Nigeria Reacts As Methodist Church Adopts Same-Sex Marriage

The decision of the Methodist Church in England and some other countries to adopt the same sex marriage and support other activities of the LGBT community has continued to divide the denomination worldwide.

This comes as the Methodist Church Nigeria has kicked against the church’s division in England to support gay marriage.

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Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Samuel Uche, rejected the development as he noted that it contradicts God’s principles and laws.

At the press briefing held at the Wesley House Marina, Marina, Lagos, Uche said: “The British people told us that polygamy and polyandry is bad; why are they becoming morally and spiritually deprived?

“We will never accept it; Methodist Church Nigeria will not accept it, as the official mouthpiece of Methodist Church Nigeria and Diaspora.

“What am saying now is the opinion of the church; we will not allow and accept it, and if they go ahead to ratify it by 2020, we will severe relationship and connections with them.

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“If they do not have moral fibre, they should invite Methodist Church Nigeria to re-christianise them.

“This is satanic, and it is coming from the pit of hell,” he said.

While the global United Methodist Church had months ago voted against same sex adoption in St. Louis, Missouri, some divisions of the church in some countries are said to be going against the position of the larger church.

The Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester, United States, had reportedly opposed the larger church last month by openly declaring its support for same sex marriage.

“This seemed like a powerful way to say, we do not stand in solidarity with the larger United Methodist Church,” the church’s head pastor, Rev. Elizabeth Macaulay was quoted to have said.

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“And in fact, we are joining with others to discern what’s the next step for us as a congregation,” said Macaulay.

In a recent development on July 3, the Church members at the Methodist Conference in Birmingham voted overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage.

The motion, which passed by 247 votes to 48, “consents in principle to the marriage of same-sex couples on Methodist premises… and by Methodist ministers, probationers or members.”

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