MINISTER'S MANUAL

Table of Content

No. Page

1. Historical Background of the

United Missionary Church of Africa.._.. 1 - 4

2. Articles of Faith of the

United Missionary Church of Africa....... 5 - 7

3. Special Word on Spiritual Gifts .........,... 8 - 11

4. Standards for UMCA Members........_..12 -- 14

5. Discipline of UMCA Members................15 - 17

6. UMCA Order of Worship Service..._....18

7. The Ordinances....................................,19 - 23

8. Admission of Members...........................24 - 25

9. Covenant of Membership in the

United Missionary Church of Africa........26 - 27

10. Offices (Orders) of Ministry in UMCA.....28 --33

11. Dedication of Lay leaders such as

Service Leaders, Choir, Sunday Teacher

and fellowship group leaders.................34 - 35

12. Installation service of Church

Committee members..............................36 -- 38

13. Consecration of Deacons and

Deaconess..............................................39 - 41

14. Installation of a Pastor in congregation..42 – 44

15. UMCA procedure for ordination ............45 - 46

16. Elevation of Pastors to the office of

Senior Pastors......................................47 - 50

17. The order for ordination service.............51 - 52

18. Ordination of Ministers (Reverends)......53 - 56

19. Inauguration of New Districts.................57 - 58

20. Induction of District Officers...................59 - 61

21. Inauguration of National Boards and

Committees............................................62 - 63

22. Induction Service for the Provost of the

Theological College...............................64 - 65

23. Induction Service for UMCA Bible

School Principals ...................................66

24. Solemnization of Marriage

(Holy Matrimony)...................................67 - 73

25. Liturgies for Marriage Solemnization

(Modern form).......Y................................74 - 78

26. Liturgies for Marriage Solemnization:

Ancient form..........................................79 - 83

27. Liturgy for Marriage (form Ill)...y............84 - 88

28. Liturgy for the Blessing of a Civil or

Customary Marriage..............................89 -90

29. Naming Children.........................................91

30. Dedication of Children.............................92 - 96

31. Death and Burial Occasions....... ........... 97 - 102

32. Inauguration and Dedication of a New

Congregation.........................................103 - 104

33. Ground Breaking or Foundation

Laying Service..........................:........... 105

34. Cornerstone Laying.....................,........ 106 - 108

35. Dedication of Churches (form I )........... 109 - 114

36. Dedication of a Pastor's House ............ 115 - 116

37. Dedication of a Member's House.......... 117 - 118

38. Dedication of Church Furniture and

Equipments............................................119

39. Dedication of Musical Instruments.........120 - 121

40. Dedication of a Business Center.....:......122 - 123

41. Taking Confession.:................................124 - 1.26

42., Life time Service Commitment...............127 - 128

43. Dedication Service for Political or

Traditional Leaders.................................129 - 131

44. Easter Periods........................................132 - 134.

Historical Background of the

United Missionary Church of Africa

In the Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter 16,

verse 18, our Lord Jesus Christ said, "upon this Rock I

will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not

prevail against it."

Through the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,

the Church of Jesus Christ was born. The apostles led it

through rapid expansion by evangelism, albeit under

persecution, and soon it had been planted in much of the

then known world.

As more people believed, the Church began to influence

society, and then to control it. Centuries slipped by and

the once strong, evangelistic Church lost the clear

message of salvation by personal faith in Christ. Sadly,

formalism, worldliness and even error entered it. But it

was. the Church that faithfully preserved the Holy

Scriptures.

Beginning in the 15th century, the churchmen we now

call reformers started comparing their church with the

Scriptures. Believing that the Scriptures must be the

higher authority, they were convinced the Church had

fallen into error. Among the many reformers, Menno

Simons (after whom Mennonites are named)

emphasized personal faith in Jesus Christ and the

baptism of the believer. In the 18th Century, John Wesley

(the father of Methodism) re-discovered in a

personal way the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit in

the believer.

Out of these movements, the Mennonite Brethren in

Christ Church later known as the United Missionary

Church, and now The Missionary Church, was called

into being in the 9'" Century in the United States and

Canada. Through it, the UMCA (United Missionary

Church of Africa) was planted in Nigeria.

Our first Missionary, Rev. A. W. Banfield, arrived in

Nigeria in1905. Other equally dedicated workers soon

joined this Pioneer Missionary, and eventually the

United Missionary Society was formed in North America

to send Missionaries to Nigeria and other lands.

The Missionaries labored relentlessly and their effort

was blessed with the formation of UMCA in 1955, during

the Jubilee anniversary of their arrival to Nigeria. On

September 29th, 1956, the United Missionary Church of

Africa became a corporate body under the Land

Perpetual Succession Ordinance, Cap 107 of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria, with Registration Number

427.

The Nigerians who came to know Jesus Christ as Lord

and Savior labored alongside the Missionaries to

advance the work of God through UMCA in such varied

ministries as evangelism, church planting, primary and

secondary schools, Bible/Theological training and

medicine. Many of them distinguished themselves as

capable, gifted and dedicated workers. and leaders.

ordained minister), the late Senior Pastor Andrawus

Nama, the late Rev. Nathaniel Jiya, and Senior Pastor

Abel Kolawole (a pioneer missionary to the Nupe

people), to name only a few, took up leadership

positions. With zeal, vision and initiative, they directed

the work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord

blessed their efforts and the Church continued to grow

from strength to strength.

On January 5, 1978, about twenty-three years after the

formation of UMCA, a special service was held at the

United Missionary Theological College Chapel, llorin, in

which the United Missionary Society turned over the

running of the Church's affair to Nigerians (see the turn

over agreement in Appendix A of UMCA Constitution).

UMCA, therefore became an independent, indigenous

Church, with the following as the first central

administrative officers:

Rev. (Dr.) Jacob Bawa Isa

President

Rev.Samuel Adebayo Oloyede

General Secretary

Rev. James Tswanya Harman

Treasurer/Vice President

And the first four District Superintendents after the turn over were:

Rev. Sule Magaji Hausa District

Rev. Peter Kolo Audu Nupe District

Rev.Joseph Adeyanju Adeyemi Yoruba District

Rev.Simon Adeyemo Adedokun Yoruba District

As of January 1988 there were 7 Districts, and as of

2008 the Districts increased to 22, namely:

1. Agwara District 12. Lagos District

2. Arewa District 13. Lokoja District

3. Arewa Central District 14. Minna District

4. Bajida District 15. Mokwa District

5. Chapel District 16. Oyo District

6 lbadan District 17. Osun District

7. Igbeti District 18 Ribah District

8. Igboho District? 19. Sahorami District

9. Ilorin District 20. Salka District

10. Jebba District 21. Share District

11. Kwana District 22. Tsaragi District

Also there are two Area Church Councils, namely: Abuja

and Jos, which are not part of any District, but are

directly accountable to the Headquarters of the

Denomination.

Today we have a vibrant, growing: Holy Spirit filled Church

which belongs to a world-wide Fellowship of Missionary

Churches.

So we see Jesus Christ has been building this part of His

Church, just as He promised. We believe He will

continue to do so until He comes again in glory.

ARTICLE OF FAITH OF THE

UNITED MISSIONARY CHURCH OF AFRICA

1. The Triune God:

We believe that the one and only God is Spirit, self-

existent, infinite, personal, immutable and eternal in His

being. We believe in His perfect holiness, love, justice,

goodness, wisdom and truth, omnipotence,

omniscience and omnipresence. We believe that God is

the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that He is

eternally existent in three persons, one in substance and

co equal in power and glory Father, Son and Holy Spirit

(Psalm 139:7-10; Malachi 3:16; John 4:24; 11 Cor. 13:14).

2. The Bible:

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six

books of both the Old and New Testaments, given by

divine inspiration, is inerrant in its original manuscripts

and is the final authority in matters pertaining to faith and

conduct. We accept the right and duty of personal

judgment under the illumination of the Holy Spirit in the

interpretation of the Holy Scriptures (Il Tim. 3:16; I Peter

1:25; 11 Peter 1:21).

3. Man:

We believe that man was created in the image of God but

Fell into sin and therefore was lost, and only through

regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual

life be obtained (Genesis 1:27; Acts 4: 12; Romans

3:23).

4. Jesus Christ and the work of salvation:

We believe in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of

God: He is fully God and fully man. We believe in the

truth of His teaching and the perfect sacrifice for the sin

of the world which He offered once and for all in His death

on the Cross; His bodily resurrection from the dead and

His ascension; His intercession and H i s c o m i n g

again in power and glory (John 1:18; 3:15; Titus 2:1;

Hebrew4:15).

5. The Holy Spirit:

We believe in the Holy Spirit as the third person of the

God-head, and that through His illumination, conviction

and regeneration, men are brought to repentance and

faith in Jesus Christ; His continuing work of

sanctification in the lives of believers, and their

divine preservation unto eternal life (Acts 1:8; Romans

10:9-10; Galatians2:20; Ephesians 4; I Thes. 5:23; 11

Thes.2:13).

6. The Church:

We believe in the Universal Church as a body composed

of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have been

called out from the world, separated from sin, and vitally

united by faith to Christ, her Head and Sovereign Lord; in

the local church as an organized body of believers who

are joined together and who meet at regular times for

teaching in the word; fellowship of the saints;

observation of the ordinance of Baptism and Holy

Communion; administration of discipline and love;

prayer and participation in public worship and the

ministry of world-wide evangelists, preachers,

missionaries, teachers and deacons (Acts 6:1-6; Eph.

4:11-13).

7. The Last Things:

We believe in the physical second advent of Christ,

which is the hope of the Church, the source of her

encouragement, consolation, and up-building for

purification, holiness and inspiration for activity and

service; the resurrection of the body and final judgment

of all men; the eternal perfection and blessedness of the

saved and the eternal punishment of the lost (John 14:1-

3; 1 Thes. 4:13-16; Heb. 12:5-8; Rev. 21:7-22, 7).

SPECIAL WORDS ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe all the Bible says about the person and work

of the Holy Spirit. We believe that every Christian has

the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9 and 1Cor. 12:13); every

Christian should be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

We believe there is a special in-filling at first, but this

must be renewed and kept up-to-date day by day.

We believe that the Holy Spirit also gives spiritual gifts to

Christians to help them perform various kinds of

services. Some of the gifts, like healing, are miraculous,

while others, like gifts of helps, mercy, giving, seem more

ordinary. They are all special abilities for service

given by the Spirit.

1. We would also want to note the following;

a. The Holy Spirit decides which gifts to give to which

Christian (Heb 2:14; ICor. 12:11).

b. Each Christian has at least one gift (l Peter 4:10 and |

Cor. 12:7).

c. There is no single gift to all Christians (I Cor.12:4-30)

(Speaking in tongues is not given to every Spirit-filled

believer: therefore it should not be considered the

necessary sign of being filled with the Spirit).

d. The purpose of gifts is to build each other up in the

body of Christ. (I Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:12; I Pet. 4:10 and

Eph. 4:11-12).

e. The gifts must be used in a decent and orderly way. (I Cor. 14:23, 33, 40).

f. The gifts of the Spirit can be controlled by the persons

having the gifts (1 Cor. 14:28, 32).

|| Speaking in Tongues

1. Speaking in tongues is a phenomenon which is

characterized by spontaneous utterance of sounds in a

language which the speaker has never learned and may

not understand. This is done occasionally amidst deep

emotional prayer mood, or in worship.

2. As a gift of the Holy Spirit the UMCA subscribes to this

phenomenon to be used for the edification of the Church

(1Cor. 14).

3. While we do not forbid the use of this gift in the Church

we caution that:

a. Its use should be more in private devotion and less in

public worship;

b. We encourage that this gift be used orderly and

decently as in 1Cor, 14:26-33.

c. We encourage more manifestations of the fruit of the

Holy Spirit in the life of the individual Christian than

speaking in tongues (Matt. 7:20; 1Cor. 13: 1-3; Gal. 5:22-

23).

4. We reject. however:

a. that every believer must speak in tongues;

b. that any believer should be taught how to speak in

tongue;;,

c. that speaking in tongues is a sign of regeneration or

spiritual maturity.

Ill. Divine Healing

1 Divine healing is a direct act of God to make well and

sound in the body, mind and spirit.

2. UMCA believes in the healing ministry as it is

mandated and exercised in the Bible especially in the

ministry of Jesus Christ (2 King 5:14; 20: 1-7;

Matt. 10:1; Mk. 3:13-15; James 5:13-16).

3. As we encourage the healing ministry, we have the

following conditions:

a. We should not look to man Jesus is our healer.

b. The only element to be used in healing is oil and

should be used as a symbol only (James 5:13-16).

c. Healing is freely bestowed by God and not to be

commercialized in any way by the ministers.

d. Medical healing does not counteract divine

healing; both complement each other.

IV. Deliverance Ministry

1. Deliverance ministry is aimed at setting the Children

of God free from various forms of satanic attack,

demonic oppression, wicked principalities and powers.

2. While we do not believe that all human problems are

demonic and that Christians could be possessed by

demons, we believe that Christians could be influenced

and oppressed in different areas of life (material,

physical, financial, spiritual, etc.) by demons.

3. We believe that the Lord who emphasized

deliverance in His own Ministry (Luke 4:18, 40-41) has

given the ministry of deliverance to the Church (Mark

16:17-18).

4. The Ministry of deliverance requires among other

things, godly discernment and specialized knowledge.

Therefore we caution ministers not to assume that every

Christian problem requires deliverance. Those who

need pastoral help should receive counseling,

encouragement, discipline, prayer support and

deliverance in keeping with the actual causes of the

need.

STANDARDS FOR UMCA MEMBERS

Christians are set free by trusting Christ; free from fear;

the power of sin; oppression by evil people and powers,

witchcraft and superstition; and even the detailed laws

and observances that cults and other religions impose

upon their members.

We are free because God the Holy Spirit has given each

born-again believer a new heart and nature by uniting

the believer with Christ. Christ keeps us safe from all the

evil around us.

To love and serve God responsibly is the Christian's

highest purpose. His or her life therefore should honor

God, show the world that Christ has changed his / her

life, and be a blessing to others.

A UMCA Member is a person who:

1. Has received Christ as Savior and Lord by faith.

2. Attends a UMCA Church.

3. Has received water baptism by immersion and

4. Has been registered by a Local UMCA Church.

Members should:

1. Present their lives to God so that He will fill them with

His Holy Spirit who will enable them to live as faithful

servants and witnesses for Christ.

2. Cherish their freedom in Christ, rejecting anything

that would draw them back into their former slavery,

such as harmful habits, sinful activities, wrong

association and unchristian traditions and rites.

3. Pattern their lives after the teaching and example of

Christ and the Apostles in the New Testament

(remembering that they confirmed much of the teaching

Of the Old Testament on righteousness, though Christ

has fulfilled and completed the details of the O.T. law on

our behalf.)

4. Grow spiritually by attending church services,

reading the Bible, prayer and fellowship.

5. Help the Church in its work by tithes, offerings and

personal involvement as God enables them.

There are many moral problems around us these

days and UMCA believes her members should honor

the Lord by:

1. Living truthfully and honestly, refraining from lying,

deception, stealing, cheating corruption and

bribery.

2. Trusting in Christ fully, thus rejecting occult beliefs and

practices, secret societies and binding partnerships with

unbelievers (including marriage).

3. Keeping our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit,

pure and fit by rejecting drunkenness, smoking and illicit

use of drugs, over eating, uncleanness of body and

home, and the various forms of sexual immorality:

adultery, fornication and premarital sexual relationship

(Note: betrothed couples should avoid petting or sexual

foreplay as it can lead to premarital intercourse). Total

abstinence from alcohol is recommended to all

4. Establishing monogamous families, rejecting

concubines and discouraging polygamous i.e (more than

one wife or husband), and remarriage in the event of

divorce (a divorced person1should seek reconciliation

with the husband or wife). Widows, especially those

who are young, may as God leads them remarry within

the Christian fold.

5. Respecting the dignity and rights of all people, living

peacefully, and rejecting all forms of abuse of others,

including exploitation, unkindness, bad talk and

insincerity.

6. Helping the poor and oppressed by treating them

fairly and kindly and sharing with them personally and

through the Church as God makes it possible.

Discipline is necessary to cause believers to live a life of

devotion to Jesus so that they may become His true

disciples.

The Church will follow the Bible's outline for church

discipline when a member's life dishonors Christ or

creates a problem in the Church, with the aim of

restoration rather than punishment. The following

passages should be studied before discipline is given:

Matt. 18:5-18; I Cor, 5:9-6; Il Cor. 2:6-8; Gal. 6:1-5; Eph.

4:25-32; I Tim. 5:19-20; James 1:19-20, 5:19-20.

The discipline must be varied and conditional according

to the level of knowledge of the erring party. In the case

of serious misconduct, offenders shall not hold any office

until they are reinstated.

Discipline of members shall first be considered by the

Local Church Council or Church District Executive, and

may be referred to the UMCA General Board if the

nature of the case demands a higher authority.

(Discipline of Pastors and higher Church leadership is

covered in the Constitution).

Some specific guidelines are given below for certain

problems. For offences other than these, appropriate

disciplinary action should be set by the body

responsible.

a. For embezzlement of funds: The money should first

be recovered before any discipline is imposed. Then the

job or post should be taken away from the offender; if the

offender fails to pay the money, the case should be

reported and taken to the authority deemed most

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