UMCN Blossoms Anew: How Bishop Ande Emmanuel Is Leading UMCN Through Renewal, Growth
At the centre of this resurgence stands Bishop Ande Emmanuel, whose first year in office has combined steady leadership, historical consciousness, and a forward-looking vision anchored in unity.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel was elected into the episcopacy on December 7, 2024, at the 10th Quadrennial Session of the West Africa Central Conference, held from December 5 to 8 at the Western Premier Hotel in Accra, Ghana. He was consecrated the following day, December 8, 2024, and assigned as Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, with additional oversight of the Mission Districts of Senegal and Cameroon. His election came at a moment of deep uncertainty for the church, placing upon him the responsibility of leadership at a time when clarity and courage were urgently needed.
A Legacy That Refuses to Disappear
The United Methodist Church in Nigeria is not a recent creation nor a product of convenience. Its roots run deep—planted through decades of evangelism, missionary partnership, sacrifice, and service. Long before present controversies, the church had established schools, clinics, churches, and discipleship movements that transformed entire communities.
Those identity battles reached their peak after years of internal disagreements, leadership crises, and legal disputes that began in 2010 and intensified following the 2024 schism, when there were attempts to take over UMCN properties, re-register the church's name, and seize administrative structures, leading to court cases, misinformation campaigns, and widespread tension among members. In some areas, church buildings and seminary facilities were reportedly attacked or vandalized, while congregations were displaced.
This legacy, church leaders insist, cannot be erased by administrative maneuvers or contested narratives. "The history of the church lives in the people," one senior clergy member observed, "not in documents altered by those who wish it away." Under Bishop Emmanuel, this historical consciousness has been reclaimed as a source of strength rather than nostalgia, reminding members that their faith tradition is larger than any present conflict.
Standing Firm in a Season of Pressure
Bishop Emmanuel assumed leadership at a time of intense institutional pressure. Internally, a breakaway faction sought to redefine the church's identity, remove its insignia, and circulate claims that multiple annual conferences had exited the denomination. Externally, misinformation campaigns blurred public understanding, while the freezing of church bank accounts left UMCN financially paralyzed. Violent conflicts in parts of Taraba State further deepened the pain, claiming lives and displacing families.
Rather than capitulate to confusion, the Bishop responded with calm resolve. He consistently reaffirmed UMCN's place within the global United Methodist connection, maintaining ties with the Council of Bishops and international partners. This connectional strength proved crucial: Nigeria was not isolated, nor could it be silenced.
The Power of Connection and Resilience
One of the defining factors behind UMCN's continued blossoming is its connection to the worldwide United Methodist Church. This global network provides shared doctrine, accountability, leadership development, and missional support—ensuring that no single region can be easily fragmented or erased.
Within Nigeria, the resilience of the people has been equally decisive. Despite leadership disputes and public misrepresentation, worship continued, evangelism advanced, and ministries flourished. From the North through the Middle Belt to the South, new congregations emerged, youth and women's fellowships remained active, and pastoral formation continued uninterrupted.
Today, five Annual Conferences are fully operational, 81 districts are active nationwide, and 742 pastors are on active appointment. Far from shrinking, the church has consolidated and expanded.
Healing a Wounded Church
A hallmark of Bishop Emmanuel's leadership has been his commitment to reconciliation. At clergy retreats, conference sessions, and joint meetings—including the 2025 Pastors' Retreat of the Southern Conference attended by over 350 clergy—he openly acknowledged past wounds while calling for forgiveness, transparency, and renewed collegiality.
His message has been consistent: unity is not optional, and healing is both spiritual and structural. This posture has gradually restored trust between the episcopal office, clergy, and laity, laying the groundwork for collective mission.
Another major turning point came when the United Methodist Church in Nigeria formally reunited after 14 years of division. The historic reconciliation was sealed at a landmark conference in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, where thousands of clergy, delegates, and members from across the country gathered in what leaders described as "a new dawn" for the church.
The Jalingo conference brought together representatives of the Southern, Northern, Central, and Northeastern Nigeria Annual Conferences—many of whom had not sat together formally in over a decade. Joint worship services, reconciliation meetings, and collective planning sessions defined the gathering, alongside a symbolic Unity Road Walk through major streets of Jalingo that drew over 5,000 participants singing hymns, praying, and carrying messages of forgiveness and restoration. The conference reaffirmed Bishop Ande Emmanuel as the recognized leader of UMCN and witnessed the ordination of 65 new pastors, widely seen as evidence of renewed growth and spiritual revival. Delegates also adopted the Nigeria Path Forward Covenant to guide healing, governance reforms, and peaceful coexistence going forward.
Growth That Defies the Narrative
Contrary to claims that the UMC was losing ground in Nigeria, the past year recorded tangible growth. Eighteen new churches were planted, particularly in the South-South and South-East regions. Ordination services across conferences added new elders, deacons, local pastors, and home missionaries, reinforcing the church's ministerial workforce.
Education and leadership development were also prioritized. Forty pastors, student pastors, and lay leaders received scholarships to theological institutions in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In addition, 43 new staff members were recruited and trained to support expanding mission work.
Faith, Strategy, and Sustainability
Perhaps the most visible symbol of UMCN's renewed confidence was the launch of a ₦2.5 billion investment in Agriculture and Evangelism on August 12, 2025, in Jalingo. Under Bishop Emmanuel's leadership, the church embraced a model that weds faith to long-term sustainability.
The initiative includes large-scale rice cultivation across wet and dry seasons, cattle fattening, piggery projects, land acquisition, and future processing industries. Specialized teams were commissioned and equipped with tractors, vehicles, motorcycles, and ICT tools. The goals are clear: reduce dependence on offerings, create jobs for youths, improve members' livelihoods, and fund evangelism without financial strain.
A Church That Serves Beyond Itself
Even amid internal rebuilding, UMCN has remained outward-looking. Following violent clashes in Karim Lamido Local Government Area, the church distributed relief materials worth over ₦31 million to both Fulani herders and farming communities, deliberately crossing ethnic and religious lines. Similarly, with support from UMCOR, food and clothing worth ₦35 million were distributed to drought-affected communities across Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, and Bauchi states.
These actions reinforced the church's public witness as a stabilizing force in times of crisis—living proof that its mission extends beyond the pulpit.
A Future No One Can Cancel
Looking ahead, plans are underway to plant 50 additional churches, expand agricultural ventures into processing industries, adjust conference boundaries for efficiency, and complete long-delayed infrastructure projects such as the Gwaten Secretariat and new conference centres.
For many within the church, the lesson of the past year is clear: history written in truth cannot be erased. The United Methodist Church in Nigeria continues to blossom because its foundation is spiritual, its mission is divine, and its people are unshakable.
Under Bishop Ande Emmanuel's leadership, UMCN is not merely preserving a legacy—it is writing a new chapter, one defined by unity, resilience, and a future firmly anchored in hope.
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