Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
For Immediate Release
July 30, 2024
Bishop Yohanna resigns; COB to appoint team to lead Nigeria Episcopal Area
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has accepted the resignation of Bishop John-Wesley Yohanna as bishop of the Nigeria Episcopal Area. Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president of the Council and other COB leadership are working with the West Africa College of Bishops and Episcopacy Committee to identify interim episcopal leadership for the United Methodists of Nigeria.
In a letter to fellow bishops, Bishop Malone noted that Bishop Yohanna’s resignation from The United Methodist Church is effective July 29, 2024.
“We are saddened by his decision to no longer continue ministry with The United Methodist Church. I invite us to pray for our former colleague and the church in Nigeria, especially those who choose to remain in The United Methodist Church. This is a very difficult and confusing time for them,” she said in the letter.
Former Bishop Yohanna’s term was scheduled to end at the close of this year when the West Africa Central Conference was scheduled to elect three new bishops, one of which was to be for Nigeria.
Bishop Malone urged bishops who have covenantal relationships or have congregations with relationships with congregations in Nigeria, to “immediately withhold sending funding and escrow the funds until new episcopal leadership is in place and new mechanisms are in place.” The same request was made of General Secretaries and funding for Nigeria. Once interim episcopal leadership is identified and procedures put in place for ensuring funds will go to United Methodist ministry and mission, funding will be restored.
“We know that God has a plan for The United Methodist Church and a future filled with hope. In unity and with fervent prayer, we remain faithful to the mission of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World” and seek to serve Christ through our leadership. Together we continue to lead the church forward, by supporting one another and our clergy and lay, and by choosing to live into the embrace of God’s love, peace, hope, justice and joy,” Bishop Malone said.
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Media Contact:
Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga
Director of Communications
Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
(202) 748-5172
