United Methodist Bishops in Africa Reaffirm Biblical Teaching on Marriage

on November 4, 2015

As the United Methodist Church’s global Council of Bishops meets in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, the Bishops of the Central Conferences of Africa have just released a statement from their own recent fall meeting at which they examined their own work as well as issues confronting the Church globally. The African bishops’ statement spoke strongly about the crises of Islamic terrorism and unorthodox teachings on sexuality, topics largely avoided by many of their more politically correct American counterparts. The statement is unapologetically bold in its condemnation of homosexual practices as well as all sex outside of monogamous marriage between husband and wife.

As well as calling on their own political leaders and the United Nations to take action on international crisis resulting from terrorism, the African bishops spoke strongly against those leaders of the United Methodist Church who have departed from biblical teaching and the church’s own Book of Discipline for the last four decades on issues of sexual practice, and invited all United Methodists around the world to join them in their strong commitment to biblical authority. The African bishops recommended that the Church unite on opposing terrorism and ministering to its victims, and that Church officials lead a return to orthodox Christian teaching. The statement is as follows:

Africa College of Bishops’ Meeting, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa 7-11 September, 2015

A statement on the state of global UMC and our common world

From the 7-11 September, 2015, we the Bishops of the Central Conferences of Africa gathered at the Elephant Hills Resort, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe as part of our annual business meeting. Highlights of the meeting included worship, fellowship, and evaluation of ministries and responsibilities God has entrusted to our care as Shepherds of His flock.

Our meeting was immensely blessed by the presence of some of our spouses as we celebrated some of the tremendous success stories in all Episcopal areas on the continent.

We celebrate with gratitude the recent training and commissioning of thirty-nine global missionaries on the continent of Africa (Zimbabwe) by the General Board of Global Ministries

We note with deep gratitude the kind hospitality of the Zimbabwean people and their rich cultures. As part of our activities, we received ministry updates from some of our institutional leaders, as well as lectures and presentations on leadership, economic empowerment and sustainability. In addition, we discussed relevant issues confronting the Church and the global community.
We took time off to pray and intercede for Africa, the world and the global Church, especially the persecuted Church, and the growing global refugee community as a result of ongoing political instabilities we are experiencing in parts of our world.

Global Terrorism

In recent months, the world has watched with shock and dismay the massive human rights abuses against innocent, helpless and defenseless families, especially women and children, and the horrible refugee crisis that has engulfed and overwhelmed parts of Europe and Africa, with no permanent solution in sight. This crisis, is no doubt the result of the ongoing bloody and brutal civil war in Syria, the ISIS insurgency across parts of Europe, as well as the Boko Haram and Al-Shabab insurgencies in parts of Africa.

In Africa, the Boko Haram insurgents continue to carry out atrocities and mayhem against innocent citizens in towns, villages, cities, and religious facilities (mosques and churches) in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, etc. Young men and women are being manipulated to carry out suicide bombings to destroy innocent lives and property. The Al-Shabab also continues to unleash untold havoc against innocent civilians in Somalia, Kenya, and other parts of Africa.

As a consequence of these crises, thousands of families have been ripped away from their homes and made homeless. Thousands of others have died from starvation, disease, lack of shelter, and crossfire bombing and shooting between warring factions. Women and girls have suffered enslavement and rape, while thousands of children are denied their rights to education and safety as the crisis rages on.

We whole-heartedly condemn these atrocities and call upon the United Nations and our political leaders in Africa including the African Union to do all that lies within their power to restore peace and tranquility. We will continue to pray to Almighty God for his divine intervention while we pursue some practical ways to pursue the path of peace and unity, including dialogue with our young people, grassroots, women’s movements, and community and political leaders.

In recognition of our role as God’s messengers of peace and reconciliation, we present this press release in the hope that we will draw the attention of our denomination to the stark realities of needless suffering and pain in our world as a result of current global terrorism, unjust political systems and the manipulation of weaker nations by world powers; and to work together as a church to usher in God’s reign of peace, justice and freedom to all.

Marriage and Sexuality

Over the past four decades, from 1972 until the present, we have watched with shock and dismay the rapid drift of our denomination from this Holy Call to a warm embrace of practices that have become sources of conflict that now threatens to rip the Church apart and distract her from the mission of leading persons to faith and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. One of such practices is the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender).

We are deeply saddened that the Holy Bible, our primary authority for faith and the practice of Christian living, and our Book of Discipline are being grossly ignored by some members and leaders of our Church in favor of social and cultural practices that have no scriptural basis for acceptance in Christian worship and conduct. Yet they continue to attempt to persuade members of the Church to incorporate these practices as an accepted code of conduct within global United Methodism.

As leaders of the church in Africa, we call upon all United Methodists, bishops, clergy and laity to an unreserved commitment to the Holy Bible as the primary authority for faith and practice in the church. We call upon all members throughout the connection to adopt practices consistent with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. We submit to the teachings of Scripture that God designed marriage to be between man and woman, and the procreation of children is a blessing from God (Gen. 2:24-25; Psalm 127:3-5).

Scripture also teaches that all persons are sexual beings, whether or not they are married. However, sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant bond of a faithful monogamous, heterosexual marriage, and not within same-sex unions or polygamy. The Christian marriage covenant is holy, sacred, and consecrated by God and is expressed in shared fidelity between one man and one woman for life. In this vein, we denounce all forms of sexual exploitation, including fornication, adultery, sexual commercialization, slavery, abuse, polygamy, etc.

As shepherds of God’s flock, we covenant to be in ministry with those of our members who adopt practices that are inconsistent with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures

Maintaining the Unity of the Church

One of the functions of the Bishops of the church is to “maintain the unity of the church”. As leaders of the church, we believe that there are far more important issues that unite us than issues of sexual orientation. As a church, we are called to be in solidarity with people who suffer as a result of unjust political systems, wars, famine, poverty, natural disasters, diseases, illiteracy etc. etc. We believe that we can be united around these issues rather than allow ourselves to be ripped apart by issues of sexual orientation.

Therefore, we the College of African Bishops of the United Methodist Church, meeting at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and convening with 11 of our 12 active member Bishops and one retired Bishop present, do hereby unanimously adopt this Statement on global terrorism, Christian sexuality and marriage and the need for unity in the United Methodist Church and commend it to the whole Church for circulation, reading and study.

Recommendation to General Conference

1. That during the entire period of the 2016 General Conference, there should be daily prayer sessions for the return of our denomination to Biblical teachings, the unity of the church, global terrorism (remembering the millions of refugees) and the cessation of wars around the globe.

2. That the Council of Bishops commit to demonstrating their shepherding responsibility (1 Peter 5:2-4) by acting consistently with the Holy Bible for to do otherwise would require that one must recuse himself or herself from the divine call to be Shepherd of all of God’s people.

Signed on this 11th day of September in the Conference Room of the Elephant Hills Resort, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to the glory of God:

1. Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe Episcopal Area
2. Bishop John G. Innis, Liberia Episcopal Area
3. Ntambo, Nkulu Ntanda, North Kantaga Episcopal Area
4. Bishop Bishop John Wesley Yohannah, Nigeria Episcopal Area
5. Bishop Gabriel Unda, East Congo Episcopal Area
6. Bishop Domingos, Gaspar Joao, W. Angola Episcopal Area
7. Katembo, Kainda, Southern Congo Episcopal Area
8. Nhanala, Joaquina F., Mozambique Episcopal Area
9. Bishop Jose Quipungo, East Angola Episcopal Area
10. Bishop Daniel Wandabula, East Africa Episcopal Area
11. Bishop John K. Yambasu, Sierra Leone Episcopal Area
12. Bishop David K. Yemba, Central Congo Episcopal Area
13. Bishop Benjamin Boni, Cote D’Ivoire Episcopal Area
14. Bishop Arthur F. Kulah, (R)

  1. Comment by Pudentiana on November 4, 2015 at 9:29 pm

    It is so refreshing to hear from Bishops who fear God and love His Church. I am so disgusted with the ideological and politically motivated “statements” which drop from the lips of many American Bishops. This statement gives me hope that God is not finished with the UMC. PTL.

  2. Comment by David Goudie on November 5, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Thank you, thank you African Bishops! I’ve wondered whether I would be able to stay in this denomination, and this at least gives me hope for the UM church. May the UM church and it’s leadership in the US head this strong word.

  3. Comment by bsdunek on November 7, 2015 at 7:32 am

    May I repeat that 100X! I pray every day that our leaders follow the Word.

  4. Comment by eric pone on November 5, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    Wow I guess we are headed toward schism. Based on this I see at least half of the US conferences voting to leave. But at least the conservative Christians will be happy.

  5. Comment by Erwin Balderian Dabandan on November 5, 2015 at 7:52 pm

    I hope that the Philippines Central Conference bishops will do the same strong standpoint about that divisive issue of same sex marriage. My salute to African Shepherds.

  6. Comment by Child of God on November 5, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    Thank you Jesus, for guiding and inspiring our African Bishops to be faithful and forceful in standing on the foundation of your Word.

    Now I hope and pray that every single one of the American Bishops feel the weight of their sin, and repent publicly so that our denomination can be cleansed of this sin of adopting worldly liberalism instead of the Word of God.

  7. Comment by ZimChristian on November 6, 2015 at 11:04 am

    I have been praying for a good statement like this especially on marriage issues. Thank you bishops.

  8. Comment by Vacogito on November 6, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Thank G-d for the African UM Church.

  9. Comment by Chad on February 3, 2019 at 10:55 am

    I am reading this now in 2019. Thank you United Methodist Bishops in Africa. It is such a shame that too many UM leaders have given in to political correctness and the surrounding culture (Biblically referred to as the World). I am glad to see that there are still believers who adhere to the Word and follow the two greatest commandments. Your statement is direct, simple, and clear. Well done and God bless.

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