under UMC law, all properties are held in trust and cannot be transferred without following established protocols.”
He further argued that Bishop Yohanna’s move to transfer church property to the GMC is unconstitutional and contrary to church doctrine.
The church also claimed that Bishop Yohanna’s decision is motivated by a desire to maintain lifelong authority as a bishop, a role which, according to Yakku, “he would otherwise relinquish upon his mandatory retirement in August 2024 under United Methodist Church (UMC) law.”
Reaffirming that the UMCN has not adopted and will never adopt same-sex marriages, Yakku emphasized that church properties allegedly claimed by Bishop Yohanna “are held in trust according to the church law in the Book of Discipline.”
The church further accused Bishop Yohanna of failing to fulfill his promise of uniting the church during his consecration. Instead, they alleged that his actions have deepened divisions within the UMCN.
Pointing to his alleged unwillingness to adhere to accountability measures, Yakku noted that this “fueled his decision to join the GMC.”
Amid the turmoil, the UMC Council of Bishops, The Guardian learned, has appointed Bishop John Schol as the interim episcopal leader for Nigeria. Bishop Schol, along with three assisting bishops, will oversee the UMCN’s affairs until a new indigenous bishop is elected on December 7, 2024, in Ghana.
It would be recalled that Bishop Yohanna recently announced that the entire property of the UMCN had been transferred to the GMC, claiming that the breakaway church is in possession of the documents.
