UMCN Crisis; Bishop Wesley Yohanna Accused Of Holding Visiting Bishop Hostage In Illegal Detention

 

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria, Central Nigeria Annual Conference has issued a damning vote of no confidence against Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, accusing him of financial misconduct, insubordination, and orchestrating the illegal detention of a fellow bishop.

 

The church leadership further alleges that Bishop Yohanna has made false claims about same-sex marriage to justify the formation of a breakaway denomination, the Global Methodist Church, and the subsequent illegal detention of Bishop John Schol, a representative of the Council of Bishops.

At a special session of the Southern and Central Nigeria Annual Conference held in Filiya, GombeState, the church said Bishop Yohanna has engaged in financial impropriety, defied church authority, harassed clergy and members, and coerced them into joining the Global Methodist Church.

 

The statement, signed by Reverend Nuhu Haruna, the conference secretary, outlined the bishop's alleged misconduct and its detrimental impact on the church. It also highlighted the illegal detention of Bishop Schol, who was in Nigeria to mediate the internal conflict but was prevented from meeting with United Methodist Church delegates by members of the Global Methodist Church.

 

The conference has resolved to petition the West Africa Committee on Episcopacy, the West Africa College of Bishops, and the Council of Bishops to intervene and safeguard the interests of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria and its members. Read full statement on below

 

PRESS STATEMENT RELEASED AT THE END OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCES HELD AT THE REV. SAMSON GWALADI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FILIYA JULY 22, 2024 

 

Two Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church Nigeria Episcopal yesterday held a special call session despite holding hostage Bishop John Schol, the representative of the Council of Bishops of the church on false claims by the breakaway factional of the new Global Methodist Church led by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna.  

 

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria of recent have been undergo some internal challenges due to the bishop's involvement in financial malpractices, disobedience to the order and discipline of the church, harassment and intimation of pastors and members, and breakaway to join a new denomination called Global Methodist Church while still holding United Methodist position and properties. These challenges has led to several formal complaints filed against the bishop which led to West Africa College of Bishops, the Council of Bishops and the complainants to reach an agreement in a document called "Path Forward Covenant" where all parties agreed that Bishop John Schol, the bishop of the Greater New Jesse and Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conferences in the United States to come to Nigeria and help mediate for peace. 

 

Whereas, Bishop John Schol arrived Nigeria on the 20th July 2024 and proceeded to the first place of his assignment in Gombe State on the 21 July 2024 and was held hostage and denied access to meet the delegates of the United Methodist Church by members of the Global Methodist Church, a breakaway faction of the church led by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna on false accusation that he was sent to Nigeria to promote same sex marriage. An accusation that is not only false and misleading but conned to give the new breakaway Global Methodist Church undue advantage over the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN). Under United Methodist laws no region is force to adopt practices that are against their country's laws and each region of the church is autonomous in terms of theology and practices. 

 

Whereas the conference secretary Rev. NuhuHaruna reported to the delegates the situation, and despite holding the mediating bishop hostage the 673 delegates who gathered for the Special call session proceeded by first condemned the action and inaction of Bishop John Wesley Yohanna the leader of the new breakaway faction and nominate with vote without debate to elect Rev. Dr. Isa AuduDunah and Rev. Ali Matthias as president pro tempore. 

 

Whereas, the special session was held as planed under the presidents pro tempore where the following resolutions where voted in favor of: 

 

Whereas, the special session voted in favor to approve the Path Forward Team as recommended in the path forward report. 

 

Whereas, the special Session voted to keep the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, does not endorsed homosexuality and would remain connected to the worldwide United Methodist Church. 

 

Whereas, the special session voted to set aside except ordination actions of annual conference held between January 1 2021 and Jun 1 2024 for gross violation of the church laws and conference rules. 

 

Whereas, the special session voted to elect new UMCN incorporated Board of Trustees, Rural Health Board, Orphanage Home Board, BanyamTheological Seminary Board, Pension Board, Area Treasurer, Communicators, and saddled the new boards with the responsibility of reviewing before appointment heads of the United Methodist institution and their staff. The special session further deferred the rest of the conference officers election to a regular session.

 

Whereas, the special session passed a vote of no confidence on Bishop John Wesley Yohanna for financial malpractices, disobedience to the order and discipline of the church, undermining the ministry of other clergy, harassing or coercing United Methodist in Nigeria to join his new breakaway denomination called Global Methodist Church. Further, more the special session resolved to write to the West Africa Committee on Episcopacy, West Africa College of Bishops, and the Council of Bishops to take immediate action that would protect the well-being of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria and its members. 

 

The third and the fourth sessions of the special will continue in Jalingo tomorrow July 24, 2024 for the Southern and Northeast Nigeria Annual Conference. 

 

Signed: 

Rev. Nuhu Haruna

Conference Secretary 

Central Nigeria Annual Conference