African delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church pray exterior the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, N.C., on May 2, 2024.
Peter Smith/AP
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Peter Smith/AP
A non secular schism has turned lethal in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two younger kids killed as houses have been set ablaze, in accordance with United Methodist News Service.
The information service mentioned the reported violence on Sunday stemmed from a schism within the worldwide United Methodist Church over its choice to repeal LGBTQ bans — and the following formation of the brand new Global Methodist Church by breakaway conservative church buildings.
According to 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. Homes have been set ablaze, claiming the lives of two kids, ages 2 and 4, of the overseer of a United Methodist college and nursery, the information service mentioned. Another 10 church members have been reported injured.
The worldwide Global Methodist Church held its inaugural common convention earlier this yr. It was created by church buildings breaking away from the United Methodist Church — a world denomination with a robust U.S. presence.
While the UMC, at its common convention in May, lifted its longstanding bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage, it additionally granted native conferences the fitting to set their very own requirements. The West Africa Central Conference, which incorporates Nigeria, restricts marriage to between a person and a lady and instructs its church buildings to comply with nationwide legal guidelines on LGBTQ points, in accordance 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 happen amongst Christians, particularly brothers and sisters who have been as soon as a part of the identical Methodist household,” they mentioned in a press release.
“We additional urge GMC members, in any respect ranges, to place a direct finish to the violence and chorus from disseminating misinformation that fuels concern and disdain that may result in violence,” they mentioned.
The Assembly of Bishops of the Global Methodist Church issued a press release saying it’s actively wanting into the allegations and is looking for to find out what has occurred.
“We mourn the lack of human life, decry the usage of violence in any kind, and name on each Global Methodists and United Methodists to function brokers of peace,” it mentioned.
