LGBTQ controversy: UMC Northern Nigeria conference exits church, joins TGMC

As controversy over the legitimacy of LGBTQ issues rages on in the country, particularly regarding its impact on the Church, members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Northern Nigeria Annual Conference have unanimously voted to exit the UMC and join The Global Methodist Church (TGMC) with all its properties.

The decision was outlined in a communiqué issued at the end of the Special Called Session of the UMC Northern Nigeria Annual Conference held at UMCN Bachama, Tondolo District, Karim-Lamido LGA, Taraba State, on August 1, 2024.

The Resolution/Communique Committee was chaired by Rev. Lydia Alafy, while Mr. Titus Belison Haske served as Secretary. He emphasized, “In Acts of Apostles 15:36, when there was disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over their journey for evangelism, they parted.”

The communiqué further stated, “The Northern Nigeria Annual Conference cannot and shall never be part of a Church that legalizes sin—celebrates homosexuality, and ordains self-avowed practicing gay and lesbian clergy in the same Church.”

The delegates vowed to continue contending for the undiluted Gospel of Jesus Christ and overwhelmingly opposed regionalism, which they believe would cause disharmony in the United Methodist Church due to unbiblical theological persuasions and interpretations.

It was also stated that, “All titles to our properties and assets will be transferred to the new entity as resolved. By this action, the Board of Trustees is hereby directed to act accordingly to secure our properties.”

The delegates further resolved that the Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria Episcopal Area should seek legal interpretation in Nigerian courts regarding the implications of same-sex marriage practices (LGBTQIA+) for the UMC in Nigeria.

They sought clarification on whether existing laws under Section 5.3 of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits same-sex marriage and imposes a 10-year imprisonment penalty, as well as Paragraphs 304.3 and 2702.1 (a-d); 3(a-f) of the UMC Book of Discipline 2016, which condemn homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching and a chargeable offense, are upheld.

The motion was put to a vote, and all 260 delegates supported the motion to seek legal interpretations of the Nigerian constitution on the matter.

It was further resolved that, if the GC 2024 passes the petition to legalize regionalization plans and same-sex marriage (LGBTQ+), which are considered incompatible with Christian teaching according to the Bible and the Book of Discipline, the conference delegates unanimously voted to join any emerging connectional Methodist denomination with all properties. This decision reflects that the UMC Northern Nigeria Annual Conference joined the United Methodist Church in 1985 with properties from EKAN Church.

The motion was also put to a vote, where the 260 delegates unanimously supported it, emphasizing that, although Paragraph 508 of the BOD 2016 provided an effective date for GC legislation, self-avowed gay and lesbian persons were ordained as clergy and consecrated as Bishops without caution or reprimand from the Judicial Council.

The UMC considered the incompatible language in the BOD as “harmful,” and the conference had previously resolved that if the Church changes the definition of marriage contrary to Biblical teachings (i.e., marriage is between a man and a woman), the entire NNAC would exit the UMC and join any denomination that upholds Biblical teachings and traditional beliefs.

It was also noted that a faction within the NNAC boycotted the 17th, 18th, and 19th regular sessions of the Annual Conference, refused to pay Church apportionment budgets, observed special Sundays, rejected appointments from Church leadership, and organized a parallel structure and leadership, which violates the UMC BOD 2016.

The Council of Bishops had delegated Bishop John Schol and Bishop Yohanna John Wesley of the Nigeria Episcopal Area to schedule a “Special Call Session” involving the Northern and Central Nigeria Annual Conferences at Rev. Ali Masoyi Memorial Cathedral, Gwandum, Shongom LGA, Gombe State, from July 22-23, 2024, to reconcile the Church. However, the breakaway faction recruited non-delegates, hoodlums, and thugs to disrupt the process, preventing the peace process from continuing.

As a result, the security agency advised Bishop John Schol to leave the meeting venue due to threats of violence and harm to him and other delegates.

The Cabinet members, in consultation with the resident Bishop Yohanna John Wesley, fixed a Special Call Session for August 1, 2024, after the session scheduled for July 22, 2024, was canceled due to tensions.

Upon arrival at the venue of the Special Call Session in UMCN Bachama, Tondolo District, Karim-Lamido LGA, Taraba State, Bishop Yohanna John Wesley was unavoidably absent. The delegates invoked Paragraph 603.6 of the UMC BOD to elect a President Pro Tempore among the traveling Elders without debate, and Rev. Wilson Ganah was elected to preside over the meeting.

The conference in session expressed their displeasure with the resolutions passed during the recent General Conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, from April 23 to May 3, 2024, which legalized regionalization of the Church, LGBTQIA+ same-sex marriage, and the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals.