Brief History of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of D-Line
The vision to establish the Diocese of D-Line was conceived within the leadership of the D-Line Circuit during a period of strategic expansion that incorporated rural rugged evangelism and church planting coupled with ministry focus and growth. As part of a broader effort to deepen the church's reach and administrative structure, conversations began to emerge about transitioning from Circuit status to a fully recognized Diocese within the Methodist Church Nigeria. This vision was rooted in a strong desire to expand the church’s influence and enhance its ability to serve members more effectively.
To meet the constitutional requirement for the creation of a Diocese, there was a strategic push to upgrade some preaching stations into full-fledged local churches. This development was formally recommended in an annual report and later supported by a memorial submitted to the Diocesan Synod, which was hosted at the D-Line church premises in Port Harcourt. The acceptance of this recommendation gave momentum to the vision.
In alignment with the Church’s constitution, a comprehensive development plan was formulated, and a dedicated committee was set up to assess and evaluate the viability of the vision. The committee visited all churches and preaching stations within the Circuit and gathered valuable data through direct engagement with members. This report formed a key foundation for further pursuit of the goal.
After due consultations, a formal letter was written to notify the overseeing Diocese of the intention to transition from Circuit to Diocese. The leadership at the time endorsed the vision and expressed appreciation for the strategic effort already being put in place.
A number of external developments, including similar structural growth in neighboring regions, created a sense of urgency and inspired further mobilization of members. A decision was taken at a quarterly Circuit meeting to recommend the creation of additional Circuits from the existing D-Line Circuit. These proposed Circuits were structured with a combination of local churches and preaching stations to ensure administrative balance and sustainable growth.
A memorial proposing the creation of these Circuits was submitted to the appropriate Synod. After thorough deliberation, the proposal received overwhelming support and the Circuits were granted probationary status in accordance with the Church’s guidelines.
To further drive the realization of the Diocese, an Actualization Committee was set up to steer the process. At this point, the original Circuit had grown into three distinct Circuits. However, a fourth was still needed to fulfill the constitutional requirement. Engagements with another Circuit outside the initial three yielded success, as it agreed to align with the vision to become part of the new Diocese.
Following the completion of all necessary groundwork, a formal memorial was presented to the Diocesan Synod requesting the creation of the Diocese of D-Line out of the existing Diocese. After deliberations and voting, the proposal received overwhelming support. This was followed by approvals from both the overseeing Archdiocese and the national Conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria. The formal pronouncement and inauguration of the Diocese of D-Line soon followed by the then Prelate, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde in March 2011.
The establishment of the Diocese of D-Line is a testimony to clear vision, collaborative planning, spiritual dedication, and faithful pursuit of purpose within the Methodist Church Nigeria.