A tragic escalation of conflict stemming from a religious schism in Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of a church member and two young children, with homes being set ablaze.
According to the United Methodist News Service, the violence occurred as tensions rose between factions of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the newly formed Global Methodist Church (GMC). The conflict traces its roots to the UMC's decision to repeal bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage, prompting conservative congregations to break away to form the GMC.
This schism has created deep rifts not only globally but particularly intensified the situation in Nigeria, where societal norms and religious beliefs strongly favor traditional views on marriage and sexual orientation. On Sunday, the conflict turned deadly in Taraba, a state situated in northeastern Nigeria. A United Methodist Church member was reportedly shot and killed during a confrontation between two factions. This altercation led to arson attacks on homes, claiming the lives of two children, aged just 2 and 4, who were the offspring of the overseer of a United Methodist school and nursery. The tragic events did not stop there; reports indicate at least 10 other church members sustained injuries during these violent clashes.
The origins of this conflict can be traced back to the United Methodist Church’s landmark decision made earlier this year at its General Conference to lift longstanding bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage. While this decision permitted individual regional conferences to establish their own guidelines, the West Africa Central Conference, which includes Nigeria, chose to maintain its conservative stance. It upheld the definition of marriage as strictly between one man and one woman, instructing its churches to adhere to national laws concerning LGBTQ rights.
The emergence of the Global Methodist Church as a refuge for congregations unwilling to align with the new UMC guidelines signifies the deepening divide within the faith community. The GMC, which convened for its first general conference earlier this year, seeks to provide conservative churches with a platform to uphold their theological perspectives distinct from the UMC.
Following the attacks on Sunday, church leaders and bishops from the United Methodist Church were quick to respond with indignation and calls for calm. “We are outraged at such atrocity would occur among Christians, especially brothers and sisters who were once part of the same Methodist family,” they stated. Their onus was clear: peace is needed among factions, and the use of violence is completely unacceptable.
Likewise, the Global Methodist Church's Assembly of Bishops condemned the violence, stating they “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.” The GMC leadership has made it known they are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding these tragic events and are imploring both factions to refrain from spreading misinformation, which could exacerbate tensions.
The situation presents a stark reflection of the broader issues facing many religious communities grappling with modern interpretations of doctrine and tradition. What is fundamentally at stake here is not merely the future of two church factions but the enduring fabric of community norms and the safety and security of their members.
This tragic chapter of division within the Methodist community exemplifies the potential consequences of significant theological shifts and the fierce loyalty of congregations to their beliefs. The recent violence may serve as both warning and turning point for how such disagreements continue to evolve within Nigeria and beyond.
While the call for peace and reconciliation echoes across congregations, the question of how these communities will navigate their differences remains very much alive. Will they find ways to coexist, or will the rift only deepen as theological battles continue to shift the boundaries of faith? Only time will tell how this situation will develop, but the cost of such divisions has proven tragically high.
