No Nigerian Elected as GMC Unveils Eight Global Bishops
The Global Methodist Church has elected eight full-time bishops to lead its newly established episcopal areas, but no Nigerian emerged among those chosen at the denomination’s 2026 General Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The historic election marks a major transition for the fast-growing Christian denomination as it moves from interim episcopal leadership to a permanent structure of regularly elected bishops.
Despite Nigeria’s significant presence within the Global Methodist Church and the involvement of Nigerian candidates in the selection process, none secured a place among the final eight bishops-elect.
The newly elected bishops are Luther Oconer, Jonathan Lee, Mark Webb, Lyndol Loyd, Jerry P. Kulah, Eduard Khegay, Paul Lawler and Carolyn Moore.
They will oversee Episcopal Areas One through Eight respectively and are expected to begin their assignments on November 5, 2026.
Their terms will run for six years, covering the 2026–2032 episcopal period.
Auta Withdraws From Episcopal Race
One of the biggest developments surrounding the election was the withdrawal of Nigerian cleric Bishop John Pena Auta from the contest.
Auta entered the Johannesburg conference as one of the denomination’s serving interim bishops seeking election to a regular six-year term.
He had cleared an important stage of the process after securing the level of support required to advance alongside Carolyn Moore.
However, Auta subsequently stepped down from the race, effectively ending his bid to become one of the eight full-time bishops.
His withdrawal attracted particular attention because of his previous leadership role within the church and the expectations surrounding Nigerian representation in the new episcopal structure.
Auta was elected an interim bishop during the denomination’s 2024 Convening General Conference in San José, Costa Rica.
During the transitional period, he exercised episcopal oversight over several annual conferences, including Nigerian conferences.
The Johannesburg election now moves the denomination away from that interim arrangement and into a system built around bishops elected to regular six-year terms.
Nigeria Still Holds Major Place in GMC
Although no Nigerian was elected among the eight bishops, Nigeria remains strongly represented within the Global Methodist Church’s wider structure.
The denomination has organised its annual conferences into international episcopal areas rather than assigning bishops strictly according to national boundaries.
Under the arrangement, Central Nigeria falls within Episcopal Area 3 under Mark Webb, while Northeast Nigeria is placed in Episcopal Area 4 under Lyndol Loyd.
Southern Nigeria forms part of Episcopal Area 5, which will be led by Liberian clergyman Jerry P. Kulah.
This means Nigerian congregations will continue to operate within the denomination’s global episcopal structure despite the absence of a Nigerian among the eight newly elected bishops.
Jerry Kulah Takes Episcopal Area 5
The election of Jerry P. Kulah is particularly significant for Southern Nigeria.
Kulah, a Liberian Methodist theologian and church leader, was elected bishop of Episcopal Area 5.
The area brings together Southern Nigeria and several other conferences, including Ethiopia Nazrawiyan, Great Lakes, Virginia, Oasis and Grain Coast.
His election means Southern Nigeria will be under the episcopal leadership of an African bishop throughout the 2026–2032 period.
Kulah has been a visible figure within traditionalist Methodist circles in Africa, making his emergence one of the notable outcomes of the Johannesburg conference.
Eight Bishops to Lead Global Episcopal Areas
The eight bishops elected are:
Area 1 — Luther Oconer
Area 2 — Jonathan Lee
Area 3 — Mark Webb
Area 4 — Lyndol Loyd
Area 5 — Jerry P. Kulah
Area 6 — Eduard Khegay
Area 7 — Paul Lawler
Area 8 — Carolyn Moore
The international arrangement reflects the denomination’s decision to group annual conferences across countries and continents rather than establish episcopal leadership purely along national lines.
The bishops are expected to assume office on November 5, opening a new chapter in the leadership structure of the Global Methodist Church.
New Chapter for Nigerian Methodists
For Nigerian members of the denomination, the outcome creates both change and continuity.
Auta’s withdrawal means one of the most prominent Nigerian figures in the church’s transitional episcopal leadership will not continue as one of the eight regular bishops.
At the same time, Nigerian annual conferences remain firmly integrated into the denomination’s new global structure.
Attention will now turn to how the new episcopal arrangement affects congregations in Central, Northeast and Southern Nigeria and how the newly elected bishops manage territories spanning different countries, cultures and church communities.
The Johannesburg election represents an important milestone for the Global Methodist Church as it strengthens its permanent leadership structure.
For Nigeria, however, the headline remains striking: despite its significant presence in the denomination and participation in the episcopal process, the country will begin the church’s new era without a Nigerian among its eight full-time bishops.
