August 29, 2024 – UPDATE
As The United Methodist Church of Nigeria continues to build a new framework and plan for ministry, it has encountered challenges with the spread of disinformation by outside parties.
These unethical tactics have disrupted but not stopped the work of Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and Bishop John Schol—two of the newly assigned interim episcopal team for the Nigeria Episcopal Area. Nhiwatiwa, from Zimbabwe, and Schol, from the United States, were assigned by the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church in consultation with the West Africa College of Bishops and the chair of the West Africa Committee on Episcopacy.
Despite the obstacles, four annual conferences of The United Methodist Church of Nigeria gathered for productive and inspiring special sessions August 23-26, 2024. A total of 995 delegates convened in the four separate sessions to nominate candidates for bishop, confirm their commitment to The United Methodist Church and take other action.
However, both Bishop Schol – the interim lead bishop for Nigeria – and Bishop Nhiwatiwa were unable to be physically present at all four gatherings due to problems resulting from false claims and disinformation. Bishop Schol attended by conference call, while Bishop Nhiwatiwa was able to attend one session in person before having to leave the country.
Prior to one of the special sessions, Bishop Nhiwatiwa was asked to report to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) office in Yola for questioning. The immigration officials affirmed that Bishop Nhiwatiwa was in Nigeria with official and proper papers. Nhiwatiwa was then called to appear at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s administrative and political capital. He flew to Abuja and addressed false claims about his paperwork and gender identity that had been submitted by outside parties to the government office. It was affirmed that the bishop’s on-arrival visa, obtained in accordance with instruction received from the Nigerian Embassy in Zimbabwe, was valid and in order for him to conduct church business including attending and leading conferences. The full review from these offices spanned four days.
“The Nigerian authorities refused to accept the lies they were being fed,” Bishop Nhiwatiwa said afterward. “They made it clear to me that I did not break any law of the country at all.”
At the request of the immigration officers, Bishop Nhiwatiwa prayed over them and their work. Out of an abundance of caution and care for Nhiwatiwa, the NIS recommended that he return home. He heeded their warnings and is now safely at home in Zimbabwe with his wife.
Bishop Schol also expressed appreciation for the authorities. “Thanks to police presence, those physically in attendance at our meetings have been able to focus on ministry instead of worrying about the actions of those seeking to disrupt our important work that paves the way for the sharing of the Gospel.”
False allegations submitted to the NIS resulted in a visa denial for Bishop Schol. Officers acknowledged that Schol’s paperwork was in order, but said the false claims about the bishop moved his request to an administrative matter.
“The United Methodist Church has always striven to do ministry in a way that aligns with cultural contexts and laws in each country, and this remains true for the Church in Nigeria,” Bishop Schol said. “We work diligently with annual conferences to ensure that policies and practices reflect these essential parameters.”
He added that “it’s critical that we highlight verbiage that was adopted at the 2020/2024 General Conference, that emphasizes The UMC’s dedication to abiding by these laws and contexts.”
Despite misinformation that has been circulated, he noted that “the measure explicitly states: ‘No clergy at any time may be required to provide for or compelled to perform, or prohibited from performing, any marriage, union, or blessing. All clergy have the right to exercise and preserve their conscience when requested to perform any marriage, union, or blessing.’ I pray this information alleviates any fears or concerns and encourages the Nigerian people to see the care taken to respect the values and needs of the region and its people.”
“The United Methodist Church in Nigeria is alive,” Bishop Nhiwatiwa exclaimed. He reflected on his August 22 meeting in Yola with 41 district superintendents, where all were given the opportunity to express his or her hopes. “On asking them what the future of The United Methodist Church they envision for Nigeria looks like, one after the other responded: a church full of love, a church which is transparent, a church which abhors corruption, on and on were the responses.”
Bishop Schol encourages United Methodist to stand firm in Christ’s message in John 16:33 (NRSVUE): “I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”
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