Church members protest in Gombe, disown faction promoting LGBTQ rights

Hundreds of Gombe State United Methodist Church (UMC) members protested against a split faction that they claimed was advocating regionalisation and LGBTQ rights.

During a protest during the Northern and Central Nigeria Annual Conferences in Gondum village, Shongom local government area of Gombe State, the members boldly voiced their opposition to the acceptance of LGBTQ rights.

With signs denouncing regionalisation and the LGBTQ community, protesters declared their support for a single, unified church and their rejection of what they saw as “unholy acts.”

The factional group was decided to be disowned because of their inability to follow established protocols, according to Yohana Wesley, Resident Bishop of the Nigeria United Methodist Church.

The source of the conflict between the two factions, according to Chipau Kiliyobas, Director of the Connectional Ministry of the Northern Nigeria UMC Annual Conference, is disagreements about regionalisation and LGBTQ concerns.

As a representative of the US Council of Bishops, Bishop John Schol made an effort to bring the church’s people together and mend fences.

But protesters reacted negatively to his comments.

Though Schol made it clear that local decisions about same-sex marriage would be honoured and that the worldwide church would not impose its will, the demonstrators did not waver in their opposition to LGBTQ recognition.

The protest made it clear that the traditional and dominant faction in the church strongly opposes any recognition of LGBTQ rights within the community because they view LGBTQ behaviours as immoral.

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