UMCN Bishop Calls for Dialogue Amid Ongoing Church Dispute

The Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN), Bishop Ande Emmanuel, has called for dialogue and reconciliation following moves by a breakaway faction to appeal a recent court judgment.

Bishop Emmanuel made the call while speaking with journalists in his office in Jalingo, where he addressed developments surrounding the ongoing dispute within the church.

He explained that earlier efforts to resolve the crisis through dialogue did not yield results, prompting the church to seek legal clarification on the matter.

According to him, the court ruled that the process leading to the establishment of the Global Methodist Church in Nigeria (GMCN) was “null and void,” adding that the group is not a legally recognised entity in the country.

The bishop further alleged that there were attempts to tamper with church documents in a bid to take control of church property, stressing that the UMCN remains committed to lawful and transparent processes in addressing the situation.

He also dismissed claims linking the dispute to same-sex marriage, describing such assertions as false and inconsistent with both the doctrine of the church and Nigeria’s legal and cultural values.

Bishop Emmanuel stated that the church had presented three options to aggrieved members: to accept the court judgment, remain within the UMCN, or exit peacefully through due process.

While acknowledging the right of the faction to appeal the ruling, he maintained that the church remains open to reconciliation, emphasising that dialogue and peace remain the best path forward.

The cleric added that reconciliation efforts are already yielding positive results, revealing that about 2,080 members who had previously left the church have returned within the first quarter of the year.