A religious schism within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria has escalated to violence, resulting in the fatal shooting of a church member and the deaths of two young children in Taraba state. The schism arose from the UMC’s decision to repeal LGBTQ bans, leading to the formation of the Global Methodist Church by conservative breakaway churches. The Global Methodist Church held its inaugural general conference recently, with the UMC lifting bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage but allowing local conferences to set their own standards. The West Africa Central Conference, which includes Nigeria, restricts marriage to heterosexual couples. Local United Methodist bishops have condemned the violence and called for peace, while the Assembly of Bishops of the Global Methodist Church is investigating the situation. Both groups have expressed a commitment to promoting peace and denouncing violence.
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100mph laughing gas driver admits killing friends
In Oxfordshire, Thomas Johnson, 19, admitted causing death by dangerous driving after inhaling laughing gas and crashing his car at 100mph, killing three teenage friends. The victims' families condemned Johnson's reckless behavior and urged others to learn from the tragedy. Johnson, who had only held his license for less than a year, lost control of his vehicle, resulting in the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Ethan Goddard, Daniel Hancock, and Elliot Pullen. Full...
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