The Southern Conference of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria has commenced its 40th Annual Conference Sessions in the Mc Bride Church Jalingo against an earlier court order restraining the church from holding its conference.
One Rev. Musa Lana had on 9th November 2021 got an experte order from an High Court of Justice in Jalingo for himself and Taraba State Delegates of the Church to stop Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna and his agent, servants and privies from holding the UMCN West African Annual Conference should to hold on 10th – 14th November, 2021.
The Southern Conference through one Mr. L.T. Ayuba, Associates Legal Practitioner and Chancellor however lodged a complaint before the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Taraba State seeking the Court to vacate the earlier order which they plead was done in error.
In a Court order Suit No: JUACI/CV/93/2021 signed by the Assistant Registrar Upper Area Court Jalingo read in part.
“Upon the complaint lodge by L.T. Ayuba and Associates Legal Practitioner and Chancellor of the UMCN Southern Nigeria Conference before the Chief Registrar office High Court of Justice Jalingo on the experte order earlier granted restraining the defendant/respondent Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna his agent and servant and privies from holding UMCN West African Annual Conference schedule to hold on the 10-14th November 2021 in Jalingo Taraba State Capital C.R. further directed me to cause the vacations of the said order on ground that the order was made in error. Even though the D.C.R High Court assigned the said matter to me.
In view of the fore going the said order is hereby vacated forthwith”.
It is upon the strength of the above that the Church commenced its 40th Southern Annual Conference Sessions in Jalingo.
At the opening ceremony of the Annual Conference, the Presiding Bishop of the Nigeria Episcopal Area Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna in his Episcopal address said the Annual Conference is an avenue for the Church to assess its performance, check Progress and failures and plan a new way to overcome challenges.
He said this year marked his nine years as the United Methodist Church Bishop assigned to the Nigeria Church and the journey has been a herculean task.
” I have received your tremendous support and cooperation to come this far, most importantly, shortly after my election and consecration in 2012, some members of the UMC family in Nigeria renege to acknowledge me as Bishop elect for this Episcopal Area but you do me proud by acknowledge me I say thank you”.
He noted that the UMCN had three Conferences before his assumption as leader of the church but now the church has four conferences which has helped in spreading the Gospel to the unreached.
The Bishop however called on all members not to destroy the church with unnecessary bitterness as the church will make its position know about the issue of sex marriage which has divided the church after the General Conference.
Dominica Nwabufo
