Ever since the President of the Council of Bishops, Tom Bickerton, pronounced that churches outside of America cannot disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, local churches around the globe have known that freedom would not be an option. However, leadership from a majority of the churches in Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference became clear that their latest conference session would mark a cessation from the UMC. Bishop Wandabula vowed that he would not entertain such a measure taking place. When the time came, the bishop bent, and he has allowed 58 churches go leave, directly contravening the edict from Tom Bickerton. What will come of this? Spend a few minutes with me to learn some of the history and dynamics of this exceptional annual conference.

Links:

Conference Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068945514051

Bishop Wandabula’s Bio: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/2463622

Map of the UMC’s Episcopal Areas in Africa: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/who-we-are/documents/africa-central-conferences-map-revised.pdf

UMNews Article about suspension of Kenya’s funding in 2013: https://archives.gcah.org/bitstream/handle/10516/9233/article5.aspx.htm?sequence=4

Simon Mafunda’s WCA article alleging MFSA money corrupting Kenya’s conference:

https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/08/15/methodist-federation-for-social-action-funding-liberalism-in-kenya/

UM Insight article details Bishop Wandabula blessing Kenya’s first RMN church:

https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/bishop-dedicates-reconciling-church-in-kenya/

RMN Article detailing Kenya’s 2nd RMN church: https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/bishop-dedicates-reconciling-church-in-kenya/

Article detailing the 2022 African Bishops Gathering: https://michiganumc.org/african-bishops-condemn-advocacy-groups/

September of 2022 Statement from the Africa College of Bishops: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/files/statement+from+africa+colleges+of+bishops+-+sept+8.pdf

September of 2022 Answer from the Africa Initiative: https://www.umnews.org/-/media/UMC-Media/2022/09/14/18/19/umc-africa-initiative-press-release-to-global-umc?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGG3O-_mUSCtMg01snyjzBD-5pO3kuIrijNIykK7U2U0INhoj0ExWiUuWOuV6k7TQjXTLzEF_VPDr-rc9mcXd9RUidia5JWFxWhMT2qp4VP9xmsZA

UM Insight Article on the Foundation of the UMAF:

https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/united-methodist-africa-forum-sets-priorities-names-leaders/

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