Delegates of the Nigeria Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, (UMC), say they are exiting the church, due to the adoption of same-sex marriage ideology by its headquarters in the United States of America.
The delegates, led by the Bishop of the church, John Wesley, are also calling for the attention of relevant authorities, on the legalisation of homosexuality by those who remain in the church, which is contrary to the Nigerian constitution.
Since the adoption and recognition of the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer LGBTQ community by the United Methodist Church, at its global level, the arms of the church in Nigeria have been divided over the acceptance of the new doctrine.
The last General Conference of the church held in April this year, at the headquarters of the church in North Carolina, in the United States, saw the Nigerian church further divided on their allegiance to the church at the global level.
Years of back and forth have ended with the bishop of the church, John Wesley, leading the delegates of the Nigeria Episcopal Area to exit the church.
At a press briefing in the Mcbride office of the church in Jalingo, the bishop told pressmen that the church has now become the Global Methodist Church.
He led some leaders of the church to air their grievances about the adoption of same-sex marriage by the United Methodist Church in America, saying it was against biblical teachings, and an offence under the Nigerian constitution.
They also want Nigerian authorities to investigate those who remain in the United Methodist Church for propagating homosexuality.
Speaking on the state of the nation, they call on the government to address the plight of Nigerian families, suffering from the difficult economy.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
