The United Methodist Church of Nigeria says, allegations of same-sex marriage against the church in some quarters are misinformation, to mislead the public and the authorities, as the church remains law abiding to the constitution, and the laws of Nigeria.
The newly elected Bishop of the church, said this at a service in his honour in Jalingo, Taraba State, on emerging as the leader of the church, at its West Africa Episcopal Conference, which was held in Accra, Ghana.
For some months now, the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, has been embroiled in the crisis over the recognition of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer community by the United Methodist Church in America.
The development has led to a breakaway faction, while those who remained in the United Methodist Church adopted the regionalisation ideology, which allows the church in African nations to reject the acceptance of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer community, in line with the laws and constitutions of their countries.
The election of a new bishop for the Nigeria Church in Accra, Ghana, by the church delegates from Nigeria and other African countries, is expected to address some of the crisis in the Nigerian church.
A service was organised in honour of the newly elected Bishop Ande Emmanuel, at the CAN Secretariat, on arrival in Jalingo, Taraba State, where he further emphasised the stand of the church against same-sex marriage, and appealed to the Taraba State Government to wade into the crisis.
He also added that the church is built on biblical teachings, and is obedient to the Nigerian constitution, and laws of the country.
Bishop Emmanuel will preside over the United Methodist Church in Nigeria and two other African countries, which are the districts of Cameroon and Senegal.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
