Twelve top pastors quit the United Methodist Church because they say it stopped defending good morals and Christian values. Reverend Forbes Matonga said these pastors disagreed when the church changed its mind about homosexuality. The global church voted 692 to 51 to remove words that called homosexuality wrong, but Zimbabwe church members fought against this change.
Matonga said the church has gone all-in on accepting homosexuality. He and 12 church leaders quit right away. According to him, the Bible clearly says homosexuality is wrong in both the Old and New Testaments. He believes wrong is wrong everywhere - something cannot be bad in Africa but fine in America under the same church rules.
The split shows big fights inside the church about gay rights. Matonga also pointed to other church problems. He said the church has serious issues with corruption and tribal favoritism. Church pastors barely scrape by, sometimes using birthday parties as chances to make money.
Their church schools have fallen behind fancy private schools. Matonga said their once-huge hospital with 200 beds has shrunk to a tiny clinic that just handles basic health needs. He made it clear they would have left regardless of who became bishop. Pastor Maria Masamba is worried about what these changes mean for families and society. She fears accepting LGBTQI+ relationships might hurt future generations. The pastors who quit include Reverend Mukandiona, Matonga, and his wife, Muzorewa, and Masamba with her husband.
Matonga said the church has gone all-in on accepting homosexuality. He and 12 church leaders quit right away. According to him, the Bible clearly says homosexuality is wrong in both the Old and New Testaments. He believes wrong is wrong everywhere - something cannot be bad in Africa but fine in America under the same church rules.
The split shows big fights inside the church about gay rights. Matonga also pointed to other church problems. He said the church has serious issues with corruption and tribal favoritism. Church pastors barely scrape by, sometimes using birthday parties as chances to make money.
Their church schools have fallen behind fancy private schools. Matonga said their once-huge hospital with 200 beds has shrunk to a tiny clinic that just handles basic health needs. He made it clear they would have left regardless of who became bishop. Pastor Maria Masamba is worried about what these changes mean for families and society. She fears accepting LGBTQI+ relationships might hurt future generations. The pastors who quit include Reverend Mukandiona, Matonga, and his wife, Muzorewa, and Masamba with her husband.
