Rev. Dopah challenges African clerics to consider paradigm shift from pulpit to global conferences

By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

African clerics have been challenged to consider paradigm shifts from church pulpit and attend global conferences to equip themselves with current realities of the 21st Century.

Director, Connectional Ministries, United Methodist Church (UMC), Jalingo, Rev. Dr. Philip Micah Dopah dropped the hint in an interview with our correspondent in Jalingo shortly after arriving from a conference trip.

He emphasized the need for African church leaders to pay attention to global conferences to exchange ideas on contemporary issues that will promote the gospel of Christ.

“I therefore suggest, there should be a paradigm shift from church pulpit to global leadership conferences by African church leaders,” he said.

Sharing on the experience gathered during the strategic leadership conference in the USA from May 18th to June 2nd 2025, Dr. Dopah described it as rewarding, particularly as it centered on how to manage church and promote the gospels.

He further called for mutual understanding among Christians, revealing that every leader must be on his knees to seek Gods’ intervention.

In his words of caution, the cleric calls on African Christians to return to God for mercy, regretting that current situation in Africa was alarming compared to overseas, citing denominational divisions, killings, prosecution and several other vices as reasons Africa was lagging behind,

Dr. Dopah also called for nations-building among African diversity, urging citizens to always pray for leaders.

He also frowns as social media handles in Africa which he says was quite different from those of the western world pointing out that it has caused more harm than good.

The clegy appreciated the people of the church (UMC), family, friends and well-wishers for their prayers to his trip to the conference.