By Edward Makuzva
Rev. Gwinyayi Henry Muzorewa, who is also the President of the United African National Council (UANC), and eleven other elders of the United Methodist Church have officially resigned from the denomination, citing disagreements over its stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Their departure is part of a broader rift within the church, as debates over same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ issues continue to divide congregations worldwide.
The elders argue that the denomination’s position conflicts with their theological beliefs, prompting them to seek a new spiritual path aligned with their convictions.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference this Friday in Harare, Muzorewa stated that the decision was a response to the denomination’s acceptance of homosexuality, which conflicts with the biblical teachings and spiritual convictions that have guided their church.
“I have always sought to preach the gospel with integrity and remain faithful to the Word of God. However, the ongoing changes within the United Methodist Church have created a deep theological divide that makes it impossible for me to continue serving under its leadership in good conscience. While I respect those who hold different views, I cannot compromise on what I believe to be the truth of Scripture,” he said.
Addressing the press conference, Rev. Fobbes Matonga, the pastor in chief of the Murewa Centre Circuit, stated that they have officially resigned from the UMC because the church has fully accepted and legalized homosexuality, which is one of the cardinal sins forbidden in both the Old and New Testaments.
“Sin is universal. It cannot be forbidden in one place and accepted in another within the same church. We believe that sin knows no racial, national, ethnic, or tribal boundaries; it is a universal human condition.”
Furthermore, “I and the elders of the church present here have resigned from the United Methodist Church with immediate effect because we do not believe the direction the United Methodist Church has decided to take at its last General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 2024, and as endorsed by the recently concluded Africa Central Conference, is Godly,” Matonga explained.
Matonga also highlighted that the 2019 Special General Conference had given them hope that their church would continue to be a beacon of faithfulness in upholding biblical faith among Protestant churches. Unfortunately, some have chosen to prioritize money over preserving the faith entrusted to them.