Confrontations Mounting over Potential UMC Split

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A United Methodist Insight Analysis

NIGERIA SECTION UPDATED JUNE 3 to include information submitted by the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference.

Confrontations are mounting among United Methodists regarding a potential split in the denomination, with disputes over pastoral appointments, tensions between opposing groups within congregations, and criticism and formal charges lodged against bishops alleging bias against clergy on both sides of the divide.

Attention has focused most recently on U. S. disputes alleging anti-traditionalist bias in pastoral appointments in the North Georgia, California Pacific, Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey annual conferences. The Rev. Walter Fenton, vice president of strategic engagement for the Wesleyan Covenant Association, has been reporting on developments in the U.S. disputes on the WCA website.

However, internationally the circumstances flip. Confrontations more frequently target clergy and laity who want to stay in the UMC rather than those siding with the WCA’s proposed Global Methodist Church. Incidents have occurred this spring in the Philippines and Nigeria involving actions by two bishops who have aligned publicly with the WCA – Bishop Peter Torio in Baguio Episcopal Area (Northeast Philippines Annual Conference) and Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, whose Nigeria Episcopal Area encompasses four annual conferences.

Here is what United Methodist Insight has been able to determine thus far from social media posts and email contacts:

Shut out of Sunday worship

In the Philippines, a group of members who resist leaving the UMC were locked out of worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, at Santiago Central UMC, reported the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, composed of pro-LGBTQ caucuses, on Facebook May 25.

“Although the local church never took a vote, their pro-Wesleyan Association pastor did not allow them to attend Sunday services. Thus, the laity decided to hold services outside the gate. The deaconess set up an altar by the gate on church grounds,” said the LYNC post.

The Rev. Israel Alvaran, a Filipino United Methodist elder appointed to the Reconciling Ministries Network, commented on the LYNC post: “On the eve of the Northeast Philippines AC, some clergy and laity signed a statement saying they are seceding from the annual conference. The board of ordained ministry then considered the clergy signatories withdrawn from the UMC. Bishop Torio still reappointed the pastor of this local church, did not reappoint the DS who led the secession effort, and declared himself as the DS of this district.”

A United Methodist in the Santiago District, Rolando F. Ramos, has filed a formal complaint about Bishop Torio’s handling of the secession incident with the Philippines College of Bishops. Bishop Torio gave the following response to an Insight email inquiry about the reported dispute:

“The Metro Santiago District – through its District Superintendent – read a declaration last February 24, 2021. The churches in this District left the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist United Methodist Church. However, there is a concern that members were not consulted before the Declaration was announced.

“As of today (May 26), 11 of those local churches returned. They are now re -constituted as the Metro Santiago District. I have appointed a former District Superintendent to lead these churches as Supervising Elder. These UMC congregations conducted consultations and signed declarations that they remain with the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. In my last meeting with them, the Church workers remain firm in their decision.

“I continue to invite the remaining 8 churches (one of them is actually a development center) to come back to the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

“I only appointed Pastors and Deaconesses who returned to the Annual Conference and the UMC.

“Regarding the worship service conducted by Santiago Central UMC members last Sunday, I believe this is their way of asserting their right and freedom to express their position that they are faithful members of the UMC within the Annual Conference.

“The Baguio Episcopal Area was encouraged in one of my letters to study and reflect on all available options being offered to the Church in relation to human sexuality and church structure. The right and freedom of all sectors of the Church to make informed decisions are important. Every voice must be heard and respected.

“I am a third-generation Methodist Pastor. My sister and I are pastors of The United Methodist Church. We continue to prayerfully discern God's will and purpose for us. I hope and pray that God will have the final word for our Church. May the love of God embrace all of us in spite of our differences in these difficult times.”

Bias alleged in bishop’s administration

In Nigeria, the question of bias against those who wish to remain in the UMC is tangled up with conflicts about the administration of Bishop John Wesley Yohanna. Like the conflict between Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the former Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga., the Nigerian dispute is fraught with high emotion, claims, and counterclaims that are difficult for outside observers to untangle. As can be best determined from documents submitted to United Methodist Insight, the Nigerian situation currently stands as follows.

The Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel, Southern Nigeria Annual Conference secretary, filed a complaint May 11 against Bishop Yohanna with the West Africa College of Bishops. Rev. Emmanuel was removed by the bishop from his post as conference administrative assistant in April and was reassigned to Sarti Sabongari Charge on May 6. On June 3, a day after this article was published, United Methodist Insight received an email copy of a undated complaint filed against Rev. Emmanuel by 12 members of the Southern Nigeria Conference cabinet charging with disobedience to the order and discipline of the church and with interfering in the ministry of other clergy. 

The complaint against Bishop Yohanna alleges that he has committed three chargeable offenses under United Methodist law:

  • Disobedience to the order and discipline of the church for failing to follow procedures regarding clergy appointments and formation of conference committees on budget and ordained ministry;
  • Fiscal malfeasance in withholding mission payments to conference staff; failure to account for expenditures of nearly $500,000 from the Central Conferences Theological Education Fund; and unilateral sale of church property, an airplane, without following United Methodist financial requirements;
  • Harassment and behaviors that undermine the ministry of another pastor.

Along with 38 other Nigerian pastors and laypeople who’ve signed on to his complaint, Rev. Emmanuel alleges that Bishop Yohanna’s actions stem from his intention to take the Nigeria Episcopal Area to the proposed Global Methodist Church. (Another United Methodist episcopal leader, Bishop Eduard Khegay, whose Eurasia Area encompasses all of Russia, also has announced his intention to take his region to the proposed Global Methodist Church.)

The charge of fiscal malfeasance alleges that Bishop Yohanna has failed to report on the disbursement of some US$500,000 intended for scholarships and educational expenses from the Central Conferences Theological Education Fund (CCTEF) between 2013 and 2020. In addition, Deacon Ahmed A. Ahmed asserted in a submission to Insight that the bishop has not accounted for funds contributed by the Iowa Annual Conference for drilling some 25 clean water wells worth around $7 million in Nigerian naira, roughly $17,000 in U.S. dollars. The complaint also cites lack of fiscal accountability in reporting to the Nigerian conferences how payments from the Episcopal Fund meant for staff and office expenses have been spent.

“We demand transparency,” Rev. Emmanuel said in an email to Insight.

Most pertinent to the potential split, the fiscal malfeasance charge alleges that Bishop Yohanna “denied National in Mission financial support meant for Rev. Absalom Jeremiah simply because Rev. Absalom Jeremiah declined the bishop’s invitation to join the movement for the proposed new denomination (Global Methodist Church) which the bishop has signed up to form,” wrote Deacon Ahmed.

Regarding the complaint about harassment and interfering with the ministry of other United Methodist clergy, Deacon Ahmed wrote:

“Bishop [Yohanna] lied against Rev. Dr. Eunice Iliya, Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel, Deacon Ahmed A. Ahmed, and Mr. Amos Davidson by telling members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria that the above individuals are homosexuals and promoters of homosexuality in Nigeria, after they issued the ‘Statement of Church Unity From Africa’ just to achieve his personal needs of moving United Methodist members to the proposed new denomination (GMC). This lie has put the lives of these individuals in danger including possible ‘jungle-justice’ as many people consider homosexuality evil and punishable in Nigeria. His action has undermined the ministry of these clergy, putting their lives and that of their families at risk in Nigeria.”

United Methodist Insight sent emails to Bishop Yohanna and Bishop Benjamin Boni of Côte d'Ivoire, president of the West Africa College of Bishops, requesting confirmation of receipt of Rev. Emmanuel’s complaint. Neither bishop has responded, but the Rev. Baziel Yoila Yayuba, Southern Nigeria Conference administrative assistant to Bishop Yohanna, replied to Insight’s request with four emails defending Bishop Yohanna and alleging deception by Rev. Emmanuel and others. Rev. Yayuba contends the complainants are attempting to have the bishop removed from office for personal reasons, not because of his support for the Wesleyan Covenant Association or the Global Methodist Church.

In addition to Insight, Rev. Yayuba addressed two of his four emails to U.S. leaders of traditionalist caucuses: Wesleyan Covenant Association president Keith Boyette, Institute on Religion and Democracy president Mark Tooley, IRD’s UM Action coordinator John Lomperis, Good News vice president Thomas Lambrecht, and Jeff Jernigan, a General Conference delegate from the North Georgia Annual Conference.

Resolution of the complaints against Bishop Torio and Bishop Yohanna will be up to their respective regional colleges. Their episcopal colleagues will decide whether to pursue investigation of the allegations against them. Because United Methodist personnel policies provide for confidentiality in such investigations, the status and/or results of the complaints won’t be known until and unless church leaders or complainants decide to disclose them.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.