Homosexual evil, we won’t legalize it -Bishop Yohanna, hands over Global Methodist Church Nigeria to Bishop Auta

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By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

The immediate past Bishop of Global Methodist Church Nigeria (GMCN) Rev. Johnwesley Yohanna has stated that homosexual practice is nothing but an evil, declaring that the church will neither be in support nor legalizing it.

Bishop Yohanna who made the assertion while handing over the mantle of leadership to the new Bishop Rev. Dr. John Pena Auta at the Global Methodist Church secretariat, Mile six, Jalingo made it categorically clear that GMC members are not and can never adopt homosexual practice before the eye of God.

According to him, the practice was pure evil and can never be tolerated or encouraged in the new global Methodist church hence it remains incompatible.

In his valedictory speech, Bishop Johnwesley noted he took over the leadership of the church during a tumultuous period as he witnessed tragedy, criticism, abuse and manipulation of the devil adding that his trust in God remains the sustainer and saving grace that saw him all through for 12 years.

He said the emergence of Bishop Pena Auta was a divine to global Methodist church as he urged members to accord him similar support to enable him take GMC to greater heights.

“To my dear successor, please keep this in mind, embrace honesty, transparency, sincerity and accountability. Discard personal interest, greed, inpatients, distrust, anger and hatred. Cultivate a spirit of service, contentment, patience, trust, peace and love”,he stated.

Johnwesley appreciated Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, his Gombe state counterpart Alh. Inuwa Yahaya and Ex-Governor Jolly Nyame for their collective support and commitments to resolving crises in the church.

On its part the newly Bishop, Rev. Dr. John Pena Auta expressed profound gratitude for the privileged to serve as Bishop of the newly global Methodist church Nigeria.

He pledged to lead the church with total dependence on the Holy spirit. “My prayer is that we will not only be hearers of the world but doers andalso leaving an example of a transformed life, grounded in the teachings of Christ. I wish to follow the footstep of retired Bishop emeritus Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna to whom I owe all allegiance, honor and deep respect and will try to follow his paths.

In their good will messages, chairperson board of trustee, Honorable Justice Beatrice Iliya (rtd), prominent elder Rev. John Simon Jatutu and former Senior Special Assistant to Ex-Governor Nyame Dr. Hilkiah Buba Joda Mafindi lauded effort of the immediate past Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna and urged the new Bishop Dr. Pena Auta surpassed the achievements of his predecessor and thanked God for his emergence as the new Bishop of the Global Methodist Church.