Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Yambasu

Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area acknowledges the anxiety stemming from debates about the future of The United Methodist Church, but insists that God “will lead his church to where he wants his church to be.”

Yambasu spoke with UM News as part of “Seeing a Way Forward,” a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward.

Watch videos.


“It is God’s church.”
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area acknowledges the anxiety stemming from debates about the future of The United Methodist Church, but insists that God “will lead his church to where he wants his church to be.”

“Marriage should be between man and woman.”
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area outlines his support for the Traditional Plan, one of several proposals being considered by the 2019 Special General Conference over the denomination’s stance on homosexuality.

Bishop discusses One Church Plan implications for Africa
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area considers the One Church Plan to have several advantages for the African church, but also calls for more education on the concerns that support for the plan would constitute support for homosexuality. The One Church Plan is one of several proposals being considered by the 2019 Special General Conference over the denomination’s stance on homosexuality.

Sierra Leone bishop looks at all three plans for GC2019
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area says each of the proposals being considered by the 2019 Special General Conference over the denomination’s stance on homosexuality has its own implications for churches in Africa.

What a church split means for Africa
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area says he continues to pray the church doesn’t split over the debate on the denomination’s stance on homosexuality. But regardless, he says, the church will still continue its mission of spreading the gospel.

“Rethink our calling as a church."
Leading up to the called 2019 Special General Conference, Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area questions spending so many church resources “legislating sex” when there continues to be hunger, poverty and disease in so much of the world.


This is the third in a series of video interviews by United Methodist News Service. View the interviews with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and Bishop Christian Alsted.

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Global Health
Sinnika A. Bangura (right), a staffer at the Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Church Eye Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, applies dilating eye drops to a young child with the support of his parents. The eye drops are administered to widen the eye pupil in preparation for examination. The United Methodist eye hospital was established in 1984 by Dr. Lowell Gess, a U.S. missionary. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

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Retired United Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Humper, who died last month at age 81, helped to restore peace following civil war in his country. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

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Retired United Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Humper, who died last month at age 81, helped to restore peace following civil war in his country.
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Loaves of bread will help provide financial support for women in Sierra Leone. Screengrab courtesy of United Women in Faith, by UM News.

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