Sierra Leone Bishop
Retired Bishop Warner H. Brown (left), interim bishop of the Sierra Leone Area, bestows the episcopal pin on the Rev. James Boye-Caulker after he was elected bishop on Dec. 7 at The United Methodist Church’s West Africa Central Conference at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra, Ghana. Boye-Caulker, who has served as district superintendent of Sierra Leone’s Western District since 2016, was the second bishop elected at the Dec. 5-8 gathering. (Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News)
20 December 2024
The United Methodist Africa Forum (UMAF) joyfully celebrates the election of two new bishops in the West Africa Central Conference. In a significant milestone for church unity, Bishop Ande Emmanuel and Bishop James Boye-Caulker have been elected as leaders committed to the mission and vision of The United Methodist Church (UMC). These elections mark a decisive step forward after years of challenges posed by divisionary influences.
UMAF extends its unwavering support and prayers to the two newest bishops and applauds their steadfast commitment to maintaining unity within the UMC. Their election serves as an inspiring example for other Central Conferences in Africa. We urge all African delegates to prioritize leaders who consistently champion the message of staying united within the UMC, as exemplified by the West Africa Central Conference.
We also call upon the worldwide UMC community to uphold these bishops in prayer as they join the Africa College of Bishops. This moment heralds a new day for the church in Africa, with a renewed focus on unity, growth, and contextualized leadership.
Condemning Outside Interference
UMAF strongly denounces any attempts by external organizations, including the Global Methodist Church (GMC), Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA), and the Africa Initiative, to disrupt the unity and progress of the UMC in Africa. During the West Africa Central Conference gathering in Accra, Ghana, Rev. Jerry Kulah, representing the GMC, sought to influence the episcopal elections—a move that was both unwelcome and inappropriate.
We are also aware of significant financial efforts by the WCA to fund disaffiliation and promote autonomous candidates across Africa as a precursor to aligning with the GMC. Some of these funds are being used to purchase guns to kill United Methodist. This has
already happened in Nigeria where the GMC members invaded a UMC congregation during worship and killed two members. UMAF unequivocally condemns these actions and reaffirms that Africa belongs to The United Methodist Church—a church rooted in the gospel and steeped in the history of our forebears.
A Vision for the Future
Bishop Ande Emmanuel
Courtesy Photo
The election of Bishops Ande Emmanuel and James Boye-Caulker is a testament to the growing strength of UMC unity in Africa. Both leaders are strong advocates for regionalization, contextualized mission, and the continued growth of the church in Africa. Bishop Ande Emmanuel, a member of the Christmas Covenant group, has been instrumental in shaping the regionalization proposal, which seeks to decolonize the church and enhance its relevance to local contexts.
UMAF looks forward to seeing all bishops elected in Africa championing regionalization, contextualization, and the sustainability of the church’s mission. These values are key to ensuring both numerical growth and financial independence within the worldwide UMC connection.
A Call to Action
As we approach the Africa and Congo Central Conferences in 2025, UMAF urges delegates to support candidates who are committed to unity, regionalization, and the future growth of the UMC in Africa. We trust that the bishops yet to be elected will uphold these principles, ensuring a bright and promising future for the UMC across the continent.
To the WCA and Africa Initiative, we call on you to cease interfering in the affairs of the UMC in Africa. Your continued efforts to sow division through funding violence, disaffiliations and promoting autonomy are detrimental to the progress of the African church. We urge you to respect the will of the African UMC and allow us to chart our own course as part of the worldwide connection.
Standing Together
UMAF reaffirms its commitment to a united and thriving UMC in Africa. We stand resolute in our belief that Africa’s future lies within The United Methodist Church—the church of our mothers, fathers, and ancestors, and a church that spans the globe.
We were, we are, and we will always be United Methodists.
Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa, Elder Zambia Conference, UMAF General Secretary,
Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, Elder Zimbabwe East Conference, UMAF General Coordinator