Methodist Church Vows To Clampdown On Polygamous Members

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, August 14th, 2014

The leadership of Methodist Church Nigeria has vowed to clamp down on church leaders and members who still keep more than one wife.

It is observed that many people in Methodist Church Nigeria, including church leaders practice polygamous and still keep leadership positions in the church.

The church plans to strip church leaders and workers of their titles in the church if they continued to keep second or more wives.

The decision was taken at the 9^th Biennial Conference of the Church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

A communiqué issued at the end of the conference and signed by the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche and the Conference Secretary, Rt. Rev. Raphael Opoko said the conference resolved that “any member of the Church who goes into a polygamous relationship will henceforth be sanctioned in accordance with the Rules of the Church.”

On the abduction of over 200 innocent female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the conference condemned the callous activities of the Boko- Haram insurgents and expressed concern over their continued absence from their families and loved ones.

“While praying for their release from their evil abductors, Conference calls on the Federal Government and the International Community to do everything humanly possible to free these Girls and return them to their families. Conference prays for divine comfort and succour for the families of these young girls who are experiencing intense traumatic experiences over these incidents.

“In the same vein, Conference urges all communities that are at loggerhead across the nation to sheath their swords and embrace peace, as we are all brothers and sisters. Peace is a vital tool for the development of any nation or society and ours cannot be different. Conference calls on Nigerians to be tolerant of each other and to show respect for other people’s views even when they are diametrically opposed to ours as these are part of the mechanics of having sustainable growth,” the conference said.

On the state of the nation, the conference appealed passionately to those engaged in armed robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, baby factories, oil bunkering and other terrible vices troubling the society to change their lifestyle for a more positive and productive one and contribute their quota meaningfully to national re-birth.

“Conference also calls on the Federal Government to do more in the area of creating jobs so as to engage unemployed Nigerians (especially the youths) whose population is growing astronomically and is posing itself as a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

While commending members of the National Conference for arriving at a consensus on nineteen out of twenty Committee reports, the conference urged them to resolve all issues around the devolution of power, with maturity and love for our great Nation, urging the National Assembly to adopt all the credible proposals that would move the country forward.

“The conference commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of elections in Ekiti and Osun States this year and urges the electoral body to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections at all times, especially in 2015.

“Electorates are charged to desist from selling their votes and to vote for credible candidates who will work for their interest on assumption of office. Nigerians should shun all acts of violence and blood shedding. Conference also encourages Christians who are so inclined to participate in politics and vie for political office.

“Conference also urges all tiers of government to be more pro-active in preventive health care. On the issue of the Ebola plague, Conference advocates concerted efforts on dissemination of information, particularly preventive measures, to the citizens. People are implored, in the meantime, to pay attention to personal hygiene and avoid panicking,” the communiqué stated.