The bishop of the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Nigerian Episcopal Area has reportedly resigned amid a disagreement over same-sex marriage and the ordination of non-celibate gay clergy.
A UMC Council of Bishops spokesperson confirmed to The Christian Post that the denominational leadership had accepted the resignation of Bishop John Wesley Yohanna.
Council of Bishops President Bishop Tracy Smith Malone also sent a letter to her fellow bishops confirming the resignation, the outlet reports, saying it became effective on Monday.
She wrote: “We are saddened by his decision to no longer continue ministry with The United Methodist Church. I invite us to pray for our former colleague and the church in Nigeria, especially those who choose to remain in The United Methodist Church. This is a very difficult and confusing time for them."
The UMC bishops are reportedly working with the West Africa College of Bishops and Episcopacy Committee to install interim episcopal leadership for the region.
In the meantime, Bishop Tracy urged UMC congregations in Nigeria to “immediately withhold sending funding and escrow the funds until new episcopal leadership is in place and new mechanisms are in place".
At a specially called session of the Nigeria Episcopal Area held last week, the entire regional body reportedly voted to leave the UMC and join the more conservative Global Methodist Church (GMC) as a result of the controversy.
The decision to disaffiliate from the UMC, Bishop John said, was in response to the denomination’s decision earlier this year to allow for same-sex marriage and the ordination of noncelibate gay clergy.
"We want to make a statement that since the church has derailed from Biblical principle we cannot be in this church where… homosexuality can be celebrated,” Bishop John said in his statement on Monday.
However, a collective of Nigerian UMC church officials released a statement countering Bishop John's claim that the Episcopal Area had disaffiliated, claiming that only around ten per cent of the regional body opted to leave, along with Bishop John.
“Even though we are saddened by their exit, we hold them in our prayers and wish them God’s guidance in their new found faith community,” the statement.reads.
