Bishop Deported Amid Leadership Power Struggle
Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa from Zimbabwe was recently deported from Nigeria due to issues with his visa status. Nhiwatiwa, who was part of a team overseeing the Nigerian Episcopal Area for the United Methodist Church (UMC), was detained by Nigerian authorities. They believed his participation in the local church leadership election violated the terms of his Tourist Visa. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ordered his immediate deportation after determining that he was engaging in activities not permitted under his visa type.
The situation is further complicated by allegations from Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel of the UMC Southern Nigeria Annual Conference. Emmanuel claimed that the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a conservative breakaway faction, reported Nhiwatiwa to immigration, accusing him of promoting homosexuality. Homosexual acts and advocacy are illegal in Nigeria, adding a sensitive dimension to the case.
Earlier this year, the UMC General Conference removed restrictions on same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, leading to disagreements within the church. In response, Nigerian Bishop John Wesley Yohanna announced that his regional body would leave the UMC and join the GMC, citing conflicts with biblical principles. This split has fueled the tensions surrounding Nhiwatiwa’s deportation.
The GMC maintains that the Nigerian Episcopal Area and its conferences have officially aligned with their denomination, a claim supported by Transitional Connectional Officer Keith Boyette. However, UMC officials have contested these claims, asserting that only a small faction has left the UMC.
Nhiwatiwa’s detention was based on accusations that he was performing religious duties on a tourist visa, which Nigerian law prohibits. The NIS official also suggested that Nhiwatiwa may have misled the embassy about his visa status, further complicating the matter.