African delegates to the Basic Convention of the United Methodist Church pray outdoors the Charlotte Conference Heart, in Charlotte, N.C., on Might 2, 2024.
Peter Smith/AP
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Peter Smith/AP
A spiritual schism has turned lethal in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two younger youngsters killed as houses had been set ablaze, in line with United Methodist Information Service.
The information service mentioned the reported violence on Sunday stemmed from a schism within the worldwide United Methodist Church over its determination to repeal LGBTQ bans — and the following formation of the brand new International Methodist Church by breakaway conservative church buildings.
In keeping with the information service, a United Methodist church member was shot and killed in a confrontation between each factions in Taraba, a state in northeast Nigeria. Properties had been set ablaze, claiming the lives of two youngsters, ages 2 and 4, of the overseer of a United Methodist faculty and nursery, the information service mentioned. One other 10 church members had been reported injured.
The worldwide International Methodist Church held its inaugural basic convention earlier this yr. It was created by church buildings breaking away from the United Methodist Church — a world denomination with a powerful U.S. presence.
Whereas the UMC, at its basic convention in Might, lifted its longstanding bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage, it additionally granted native conferences the correct to set their very own requirements. The West Africa Central Convention, which incorporates Nigeria, restricts marriage to between a person and a lady and instructs its church buildings to observe nationwide legal guidelines on LGBTQ points, in line with the information service.
In a press release, native United Methodist bishops condemned the violence and requested that there be no retribution.
“We are outraged that such an atrocity would occur among Christians, especially brothers and sisters who were once part of the same Methodist family,” they mentioned in a press release.
“We further urge GMC members, at all levels, to put an immediate end to the violence and refrain from disseminating misinformation that fuels fear and disdain that can lead to violence,” they mentioned.
The Meeting of Bishops of the International Methodist Church issued a press release saying it’s actively wanting into the allegations and is searching for to find out what has occurred.
“We mourn the loss of human life, decry the use of violence in any form, and call on both Global Methodists and United Methodists to serve as agents of peace,” it mentioned.
