Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The United Methodist Church Nigeria UMCN has made its position know on issue of same sex marriage and other issues.
The Bishop of United Methodist Church Nigeria UMCN, Nigeria Episcopal Area and Mission District of Senegal and Cameron, Bishop Ande Emmanuel disclose this in an Exclusive Interview with Our Correspondent in Jalingo.
“World over, the Church has faced increased challenges about LGBTQ.
“These challenges range from acceptance of gay people to be priests in the Church, to the blessing of marriage between two gay persons. In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the Anglican Church of Canada, permitted the blessing of same-sex unions. In 2003, two openly gay men in England and the United States became candidates for bishop.
“As of 2004, other Anglican provinces, including the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and the Scottish Episcopal Church, permitted the ordination of gay clergy and others, such as the Episcopal Church in the USA, permitted the blessing of same-sex unions as well.
“The Church of England has allowed priests to enter into same-sex civil partnerships since 2005. In February 2023, the General Synod of Church of England endorsed blessings for same-sex couples.
“However, in Africa, the Anglican Church in Nigeria denounced the position of the Anglican Church in England, as well as that of the majority of the Western world and reaffirmed that the Church in Nigeria will not be accepting LGBTQ. They became autonomous but never changed the name of the Church.
According to him, the challenge of how to deal with the issue of LGBTQ was also not limited to the church.
“Several sovereign States have amended their laws to allow gay marriages, while some other States have enacted counter laws to reject LGBTQ marriage or practice in their Country specifically. In Nigeria, the Same Sex (Prohibition) Act, 2013 was promulgated to criminalize the Same Sex marriages in Nigeria. In particular, Section 5 of the Act states as follows:
5.-(1) A person who enters into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.
(2) A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
(3) A person or group of persons who administer, witness, abets or aids the solemnization of same-sex marriage or civil union, or supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, Registration of homosexual clubs and societies, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and IS liable on conviction to a term of 1 0 years’ imprisonment.
“There is no doubt that the promulgation of the Same Sex (Prohibition) Act, 2013 was Nigerian’s reaction to sweeping changes made by the Western Countries, to accept LGBTQ, and of course this brings to bare the reality of LGBTQ to our daily lives, the Church and the State.
“The Act forbids the practice of LGBTQ in Nigeria, but not Nigerian relationships with other States such as the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom that allow and practice gay marriages. And if that was the case, Nigeria would have severed its diplomatic relationship with these States, where gay marriage and practices are allowed.
“Just like in other Christian denominations and States, the United Methodist Church (UMC) faced its own challenges on the issue of LGBTQ, and in reaction to the several State divergent laws on LGBTQ voted to maintain neutrality on the issue.
Bishop Emmanuel pointed out that the UMC did not vote to introduce gay marriage in Nigeria or legalize same-sex marriage in the church in Nigeria.
“The UMC neutrality position simply allows the church to adapt to their State laws on issues of LGBTQ, bearing in mind that most churches operate under their various State laws.
“In Africa, the United Methodist West Africa Central Conference and the United Methodist Church in Nigeria have voted not to permit ordination of gays and lesbians nor same-gender marriage in West Africa and Nigeria because of their Biblical beliefs and values.
“The UMCN, which was registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not permit the ordination or marriage of LGBTQ persons in her Church.
“The Church as also in August 2024 passed a resolution to abide by the Nigerian Law and not to allow or practice LGBTQ in whatever form in Nigeria.
On the crisis between the Global Methodist Church GMC and United Methodist Church Nigeria UMCN, the Bishop said:
“The GMCN headed by Bishop Pena Auta is a breakaway member of the UMCN. It constitutes about 30% of United Methodists in Nigeria allegedly relying on the UMC neutral stance. However, the real crises in the Church began with the accusation of misappropriation of funds of the Church running into billions of Niara, made against the then Bishop of UMCN, Bishop John Wesley Yohannah.
“The United Methodists in Nigeria are deeply saddened and even apologetic for how the internal division within the church has spilt into the Nigerian society. In times of disagreement, the Church should show restraint, peacefulness and bear witness to the greater unity we have through God’s grace and Jesus Christ.
“Recently, the Global Methodist Church (GMC) published an article that bore false witness against The United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and we must set the record straight.
“The matter was investigated by a Committee of the Church, which found that the then Bishop misappropriated these funds. For instance, there was no account of the funds realized from the sales of the Church’s private jet, which was to be used to set up a transportation Company for the church.
“There was also cases of arbitral withdrawal of funds from the church’s dollar accounts running into thousands of dollars. At the end of the investigation, the then Bishop accepted to make the refund to the Church, which was accepted.
“But instead of refunding the monies, he found an opportunity when the Church took its neutral stance decision on LGBTQ, to announce his exit from UMCN and thereafter resigned his position as a Bishop as well as from UMCN.
“After he resigned from UMCN, he convened a Special Annual Conference of UMCN ( not minding that he was no longer a member) where a resolution was purportedly passed to leave UMCN. But instead of leaving UMCN to find their church, they forged the signature of the Secretary of UMCN to deceive the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) into believing that the UMCN was changing its corporate name to GMCN.
“CAC fell for their deceit and unlawfully changed the name of UMCN to GMCN. The matter has been submitted to the Court for reversal and reported to the Nigerian Police for investigation and prosecution of all the persons found culpable in the act of forgery.
On the harassment of his members and violence in some Conferences, the Bishop attributed it to the members of the breakaway faction.
“GMC leaders have been disrupting worship services, telling United Methodist pastors they can no longer serve in their church, destroying property and even violence.
“In December a dispute arose between GMC and UMC members in Munga Dosa about church property and as a result, three United Methodists were killed and 10 others injured. We have no report that GMC members were killed or injured by United Methodists.
“Across Taraba States and in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the government have taken pro-active measures to prevent a total breakdown of law and order by forcefully closing down the churches of UMCN which the GMCN are trying so hard to convert as theirs.
“The reasons for this breakdown of law and law, resulting the killings of innocent members of the UMCN, including two children who were burnt alive while sleeping in their father’s house in Taraba Further, the GMC continues to file false reports leading to the arrests of UMC members and leaders, is not because of LGBTQ or that UMCN is practicing gay marriage in Nigeria.
“The only reason for the violence against the UMCN and its members is that GMCN fraudulently and unlawfully changed the name of UMCN in its incorporation certificate at CAC and used it to forcefully and fraudulently take over the properties and monies of UMCN.
On the way forward, the Bishop said,
“As UMCN, we have sought to resolve the issues peacefully and present a witness to others of the principles of Christ.
“In November, a month before the Munga Dossa killings, the UMCN leadership wrote to Bishops Auta, Jones and Yohanna about concerns of rising tension and harassment and that we should work together to lower the tension.
“Our letter went unanswered for a month until several days after the Munga Dosa killings.
“We received an email from the GMC Bishop indicating they were not able to respond because they were travelling for a month.
“We did meet and UMCN leadership presented to Bishops Auta and Jones a plan to address the tension and prevent future violence, which included allowing everything to remain in place as it is now and allowing the courts to resolve the disputes.
“Again, it has been more than a month and as of the beginning of February, we have not received a response.
“As law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, we have submitted a case at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja division, to resolve the issue of the unlawful change of the name of UMCN in its incorporation certificate, as we believe that once the issue of the name of the church is resolved one way or the other by the Court, these unnecessary acts of violence on the ownership of the properties of UMCN will stop.
“We strongly believe that if GMCN has any evidence of any practice of same-sex marriage in Nigeria by UMCN, they are free to report such matters to the police, instead of inciting and misinforming members of the Church to obtain cheap sentiments and cover up the monumental case of misappropriation of funds of the church, which has not been refunded.
“We shall continue to hope and pray to God for the grace of peace and love amongst his children as we navigate through this period of challenge in the live of the Church, trusting in God that the truth shall prevail, and UMCN shall redeem its certificate to put to an end the sufferings, persecution and killings of her members – he said.
In another development, Bishop Ande Emmanuel has call on members to demonstrates Christlike life to draw others closer to God
Bishop Ande Emmanuel of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria Episcopal Area has urged Christians to draw closer to God.
Bishop Emmanuel said God is always willing to do new things in the lives of those who serve Him diligently and faithfully.
While addressing Members of the UMCN McBride Charge, Jalingo, in his first service with the members as the Bishop of the Church, Ande Emmanu, el encouraged them to remain steadfast and committed to the services of God.
Bishop Ande who tagged the message ‘ The Lord is Bringing a new thing’ urged members to always heed to biblical teachings to experience God’s blessing.
In an interview the Dean of Cabinet of UMCN Reverend Eli Yaku said unity remains the backbone of the growth of the Church.
The Dean asked members of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria not to allow anything distracts their attention from serving God.
The Sunday service which was held at the Residence of Mrs Esther Salau featured the inauguration of the church sub-group leaders,prayers for the leaders,growth of the church among others.