Disaffiliation crossroads
With no formal separation plan in place, the handling of church disaffiliations in the U.S. is now up to each United Methodist annual conference. While the Book of Discipline’s Paragraph 2553 offers a roadmap, the measure does allow for variation in what routes conferences can choose in parting ways with some of their churches. 9Road photo by Jonathan Billinger, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.)
The movement to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church continued this week, ranging from a questionable ballot at a Texas congregation to a demand to suspend an African bishop for supporting the new Global Methodist Church.
United Methodist News Service published articles by Sam Hodges about grassroots groups that have sprung up backing the UMC and by Jim Patterson about two North Carolina churches seeking to maintain respect during their disaffiliation discussions.
Local media continue to track disaffiliation votes in their areas. An East Texas online journal called The Liberty Vindicator documented disaffiliation votes in Hardin and Dayton, suburbs between Houston on the west and Beaumont on the east in the Texas Annual Conference. Both congregations voted to leave the UMC and join the GMC, created in May this year by the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
Liberty Vindicator editor Russell Payne quoted pastors from both churches about the process:
The Rev. Guy Williams of Dayton First Methodist Church: "Our guiding principles during the discernment season were to prayerfully seek the Lord, be gracious to everyone, and focus on the long-term as we considered this really important decision."
Rev. Gideon Watson of Hardin Methodist Church: "We've been in this fight within the church, within the denomination, for years. We've been battling this thing and it's about the Methodist Church going in a direction it need not go, and that is away from scripture."
Christ Church in College Station, TX, also voted to disaffiliate Sept. 18, according to an article by Morgan Riddle of KBTX TV. Riddle quotes Christ Church's pastor, the Rev. Jerry House, who said that some 300 congregations in the Texas Conference are expected to leave the UMC.
Another television station, KLTV in Tyler, also part of the Texas Conference, reported on disaffiliation votes in its region. Among those that voted to leave was the district historic congregation, Marvin UMC, in downtown Tyler. The station's Karen Wides also cited Dayspring UMC in Tyler which voted July 24 to leave the UMC, but noted that another congregation, Fairwood UMC, decided to postpone its discernment until after the 2024 General Conference.
The KLTV story quoted Fairwood's senior pastor, the Rev. Kimberly Carney, about its decision to wait rather than leave at this time. “Here at Fairwood, because we see a need in the community for a United Methodist Congregation, we have decided to put off any talk of discernment or disaffiliation for the time being, and for the near future,” Rev. Carney said.
Conroe church ballot raises questions
Meanwhile, another congregation vote in the Texas Conference drew concern from United Methodists because of the way the ballot was worded (see accompanying photo).
First-Conroe Ballot
An Insight reader forwarded this photo of the ballot used in the disaffiliation vote by First UMC in Conroe, Texas, on Sept. 18. (Courtesy Photo)
A member of First UMC in Conroe, TX, posted a photo of the ballot distributed to members on Sunday, Sept. 18 during the congregational vote on disaffiliation. The wording of the ballot brought into question whether the vote was legitimate according to the process outlined in Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline.
A pastor who forwarded the photo to Insight commented: "In my view, only the question of 'disaffiliation' should/could have been up for a vote. Rather than a question of 'affiliation' with the GMC. Looks like their board of trustees jumped the gun, since this church cannot vote to 'affiliate' until the disaffiliation process is complete. ... GMC /WCA has their fingerprints all over this ballot. IMHO."
Neither First-Conroe's website nor its e-newsletter mentioned the outcome of the disaffiliation vote, although the word "United" and the UMC cross-and-flame service mark do not appear in its logo.
United Methodist Insight emailed a copy of the photo to Texas Conference Bishop Scott Jones requesting his interpretation of whether the ballot was legitimate. However, the bishop hadn't responded by Insight's deadline.
Bishop Jones is a self-identified supporter of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and has presided at worship services during past WCA's "global gatherings." Bishop Jones has announced his retirement effective Jan. 1, 2023 and has been widely expected to join the Global Methodist Church in a leadership capacity.
More unrest in Nigeria
The biggest blow-up came from the Nigeria Episcopal Area, whose bishop, John Wesley Yohanna, declined to sign a Sept. 8 statement repudiating the WCA and the GMC that was approved by a majority of other African bishops.
Signed by some 350-plus members of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference, an open letter to the Council of Bishops pleaded for the suspension of Bishop Yohanna and the assignment of an interim leader. Bishop Yohanna has been at odds with UMC-loyal factions in Nigeria for several years. The opposition has been led by the Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel, Bishop Yohanna's former assistant, president of the loyalist group Africa Voice for Unity, and now a candidate for bishop. Click here to read the full text of the open letter.
The open letter begins:
"We, the clergy and laity of the Nigeria Episcopal write to you purposely to follow-up with you regarding multiple complaints filed against Bishop John Wesley Yohanna which were not resolved. You can remember that the complainants sent a request to the President and Secretary of the Council of Bishops requesting the intervention of the Council of Bishops, citing the requirements in the 2016 Book of Discipline 413.3D.II.1. As of the time of writing this letter, the complainants were yet to be notified as to how the Council of Bishops will intervene.
"However, we are worried that this is taking ... a longer time and Bishop John Wesley Yohanna has continued to cause damage to the United Methodist Church.
"Currently, tensions are building up as the 2022 Annual Conference dates approaches Those of us that formed the super majority of the United Methodist members in Nigeria who will remain in the United Methodist Church are being kept in the dark regarding Annual Conference dates and petitions coming to the Conference by Bishop Yohanna, the fewer Global Methodist supporters who enjoyed his backing are making underground plans to block dually elected delegates from the Annual Conferences sessions in order to take votes that will favor the Africa Initiative, Wesley Covenant Association, and the Global Methodist Church at the expense of the majority during this year's Annual Conference session beginning in November. Besides that, there are ordained ministry candidates who have completed their probation period since last year but were denied ordination and commissioning by Bishop Yohanna simply because they signed the multiple complaints that were filed against the bishop. In the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference, Bishop Yohanna tries to defrock and seize the clergy credentials of 18 pastors without anyone filing a formal complaint against any of them."
The open letter reiterates prior complaints against Bishop Yohanna for allegedly selling church property and seizing the proceeds of those sales for himself and his associates. The letter continues:
"On recent developments, we have received with joy the bold statement of our Africa Colleges of Bishops repudiating the activities of the Africa Initiative and Wesleyan Covenant Association who are doing everything possible to blackmail the United Methodist Church in favor of the Global Methodist Church. We stand by the majority of our Africa Bishops' position and express our dismay over Bishop Yohanna's inability to sign the statement and renounce his membership with Africa Initiative, Wesleyan Covenant Association and the Global Methodist Church, which has made him a factional and a breakaway bishop. The brief statement he sent via email to the United Methodist News Services about the Africa Bishops’ Statement has confirms his earlier signature to join GMC which is contrary to position of the UMC in Nigeria. His statement does not represent our reality: 'The Africa Initiative and Wesleyan Covenant (Association) are pushing for obedience to the Bible and the Book of Discipline. Why should we not associate with them?'"
Read the full open letter here.
United Methodist Insight emailed Bishop Yohanna, who is on the board of United Methodist Communications, asking for his response to the open letter. Initially Insight received two letters from Bishop Yohanna's assistant, the Rev. Baziel Yoila Yayuba, attempting to discredit the open letter by casting aspersions on the character and motives of the signers, especially Rev. Emmanuel. Rev. Yayuba's initial response also accused Insight of bias for reporting on the unrest in Nigeria.
Subsequent to an email exchange, Rev. Yayuba returned a lengthy reply, from which we quote:
"I want to clear the ground that on the purported open letter issued by One Rev Ande I Emmanuel and his groups in Nigeria Episcopal Area claim and assuming the position of seating Delegates of the some Conferences in Nigeria Episcopal Area.
"The numbers of clergy and laity that under signed up the FAKE LETTER MAJORITY OF THEM ARE NOT DELEGATES CONFERENCES in Nigeria Episcopal Area.
"You can mess at the open letter at starting point he is saying 358 while if go to the lists you would find out is 359. Who is deceiving who?.
"In respect of the complain filed on Bishop Yohanna the process is on going . Bishop Boni Benjamin the president of West Africa College of Bishops has taken a step as shrine in our Book of Discipline of the United Methodist church to resolve the matter before his desks."
"There is NO COMMENCEMENT OF Global Methodist church Services in Nigeria Episcopal Area. As mentioned by purported open letter to the Bishops in the United Methodist Church by Rev Ande I Emmanuel and his groups.
"Rev Ande I Emmanuel and his groups they have to Respect each Bishops OPINIONS as there a Leaders.
"THERE is NO ANY URGENT NEED, IN NIGERIA EPISCOPAL AREA seeking INTERIM BISHOP.
"ANY BISHOP in the United Methodist church is in title to his opinion. What to others Bishops in United Methodist church that has shown there SUPPORT to PROGRESSIVE IDEAS, CHRISTMAS COVENANT, AND EVEN IN AFRICA. What is Book of Discipline saying about that? They are not Bishops of United Methodist church? If Bishop Yohanna would support African Initiative and Wesleyan Covenant Association I have not seen anything wrong there. It may interest you to know openly that our bishops in the United Methodist church has JOINED DIFFERENT PRESSURE GROUPS WITHIN THE United Methodist church. I will still as What is the position of Book of Discipline saying in regards to that Effect?.
"The statistically Record in Nigeria Episcopal Area Shows that Africa Voice of Unity and PROGRESSIVE, CHRISTMAS COVENANT are only 2%. Africa Initiative and Wesleyan Covenant Association are 98%.
"Finally, we have NO problem with our Bishop in United Methodist church in Nigeria Episcopal Area. We are in good Relationship across Conferences. We Remain FOCUS on our daily Activities for transforming the world."
Click here to read Rev. Yayuba's full response.
Editor's note: United Methodist Insight is preparing a compilation of news and views regarding United Methodist disaffiliation that will be published by Sept. 30. The booklet will be available for downloading.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.