The United Missionary Church of Africa

United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) is a Mennonite denomination that arrived in Nigeria in 1905. The founding missionaries, whose society is known as United Missionary Society (UMS) came from the United States of America and Canada in the first half of the twentieth century. Their home church was known as the United Missionary Church (UMC). UMC was initially known as Mennonite Brethren in Christ (MBC). Apart from its Mennonite background, the denomination was also heavily influenced by Methodism. The first missionary in Nigeria was Rev. A.W. Banfield who arrived in Nigeria in 1905. He was well-known for reducing the Nupe language to writing, publication of Nupe Dictionary and the translation of the Bible into Nupe language. Other missionaries such as L.R. Sloat, W. Bontrager, G. Schroeder, J. McDowell, L.K. Fuller, and many others also joined Banfield in planting the denomination in Nigeria. The activities of the missionaries was not limited to preaching the gospel, it also included healthcare and education. The denomination however, is well-known through its major Seminary, the UMCA Theological College, Ilorin, which trains clergy, not only from the owner denomination, but from all Protestant churches, including those from African independent churches. Apart from Nigeria, the UMS also established churches in countries of Central America, South America and Asia The labours of the UMC missionaries in Nigeria resulted in the United Missionary Church of Africa becoming a distinct denomination in the country in 1955. On September 29, 1956, the denomination became a registered corporate body in Nigeria. With the support of indigenous missionaries, the denomination spread from central Nigeria to the North west and South western Nigeria. Today the Church is well established in ten states of the thirty six states in Nigeria, including, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa States. UMCA can also be found in some other African countries, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote D'Ivoire. The UMS handed the running of the denomination to indigenous leaders on January 5, 1978 in a service held at the Theological College, in Ilorin. The national leader of the denomination is titled the President, who is elected every four years. A president can use two terms of four years each; thus a President cannot spend more than eight years in office. The regional leaders are called Church District Superintendent (CDS). At present (2023) the church has thirty four (34) Church District Superintendents, in ten states of Nigeria. The District Superintendents are also elected for a term of four years, renewable for another term. Under the District Superintendents are the Area Church Councils (ACC), and then the local Churches. Apart from the Offices, there are standing committees and Boards, overseeing the different aspects of the denomination's activities. The United Missionary Church of Africa in Nigeria is evangelical in nature.