Bishop Jones Issues Response to Nigerian Violence Accusations
By now, most of the online Methodists are aware of a violent incident that took place in Munga Doso, a small town in Taraba State, northeastern Nigeria. While the details are still being pieced together, it seems increasingly safe to say that the root issues deal with a family feud. The feud was superimposed onto the current UMC/GMC divide, and the feud got deadly when a ban on the use of the building was violated by one of the sides.
Many were injured. At least one adult and two children were killed. Guns and fire were used to harm one another. The violence has stopped for now. State authorities are involved.
Exacerbating these tensions, John Schol, a bishop in The United Methodist Church, issued two statements about these developments. The first statement was terse and pointed. The second statement, issued yesterday, was emotionally manipulative and calculated to fan the flames of resentment between Methodists. The particular accusations he made was that 1) it was Global Methodists who initiated the violence, and 2) GMC bishops were unresponsive to an overture for peace from UM bishops prior to this event.
For those who are interested in the words and reports of Nigerian parties, as well as western attempts to discern these developments, I would point you to my live stream from this morning, which you can find here.
I have reached out to Nigerian parties for more information. The two accounts I have read in response have indicated UM violence initiating the travesty, which contradicts the report from Schol. Others have been silent.
I reached out to Schol, who made it clear that he didn’t trust me to handle any information he might be able to submit.
I asked the Nigerian bishops, John Pena Auta and Scott Jones, for a response to the accusations from Schol. Here is how Jones responded:
“Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
The Assembly of Bishops met this morning regarding the recent reported violence in the community of Munga Dosa in Nigeria among GMC and UMC members. It has been reported that this violence resulted in homes being burned and at least one death.
In a statement released last evening, we shared the following: We mourn the loss of human life, decry the use of violence in any way, and call for Global Methodists and United Methodists to work as agents of peace. We call on the church to pray for those who are suffering unspeakable loss, for those responsible for such violence to be brought to justice, and for peace to be restored.
There is great uncertainty about the facts of what happened this past Sunday in Nigeria, and we are cautioning individuals to hold lightly the various versions and accusations that are being shared on social media. What we do know is that this conflict is based in a long-standing family feud of over seven decades that has been heightened by the process of disaffiliation in Nigeria. Bishop John Pena Auta is attempting to travel to this region to learn firsthand what occurred, and we will share updates as appropriate.
As you receive questions, we encourage you to invite the church to pray for Nigeria, our leaders and congregations and for those who have been impacted by this violence. There may be need for financial assistance to provide food and lodging to those displaced by the fires. If we receive additional information about these needs we will share them as an invitation for you to consider.”
I would laud the GMC bishops for speaking in a measured way about what has transpired, as it can do a lot of harm to speak falsely, even if unintentionally, in the aftermath of such events. I cannot help but be somewhat dissatisfied that the letter Schol referenced, the one trying to head off the violence, was nowhere acknowledged or denied. I have sent an email to follow up and ask if they plan to answer that accusation at another time.
It will be important to let an investigation take place, and to then return to Schol’s account of what happened. If it turns out that he indeed foresaw this, sought to preclude it, and GM leadership was diffident or distracted, then that needs to be acknowledged and mourned. If Global Methodists were the instigators and aggressors in this violent episode, they must be reprimanded. Bishop John Pena Auta is on his way there to see with his own eyes what has transpired. May the Lord grant him the gravity and authority to bring the Lord’s peace in this time of tumult.
But if this is another chapter in United Methodist episcopal lies and slander, then it will be important to let everyone see it. Don’t let the news cycle distract you. Global Methodists now have a reputation to earn and protect. I pray we have more integrity than the body we left to get here.