Violence in Nigeria
Western Methodist Justice Movement Leadership Team member Rev. Richard Bentley was recently in Nigeria at the invitation of Bishop Ande Emmanuel to celebrate his consecration. Bentley was part of the Bishop's party that was attacked. He is now safely back in the US and thankful for people's prayers for the safety and well being of the group. He also reports that there is an amazing vibrancy and energy among all the United Methodists he met in Nigeria, even in the midst of the tremendous challenges they face.
If you would like to send your own word of support and encouragement to United Methodists in West Africa, you can do this through the communications officer for the Nigeria Episcopal area, Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta at bakarif@africau.edu.
In response to this and other recent events in West Africa, WMJM is making the following statement to share with West Africa leaders and the United Methodist Community:
The Western Methodist Justice Movement (WMJM) decries the attack on March 25 by supporters of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) who stopped, threatened, and damaged one of the vehicles in a convoy transporting the three United Methodist bishops of West Africa and other leaders of the United Methodist Church on a visit to United Methodist Churches in rural Nigeria. The attack forced the group to take a lengthy, time-consuming detour, but did not prevent the visit from happening. Learn more in CAL-PAC News
WMJM also condemns the attack by GMC supporters during the April 6 Sunday morning worship service of New Georgia UMC located on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia, that left 15 women and 4 young people injured.
WMJM is also concerned by the GMC’s ongoing legal challenges over property owned by the UMC in Nigeria and Liberia. These challenges have prevented Bishop Ande Emmanuel, the resident UMC Bishop of Nigeria, from using his official offices. It has also prevented members of several different United Methodist Churches in Nigeria and Liberia from using their church buildings for worship and other ministry activities. However, Bishop Ande continues to provide episcopal leadership to over one million members across the five annual conferences that comprise the Nigeria Episcopal area. These churches continue to worship each Sunday in parks or in the homes of members. They also continue to live out their ministries with joy throughout the week. learn more from United Methodist News
United Methodists in the Western Jurisdiction in the United States of America know what it’s like to be told that it’s wrong to stand up for our values. For the thirty years leading up to 2024, United Methodists in the Western Jurisdiction have endured attacks by forces seeking to end or at least curtail the work of faithful Christian leaders and churches. WMJM applauds the United Methodists in the West Africa Central Conference as they seek to carry out their ministry with joy and enthusiasm in the face of criticism and opposition. WMJM prays that ongoing conversations about ministry may be respectful and non-violent as deeply held beliefs are shared and profound disagreements are discussed and negotiated.