A recent religious schism in Nigeria has taken a tragic turn, resulting in violence that claimed the lives of church members and innocent children. The conflict arose from a division within the United Methodist Church regarding the repeal of LGBTQ bans, leading to the establishment of the new Global Methodist Church by conservative breakaway factions.
Reports indicate that a United Methodist church member was fatally shot during a confrontation between the opposing groups in Taraba, a state in northeast Nigeria. Additionally, homes were set on fire, resulting in the deaths of two young children, aged 2 and 4, who were the offspring of the overseer of a United Methodist school and nursery. Furthermore, ten church members sustained injuries during the violent incident.
The Global Methodist Church, formed by churches that separated from the United Methodist Church, recently held its inaugural general conference. The United Methodist Church, during its general conference in May, lifted its historical bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage while allowing local conferences to establish their own guidelines. The West Africa Central Conference, which includes Nigeria, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman and directs churches to adhere to national laws concerning LGBTQ matters.
Local United Methodist bishops strongly condemned the violence and called for an end to any retaliatory actions. They expressed dismay that such a tragedy could occur within the Christian community, particularly among individuals who were once part of the same Methodist family. The Assembly of Bishops of the Global Methodist Church also issued a statement expressing sorrow over the loss of life, denouncing violence in any form, and urging both Global Methodists and United Methodists to promote peace.
The situation remains under investigation, with efforts being made to ascertain the events that transpired. Calls for peace, unity, and the rejection of misinformation that incites fear and hostility have been emphasized by both sides in the aftermath of the violent clash.
