UMC Nigeria Episcopal Area rejects same sex marriage
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The United Methodist Church, Nigeria Episcopal Area has rejected the resolution of its General Assembly where it was agreed that persons of same sex can marry themselves.
The UMC Bishop, Nigeria Episcopal Area, John Wilsley disclosed the position of the church to journalists shortly after the Joint Special Call Session of the church held in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital.
The Bishop stated that the teachings of same sex marriage was not biblical as such, members of the church in Nigeria, where he leads would never accept such teachings.
“As a leader of the church in Nigeria, I want to tell you that we reject the resolution of the general Assembly on homosexuality and we stand against it. I want to call on all members of the United Methodist Church, Nigeria Episcopal Area and the general public to stand by biblical truth and standard that marriage is between a man and a woman”, he added.
The Bishop frowned at the attitude of a faction of the church, whom he alleged had deserted the church for over three years but had been going about deceiving people that the incompatible language have not been removed from the book of discipline of the church.
“The resolution on incompatible language has been passed for decades. It was resolved that homosexuality is incompatible with christian teachings. This is where we stand. I however, wonder why a group of persons led by Pastor Ande would now be going about telling people that incompatible language has not been removed.
“Ande was one of those who fought for the removal of this incompatible language. He belong to UMC mainstream and that is the main body that was working hard to remove the incompatible language. He belongs to African Voice of Unity where he had a paper, a mail in which he encouraged people that he is working with Christmas covenant and Christmas covenant is one of those who worked against the removal of the incompatible language.
“He is the board member of the organization that work against the removal of the incompatible language. How then he lied to Nigerians that the incompatible language was not removed. Whoever tells you that the incompatible language was not removed in the UMC is a lier”, the Bishop stated.
While expressing his willingness to accept the breakaway faction, Bishop Wilsley revealed that the faction had taken the Board of Trustees of the Church and himself to State High Court in Jalingo and it was in their best interest to withdraw all the cases if truly they are genuine in their quest for reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the Joint Session in Jalingo resolved that the break away factions of the church would no longer be treated as UMC members since they continuously turn down the several calls and invitations to come back to the church but rather, chose to operate in isolation.
The session mandated the Secretary, Dr Aliu Mbiko to immediately write to the President, West Africa College of Bishops to call the Special Session in February, to enable them ascertain their position on certain issues including the issue of regionalisation, before the General Assembly.
Also, members at the Session resolved that if the Special Session of the Central Conference was not conducted before the General Conference 2024, the UMC Nigeria Episcopal Area Board of Trustees by the meeting are mandated to begin the process of changing the name of the church “because currently, there are Gay and Lesbians Bishops including clergy and this is a clear violation of church laws”.
