UK Methodist Church to allow same-sex-marriage after historic vote

After debates on the topic at the Methodist Conference, the proposals to allow same-sex marriages were passed with 254 votes in favor and 46 against

As such, the Methodist church has become the largest religious denomination in the UK to allow same-sex marriages, putting it at odds with the Church of England.

The Church announced on Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises, although, the freedom of conscience clause will allow ministers to opt out of conducting such weddings.

According to a report by the Guardian, the Rev Sonia Hicks, elected as the Methodists’ first black female president at the weekend, said it was a “historic day for our church”. She urged people “to support each other respecting our differences”. Dignity & Worth, a campaign group in the Methodist Church, said the vote was a “momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion” after many years of sometimes painful conversations. Rev. Sam McBratney, who chairs the group, praised the “courageous step” taken by the church.

The report states that the conference also voted to recognise, accept, and celebrate the love and commitment of unmarried cohabiting couples. Same-sex marriage is forbidden in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church but permitted by Quakers in Britain, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and United Reformed Church. Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner for LGBT+ equality and a member of the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, said the vote reflected “the significant shift that there has been among Christian attitudes in England, and shows how so many people would echo the recent call of Bishop Paul Bayes to allow same-sex marriage in the C of E”.

UK Based Artist Dwill Drops “Onyeoma”

UK Based Gospel Singer Dwill makes her grand debut entry as a gospel artist with her first official released single titled “Onyeoma” (God is Good), Xclusive Gospel reports.

Coming from a musical childhood and years of singing, ministering and working with musicians and artists, the report submits that Dwill believes this is her set time, “there is time for everything God wants you to do, so here is it.  ‘Onyeoma’ (God is Good) is an inspirational song given to Dwill by God to bless humanity. This is a song that welcomes the presence of God in the atmosphere to make any impossible situation possible. Listen and be blessed.

How can You Lead Many To Destruction and You Escape Perdition? - Bamiloye

From the IG Desk of Mike Bamiloye:

So, what are your thoughts on this?

Lux Terra holds 2nd Certificate Award Ceremony for Graduates of its Basic Psycho-Trauma Healing Skills Course

Wednesday June 30th, 2021, the Psycho-Spiritual Institute of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation in partnership with Nasarawa State University, Keffi, hosted its 2nd Certificate Award Ceremony for 189 successful participants at its "Basic Psycho-Trauma Healing Skills" training programmes, held between 2019 and 2020.

Among dignitaries at the event were Professor Andrew Zamani, former President of the Nigerian Psychological Association and Dr Samuel Alhassan, Head of the Dept of Psychology, Nasarawa State University.

Participants at the training programme were mainly drawn from the states of Northern Nigeria, with a few others from the South. They included Doctors, Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, University Teachers, functionaries of Emergency Relief Agencies, Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders, and Sundry Volunteers, especially those who assist trauma victims in IDP camps.

Kidnappers disguised as a Bishop, Military man, stormed Dunamis to trick me — Pastor Enenche

Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Church

The Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Church, Abuja, Dr Paul Enenche, has narrated that two kidnappers, who disguised as a bishop from The Gambia and a naval officer stormed the church’s headquarters, Glory Dome, at the Airport Road Abuja to defraud him.

According to Sahara Reporters, Enenche stated this during a sermon last Wednesday that they were, however, exposed by the Spirit of God. He stated that the suspected criminals were exposed during a chat with a little girl who they had kidnapped from Anambra State. He revealed that the assailants were handed over to law enforcement agents after which they confessed to be criminals.

“On Monday I received a text message from a bishop who claimed he came from the country of Gambia and that he wanted to see me because he had an encounter where he was directed to meet with me so that I can pray and impact him so he can return to Gambia”, Enenche said. ”He said he got someone’s number who would give him my contact, so after contacting the person, he (man in Nigeria) urged him to come to him so they would both meet me.

“The bishop told me that the man who promised to bring him to me demanded N1 million which according to him, he gave but said the person was no longer answering his calls.

“We called our pastor in the local government (area) where the man said he was, and when our pastor met the man, he told us that the story sounded real.

South Africa's Ex-President Jacob Zuma Gets A 15- Month-Jail-Term for contempt of court

Former South African President Jacob Zuma

South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to appear before an inquiry probing wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018, NPR reports.

According to the report, Zuma was not in court for the ruling on Tuesday and has been ordered to hand himself over within five days to a police station in his hometown of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province or in Johannesburg. If Zuma fails to turn himself in within five days South Africa's minister of police and the police commissioner have been ordered to take him into custody within three days.

"The Constitutional Court can do nothing but conclude that Mr Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court," Judge Sisi Khampepe said. "This kind of recalcitrance and defiance is unlawful and will be punished. I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message... the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails. The majority judgement orders an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period (of 15 months)," she declared.

Zuma, 79, is accused of enabling the plunder of state coffers during his nearly nine-year stay in office.

Nnamdi Kanu Back In Nigeria, Re-arrested

Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of IPOB                     [Photo Credit: Pulse.ng]

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of banned separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested and is in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to face trial, a spokesman for the justice minister said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Intercepted on June 27, Channels Television reports that Kanu is expected to be re-arraigned before the Federal High Court for the continuation of his trial, an information made known at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

According to Mr Malami, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Federal Government’s application to detain the IPOB leader in a DSS facility ahead of the continuation of his trial.

Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinated

Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that “breakthrough” infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. That’s about 0.1%.

And only about 150 of the more than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people. That translates to about 0.8%, or five deaths per day on average.

The AP analyzed figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC itself has not estimated what percentage of hospitalizations and deaths are in fully vaccinated people, citing limitations in the data.

Among them: Only about 45 states report breakthrough infections, and some are more aggressive than others in looking for such cases. So the data probably understates such infections, CDC officials said.

Still, the overall trend that emerges from the data echoes what many health care authorities are seeing around the country and what top experts are saying.

The cutest thing you'll see all weekend - The Wild Capture

Take this for a weekend laugh from The Wild Capture:

U.S. Catholic leaders say they aren't moving to deny Biden communion

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden pray at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops quietly clarified this week that there will be "no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians" after some bishops had raised the issue.

Why it matters: A wave of controversy and debate occurred after the conference overwhelmingly voted to draft a "teaching document," which many hoped would rebuke Biden and other Catholic politicians for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights, per AP.

·         Four days after the vote, the USCCB released a Q&A without its previous references to Biden, a national policy or abortion.

If you hear that Catholics want to deny Biden Communion, check the details

A priest holds the Eucharist in this illustration. (CNS/Bob Roller)

Conservative media was recently buzzing with headlines proclaiming that huge majorities of American Catholics think President Joe Biden, a Catholic, should be denied Communion because of his pro-choice policy position.

The Federalist proclaimed "Majority Of Church-Going Catholics Believe Biden Should Not Receive Communion"; National Review asserted "Majority of Church-Going Catholics Say Pro-Abortion Politicians Shouldn't Receive Communion"; and The Washington Examiner warned "Bishops beware: 74% say no Communion for Biden."

But there are big problems with these headlines and the poll that produced them. For one, CatholicVote.org, the right-wing Catholic group that conducted the poll, did not actually ask respondents what the bishops should do about Biden given his stance on abortion, but rather what decision "public officials" should make for themselves when they publicly disagree with church teaching.

Had the words "Biden" and "abortion" been in the question, the results may have looked quite different (as they do in other polling).

I hosted a delegation of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria - Uzodimma

From the official Facebook page of  Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State:

I hosted a delegation of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) in my office led by their National President, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasimu Isah.

Today, our administration fulfilled a 25 year old promise to Chioma Ajunwa - SANWO-OLU

Today, our administration fulfilled a 25 year old promise to Chioma Ajunwa, Nigerian Gold Medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. I presented her the documents to a 3-bedroom flat at the Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate in Iponri.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State posted the message via his official Facebook handle, Thursday.

According to his post, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah (MON) set a record as the first Nigerian and Black African woman to win a gold medal at the world’s biggest sporting event and brought honour and glory to our country.

She watched him die slowly and probably enjoyed every minute of it as the demons in her rejoiced and screamed "hail satan!" - FFK

From the INSTAGRAM DESK of Femi Fani-Kayode:

Mr. Usifo Ataga was butchered in cold blood.

The fact that he went to a hotel to sleep with a 21 year old woman does not mean he deserves to be butchered.

He was slaughtered and gutted like a barbecue pig in an abbatoir and his blood was drained simply because he has a high libido and a weakness for women.

Some people are now trying to rationalise his murder and justify it and they are claiming that he "deserved what he got!" This is utterly shameful.

This man was BUTCHERED in cold-blood by a cowardly, worthless, dangerous, conflicted, psychotic, drug-crazed, sociopathic, psychopathic, predatory, wicked, heartless prostitute and monstrous sex maniac who stole his money after cutting his throat and slicing open his stomach.

She watched him die slowly and probably enjoyed every minute of it as the demons in her rejoiced and screamed "hail satan!".

This was a triumph for the devil and no-one else and the man was the victim whilst this heartless Dalilah and Jezebel that gutted him was the predator.

Mr. Ataga leaves behind his parents, his wife and his two beautiful children. Can you imagine what they must be going through right now. Who will speak for him and who will fight for them? Who will ensure that justice is served?

The bitch from hell that murdered him deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest, convicted of first degree murder and hanged by the neck until she is dead according to the law.

Honestly dis girl need hot slap - Bobrisky

FROM THE INSTAGRAM DESK OF Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju a.ka. Bobrisky:

Honestly dis girl need hot slap. Someone you should have kept lowkey to urself and be chilling with his money. You went ahead to kill him without considering his wife and children feeling, just because he wanted to chill with you. Sad 😞 Some of dis girls are wicked and I honestly believe is d kind of friends they keep around them. Imagine a 21yrs old girl smoking like a hire assassin . This will serve as a lesson to all married men to be extremely careful before you accept any girl into ur life. What if is a set up sent by ur business partner or friend to kill you, your own is too see fine girl with big yansh next minute you don carry her go hotel. You want to end ur life with 10min enjoyment, you want to make ur wife at home and children fatherless just because you saw One rubbish girl somewhere... Nobody is a saint here but be careful when playing ur cards. Cheers

Video of 21-year-old Chidinma smoking - LIB

The alleged video of 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu surfaced after she confessed to killing Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga who she accused of becoming allegedly violent after they allegedly got high on roofies, Linda Ikeji's Blog reports.

What's your take on this?

Chidinma is also a victim - Omokri

Chidinma Ojukwu

FROM THE INSTAGRAM DESK OF RENO OMOKRI:

Very Unpopular Opinion (you guys know I don’t go with the crowd. I go with my conscience)

Everybody is in a rush to demonise Chidinma. But it takes two to tango. Chidinma is 21. Usifo was 50. Between them, there existed a 29 year age gap. She could have been his daughter.

How many of you condemning Chidinma were mature at 21? We are now circulating videos of her smoking. How many of you did not smoke at 21? She erred. She should be punished. However, let us try to find out why it happened and make course corrections as a society.

Chidinma is also a victim. Of bad parenting and a bad society. We are now a society that is so religious that we expect ‘grace’ to cover everything.

Maverick City’s Worship leader apologises for ‘inappropriate’ wedding photo

Chandler Moore with his wife Hannah.(Photo: Instagram/Chandler Moore)

With a swipe on Christian critics, the lead singer of a popular US Christian worship band has issued an apology over a wedding picture he posted on Instagram.

The post has since generated over 10,000 comments from his fans on Instagram particularly, from Christians who called it "ungodly" and unbecoming of a believer.

"No one needs to see your private married life except the two of you. This was too far sir, it's not right," Mermaid_the_artist said in a comment.

State Court Suspends Giuliani from Practicing Law over False Statements about Trump’s 2020 Election Loss

Rudy Giuliani speaks at a news conference in November 2020 at the Republican National Committee about lawsuits contesting the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rudy Giuliani, the former personal attorney for former President Donald Trump, was suspended Thursday from practicing law in New York.

Giuliani, who was also a New York City mayor and U.S. attorney, had propagated baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and tried to persuade state legislators to override the will of the voters during the 2020 presidential election, Yahoo News reports.

According to the report, a New York appellate court found that “there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at re-election in 2020.”

CNBC, in its caption “Rudy Giuliani is suspended from practicing law in New York over false statements about Trump election loss “, provides the following highlights on the story:  

·         A New York court suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in the state due to his “false and misleading statements” about Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss.

·         The court said Giuliani’s conduct “immediately threatens the public interest.”

·         The suspension is a stunning blow to the former New York City mayor who once served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, USA Today highlights the story as:

·         The court said Giuliani's misconduct deepened partisan divisions and inflamed tensions.

·         Giuliani argued that the disciplinary committee's investigation violated his free speech rights.

·         The misconduct cantered on statements Giuliani made to cast doubt on election results in 3 states.

In a 33-page decision, according to NBC News, the court panel wrote: "We conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at re-election in 2020.

With the new boats LAGFERRY can now move 710 commuters per trip - Sanwo_olu

From the social media desk of  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State:

*************

Today, we launched seven new high capacity boats for the Lagos State Ferry Services to expand water transportation and provide more commuting option for Lagosians.

With the new boats LAGFERRY can now move 710 commuters per trip.

The impressive performance of LAGFERRY in the last one year is an indication of the growing confidence of residents in water transportation. This justifies our decision to procure additional boats to enhance operations and the capacity to meet the transportation demands of the people.

The procurement of these new high-capacity boats is in fulfillment of our promise to double the number of boats in the fleet of LAGFERRY and reduce traffic congestion on our roads.

We also launched the Cowry Card for water transportation to create a seamless payment scheme for our Multimodal Transportation System, which is gradually taking shape as we have commenced the integration of our rail lines, bus terminals and waterways.

THE MESSAGE AT THIS TIME 030521

 The Most Holy Trinity Mass 8am 30th May 2021

Catholic Parish of Guildford

SUNDAY SERVICE 30-05-2021

RCCG NEWLIFE ASSEMBLY

Left for Dead - Bishop T.D. Jakes

T.D. Jakes

When Altar Calls Don't Work

BY: JONATHAN R. BAILEY

Igrew up as a pastor’s kid, the third of four children. Or was it fourth? For years I believed I was born 30 seconds before my identical twin, Josh. But he recently challenged this 33-year-old fact, turning the Bailey family world order upside-down.

Josh and I were adventurous and independent twins who made the suburbs of North Dallas our playground. The flame of our adventurous spirit was fanned by our older brother, Jeremy. Together we wanted to take risks and experience them firsthand. I wasn’t content to just watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I had to be Indiana Jones. I needed to wade through the creeks behind my house, build rope swings, and explore sewers. And not with a flashlight, but by tying my shirt to a stick, dipping it in gasoline, and lighting it on fire.

As a boy, I listened intently to my dad recount some of the greatest adventure stories ever told: Noah and his ark, David defeating a giant, and Joshua shouting down walls. These men experienced wild adventure, and God, firsthand. My longing for intimacy with God was born from story time with my dad.

Dad pastored a nondenominational, charismatic—or, as he liked to say, Happy-Baptist—church. It was our family’s second home. BB gun shootouts commonly took place in the vacant sanctuary. Josh and I raced the petting-zoo miniature ponies around the parking lot after the fall carnival and learned how to do donuts in our youth pastor’s car before we could legally drive.

Southern Governors Have No Apologies On Open Grazing Ban, Restructuring – Okowa

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, reprimanded critics of southern governors over their decision to ban opening grazing of cattle in the south, restructuring of the country and other demands at its meeting in Asaba, Guardian reports.

Expressing surprise and disappointment that some individuals in the presidency are still canvassing retention of open grazing of cattle, the report quoted Okowa as saying “We owe no apologies, because we spoke the truth and we thought that the truth was in the best interest of the country.

“Can we truly be promoting open grazing at this moment, seeing all the atrocities being committed across the country? The president was misrepresented, because I have seen news headlines that the president has not opposed the ban on open grazing. We need to reconsider our best options. Where we were 50 years ago should not be where we should be today and tomorrow.”

Jonathan’s ex-aide, Ahmed Gulak, reportedly shot dead in Owerri

A former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, has reportedly been shot dead in Owerri, Imo State, Premium Times reports.

Eyewitness told The Nation that Gulak was allegedly shot dead around 06:30am by gunmen at Amaekwemgba Junction, Umueze Ezemba Community, a few poles to the airport.

According to the report, Gulak was reportedly accosted while driving from Enyiogugu Mbaise area towards the airport before his assailants blocked him and shot him twice on the head. He was said to have died on the spot. Meanwhile, some people around the area alleged that the gunmen came in military camouflage.

But other sources said that he was ambushed while on his way to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo airport when his motorcade was attacked at a place called Obiagwa, close to the Airport.

The former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was attacked in his vehicle – Camry – marked Texas BFT 2150, The PUNCH was told.

Her High School Said She Ranked Third in Her Class. So She Went to Court

Dalee Sullivan in Alpine, Texas on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Sarah M Vasquez/The New York Times)

Dalee Sullivan looked straight ahead into her computer’s camera and started making her case to the judge. She referred to transcripts, emails and policies she had pulled from the student handbook at Alpine High School. The school, she contended, had made errors in tabulating grade-point averages: Classes and exams that should have been included were left out, and vice versa.

Sullivan had won Lincoln-Douglas debate tournaments and, in her freshman year, was a member of the mock trial team. But she is not a lawyer. She is 18, and she graduated from the lone public high school in the small West Texas town of Alpine just a week ago, which was the reason she was in court to begin with.

“This serves to prove that no matter the outcome of the GPA contest, and no matter how many times we had the school recalculate the GPA,” Sullivan told the judge during a hearing on Friday, the Alpine Independent School District “was going to make certain I could never be valedictorian, even if I earned it.”

School officials said she ranked third in her class. Sullivan disagreed.