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African Bishops Repudiate WCA, Africa Initiative

In stunning development, United Methodist African bishops repudiate separatist group

Cynthia Astle, writing in Baptist News  |  September 10, 2022

Separatist forces suffered a major blow to their political strategy Sept. 8 when a majority of African bishops repudiated a special interest group and its traditionalist sponsor for “working to destroy our United Methodist Church.”

The “Statement from Africa Colleges of Bishops” was issued via the UMC’s Council of Bishops after a four-day meeting at United Methodist-founded Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Signers to the statement included all United Methodist bishops in Africa except Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, leader of Nigerian United Methodists. Yohanna is currently under church review because of charges against his administration, including allegations he has worked to take his region into the newly formed traditionalist Global Methodist Church. Read the whole story here.

Africa Voice of Unity release statement supporting the African Bishops statement. Image of letter here.

More African voices: Albert Longe and Lloyd Nyarota (below)

African Bishops Repudiate WCA, Africa Initiative

by Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga, Director of Communications, Council of Bishops, September 8, 2022

MUTARE, ZIMBABWE – The United Methodist Church (UMC) bishops in Africa have condemned the Africa Initiative group and the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) for spreading falsehoods about The United Methodist Church in Africa.

At the close of their meeting at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, the bishops declared that they would have nothing to do with both the Africa Initiative and WCA as those two groups are now working for and promoting Global Methodist Church, a denomination that has not been approved by the General Conference of the UMC. 

The four-day meeting had been bathed in devotions and prayers including a visit to Chinando, a special prayer center in the mountains that was created by Methodist women.

The statement online (PDF).

STATEMENT FROM AFRICA COLLEGES OF BISHOPS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
AFRICA UNIVERSITY, MUTARE, ZIMBABWE
Whereas we, the Bishops of The United Methodist Church in Africa, remain committed to the teachings of the Bible and to the doctrines of our Christian faith and heritage;

Whereas the Africa Initiative was created to advocate for African causes, issues and representation in The United Methodist Church agencies and gatherings such as the General Conference;

Whereas the Africa Initiative has lost its original goal of helping The United Methodist Church in Africa;

Whereas the Africa Initiative is now working with Wesleyan Covenant Association to destroy our United Methodist Church;

And whereas the Africa Initiative is working with and supporting the Global Methodist Church, a denomination that has not been recognized by the General Conference;

Therefore, we, the Bishops of The United Methodist Church in Africa, declare the following:

  • We will dissociate from any activities of the Africa Initiative and will not allow any
    activities of the Africa Initiative in our areas.
  • We will not allow or entertain any activities of the Wesleyan Covenant Association who are wrongly influencing God’s people in our areas.
  • We will not tolerate anyone giving false information about The United Methodist Church in our areas.

We will continue to be shepherds of all of God’s people throughout our beloved continent.

Bishops present:
Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa
Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda
Bishop José Quipungo
Bishop Daniel Lunge
Bishop Owan Kasap
Bishop Daniel Wandabula
Bishop Samuel Quire
Bishop Mande Muyombo

The statement is supported by other African Bishops who were not present:
Bishop Benjamin Boni
Bishop Gabriel Unda
Bishop Warner Brown
Bishop Joaquina Nhanala
Bishop Gaspar João Domingos

Note from Editor of UM-Insight, Cynthia Astle:

(Editor's note: Absent from the list of endorsers is Bishop John Yohanna of the Nigeria Episcopal Area. For several years, Bishop Yohanna has been in conflict with a group of pastors and laypeople who have accused him of working to take the Nigeria Area into the Global Methodist Church. His administration currently is being reviewed by the West Africa College of Bishops, headed by Bishop Benjamin Boni of Cote d'Ivoire, because of multiple complaints lodged against him).

See also Albert Longe's commentary on the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation to gain more insight into this development. Summary: The Protocol is a repeat of the colonialist 1884 Berlin Conference which divided up Africa.

For much more commentary from another African clergy, see this page from UM-Insight which lists these articles from Lloyd Nyarota, a member of Zimbabwe East Conference, serving a congregation of the United Church of Canada (whose spouse is a GBGM mission worker).

Some of the articles: