World Methodist Council Statement on the death of His Eminence Dr. Sunday Coffie Mbang

A big tree has fallen in the Methodist forest!


It was with sadness that the President and Officers of the World Methodist Council learned of the
passing of His Eminence Sunday Coffie Mbang on 16th May 2023 at the age of 86.


Sunday Mbang was a man of unusual courage and steadfast principles. His visionary leadership
gifts and skills were recognized very early in his ministry, and it came as no surprise when he
was elected as the second Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, an office he held for two
decades. He was also elected as the second African President of the World Methodist Council.


His Eminence Mbang worked tirelessly for justice, peace, and reconciliation in the church and
society. He was honored by many organizations, including the World Methodist Council Peace
Award, the Order of Niger, and Honorary Doctorates from the Baptist Seminary Ogbomosho,
Oyo State, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsakka, Enugu State.


His Eminence provided courageous leadership as President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria during the dark days of Military dictatorship. He also worked with the Muslim
leadership to ensure religious harmony and peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths.


World Methodist Council General Secretary commenting on the passing of Sunday Mbang said,
“He was an iconic leader of immense compassion, integrity, and wisdom, a role model for a
younger generation of ministers like myself. We all drew inspiration, confidence, and hope from
our ‘father in the faith’ who was unwilling to settle for nothing less than our full potential in
exercising the gifts God gave us.”


Even in his retirement, His Eminence Sunday Mbang contributed significantly to support
colleagues through his wise counsel, advancing mission and development.


The WMC passes sincere condolences to the Mbang family during their time of bereavement.
We owe the family a great debt of gratitude for sharing a father, uncle, and grandfather with us.
Our lives are much richer because of him.


We will miss his mischievous smile, his impish laughter, his big heart, his magnanimous spirit,
and his warm friendship. We give thanks to God for his life and ministry.


Sleep well, dear father. Sleep well in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection.

Condolences to General Secretary Ivan Abrahams and his wife Esme

The World Methodist Council extends sympathy and condolences to General Secretary Ivan Abrahams and his wife Esme upon the recent loss of her sister Pamela Veronica Fester.

She was the daughter of the late Edward and Freda Mostert. After a brief battle with cancer she departed this life on Saturday 22 April at the age of 71. She was born in Steurhof and spent most of her adult life in Square Hill, Retreat where her mother, an exceptionally hardworking woman was the local midwife.

Pam started a nursing career at Victoria hospital but then met the love of her life, Clive Fester who literally swept her off her feet to devote all her time to her family and the many friends who

frequented their home in Portlands, Mitchell’s Plain. Pam had an incredible memory and was the repository of the family history. She leaves an indelible mark on many lives.

Surviving Pamela is her loving husband, Clive, her children Bradley, Graham, Gail, their partners and their children as well as her sisters Esme and Sandy, their children and a host of family and friends.

May she repose in peace and rise in glory.

Memorials may be made to the Nurse Mostert Scholarship, which supports young women entering the nursing profession. To contribute please contact the office for more details.