African Methodists fear aid will be withdrawn as Western church liberalises on sexuality

At its most recent conference in the USA, the United Methodist Church removed the prohibition on considering openly LGBT candidates for ordained ministry. There’s a growing divide between Africa and the West on sexuality, reports Winile Ximba

The Methodist Church in Africa has been thrown into an existential crisis over a decision by its US counterpart to allow practising homosexual men and women to become ministers.

African Methodists have found themselves wedged between a rock and a hard place as a split from the wealthier US Methodists could mean a drying up of desperately needed humanitarian money.