Southern Nigeria Conference Takes Action to Secure Operations

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Editor's note: The following minutes from the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference were sent to United Methodist Insight by the Rev. Samuel Ahmed, head of delegation from the Fan District. They have been edited solely for clarity.

Resolutions of the 40th Session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, held at the McBride UMC, Magami, and United Methodist Church Abuja Haske, Jalingo, November 10–14, 2021.

These are the resolutions of the 40th session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church under the theme "Be still... and Know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) , held November 10th–14th, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Abuja Haske, Jalingo. presented as follows:

  1. Whereas the Conference Secretary, Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel, made a roll call and accreditation of delegates, out of the 393 delegates of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference, 253 were present and accredited, while 140 were not present. Whereas the annual conference session was duly called by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna based on the provisions of the Book of Discipline paragraph 603. All the 393 delegates were informed about the annual conference date and meeting place via a letter sent to all districts and charges. Whereas the delegates were able to do the required registration by paying the required fee to participate in the annual conference session. Whereas upon arriving at the gate of the annual conference venue 253 of the duly elected and registered delegates were denied entrance into the church by a team of armed policemen hired by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna,
  2. Whereas the Conference elected Rev. Eli S. Yakku as President pro tempore without a vote. Citing Bishop John Wesley Yohanna’s actions and inactions denying the majority (253) of delegates access to the initial venue of the meeting using armed policemen, the delegates were compelled to meet at the United Methodist Church Abuja Haske to [invoke] 603.6 of the 2016 Book of Discipline, electing a President pro tempore [to] preside over the 2021 Southern Nigeria Annual Conference in the absence of the bishop.
  3. Whereas the Conference resolved to move the initial venue of the conference to the United Methodist Church in Abuja Haske because the majority of the elected delegates from charges and districts were denied access to the initial venue by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, who used the services of armed policemen.
  4. However, the Conference stressed that the Church Constitution Paragraph 32 of Article I, of the 2016 Book of Discipline, provides the basic requirements for participation in an annual conference. Attending the annual conference is an exclusive right of all those elected by their charges and districts to be represented. Whereas Bishop John Wesley Yohanna’s action to deny access to 253 elected delegates of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference for nonpayment of apportionment has violated the provisions of the Church constitution, as he and his assistants have no constitutional right to do so in our Book of Discipline or Conference rules.
  5. The Conference also put into cognizance the fact that there are 393 delegates for the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference but those who were allowed access to the initial venue of the Conference in McBride United Methodist Church Magami and accredited as delegates were only 111, some of whom were not elected delegates, thereby lacking in meeting the provision of a two-thirds majority needed to form a quorum which will allow the proceedings of the Annual Conference meeting as required in Conference rules No.3. Therefore, the conference declared the decision of the meeting null and void.
  6. Whereas the Conference has approved a request to the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision on the meaning and application of Paragraph 32 Article I and 603.3 on the right of all delegates to participate in the Annual Conference Session, whether Bishop John Wesley Yohanna and his cabinet have the authority to prevent Annual Conference delegates from participating under any condition(s).
  7. Whereas the Conference voted to make the positions of the Director of Connectional Ministries and Conference Administrative Assistant to the Bishop electable by the Conference before appointment by the Bishop,
  8. Whereas the Conference has resolved that its United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, youth and young adults, and other fellowship groups will operate based on the provisions of the Book of Discipline. The Conference further noted that the [bishop’s] gathering of fellowship groups is unconstitutional and therefore voted to suspend it.
  9. Whereas the Conference resolved that the Annual Planning Session of the United Methodist Women will involve pastors’ wives and shall be presided over by the elected President of the Conference of United Methodist Women The planning session will be open to observers.
  10. Whereas the Conference voted to reject the oral suspension of the Conference Youth and Young Adult President, Mr. John Salihu, and approved a resolution to appoint a new Youth Director based on integrity and experience in Youth and Young Adult Ministry, The Conference further resolved to allow ecumenical participation of all fellowship groups.
  11. Whereas, as provided in the Book of Discipline, the Conference resolved to hold elections for the following conference committees and boards: CFA, Board of Ordained Ministry, Committee on Episcopacy, and Committee on Investigation. These committees will be in place until the first annual conference following the 2020 General Conference.
  12. Whereas the Conference resolved to write an appreciation letter to the management of the UMCN Hospital in Jalingo and further resolved to provide a discount on all hospital bills for members of the United Methodist Church.
  13. Whereas the conference resolved to write an apology letter to the Iowa Annual Conference for the failure of the Clean Water Project to secure a reliable drilling rig. The Conference further resolved to demand a comprehensive report on the purchase of the drilling rig and the contract it has executed so far.
  14. \Whereas the Conference resolved to request a comprehensive report from Banyam Theological Seminary covering all its finances, strengths, and weaknesses. The Conference also voted to recommend to the management of the seminary the opening of a department where new converts can be trained.
  15. Whereas the Conference voted by 251/3 in favor of reaffirming Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel as the substantive Conference Secretary and further resolved that the Conference secretary should produce the Conference 2022 calendar, lectionary, baptismal cards, marriage certificates, child dedication certificates, and other needed documentation. The Conference further resolved to inaugurate charges in CRIs Baranda and Kirga Jen in Fan District.
  16. Whereas the Conference resolved to demand accountability from those who transacted the business of selling the church aircraft and other landed property, The Conference further mandated the Board of Trustees to ascertain all the property of the Conference, their status, documents and locations.
  17. The Conference further resolved to seek a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the meaning and application of paragraphs 15 and 36 of Article V in the allocation of 5 West Africa Conference delegates to the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference.
  18. The Conference resolved to maintain payment of apportionments, CONEFA, and ETF as is, and such payments shall be promptly made by all churches to the Conference treasurer under the supervision of the elected CFA Committee.
  19. The Conference has resolved to form a Steering and Working Committee on Securing the Future of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria. It is further resolved that each district shall contribute N30, 000 between now and November 18, 2021, to support the work of this committee.
  20. The Conference resolved that foreign donations should be transmitted to all programs in foreign currencies.
  21. Whereas the Conference voted overwhelmingly (250 in favor and 3 against) to declare that it will remain in the United Methodist Church. The Conference furthermore resolved that it does not endorse the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.

[Submitted by] COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS AND COMMUNIQUES

Rev. Jesse Ignatius

Deacon Esther Ibrahim

Bro. John Salihu