Dispute Over LGBTQ Issues Splits Church Into Two Factions

Differences over LGBTQ issues have resulted in a substantial divide among the Shona United Methodist Church (UMC) in South Africa, with two separate groups.

The Johannesburg Shona UMC was established about 2008 by Zimbabwean professionals who relocated to South Africa for work.

Over time, it has expanded to over 1,000 members in Gauteng alone, with additional congregations in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Limpopo.

The Shona assembly has also acquired properties worth over R10 million. However, the current schism has raised concerns about the future of these assets, as many congregants have left.

The division has resulted in the formation of two groups: the long-established Johannesburg United Methodist Church (JNUMC) and the newly founded Johannesburg North Methodist Church (JNMC). This schism is analogous to difficulties that have arisen within the Zimbabwe UMC.

For more than a century, the United Methodist Church has rejected the ordination of homosexual and lesbian pastors. This view reversed during the church’s General Conference (GC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May of this year, when it was determined that gay and lesbian people might be ordained as bishops or pastors, and same-sex weddings could be solemnised inside the United Methodist Church in the United States. This decision sparked a global exodus of conservatives who saw it as unacceptable.

At the GC, conservative African delegates fiercely opposed the revisions, prompting a proposal for “regionalization,” which would allow each continent to establish its own worship norms based on cultural context. This plan has been greeted with opposition from sections that say that the UMC is a “connectional church” that is nonetheless interconnected globally, despite geographic variances.

Following the GC resolution, a meeting was held at Randburg’s main church, where the majority opted to cut relations with the main UMC. The discussion was heated, prompting a further meeting with Joaquina Filipe Nanhala, Bishop of the South African Episcopal Area. During the conference, members of the breakaway faction accused church leaders of misleading congregants in order to safeguard their interests, such as salaries and bonuses.

“There has been deceit, as some pastors and bishops prioritize their interests over spiritual principles,” said a member of the breakaway faction. “We cannot remain in a church that endorses actions contrary to the Bible. This is reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.”

However, others believe the response has been overly emotional and hasty. “People haven’t taken the time to understand the new order. God remains constant regardless of American decisions. We will maintain our African way of worship and won’t compromise on our stance against gay bishops and pastors,” said a JNUMC member. “Politics has influenced some members to exploit this issue for personal agendas.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli