According to Vanguard, Bishop John-Wesley Yohanna, Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), has revealed that his resignation was triggered by the church’s decision to recognize LGBTQ practices. In an interview, Yohanna explained that after almost 12 years of service, he could no longer align with a doctrine that contradicted both his faith and Nigeria’s laws.
Yohanna noted that the United Methodist Church (UMC) had voted to recognize LGBTQ during its General Conference in May 2024, which prompted his decision to leave the denomination. “In the Nigerian church, we had always opposed homosexuality. When LGBTQ was legalized, we could no longer stay in a church that accepts it,” he said. …CONTINUE READING
He shared that prior to his resignation, the UMCN had passed resolutions indicating that they would break away from UMC to join the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a faction that opposes LGBTQ recognition.
Yohanna also addressed rumors suggesting his involvement in the repatriation of a Zimbabwean UMC Bishop, Eben Nhiwatiwa, by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Denying any involvement, he emphasized that he had no knowledge of the Bishop’s presence in Nigeria. Yohanna stated, “I had no hand in the ordeal of Bishop Nhiwatiwa. These are fabricated lies against me.”
He attributed the false allegations to an individual he had previously declined to ordain due to a lack of theological qualifications. “This is someone trying to blackmail me because of his grievances over not being ordained as clergy,” Yohanna added.
Despite leaving the UMC, Yohanna expressed regret over the situation and advised anyone entering Nigeria to ensure proper documentation. He reiterated his innocence and apologized to Bishop Nhiwatiwa for the inconvenience caused.
