Professor Bolaji Idowu, the visionary and first patriarch of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, is known as the father of the Nigerian Methodist episcopacy and is closely associated with the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Ibadan. To understand the challenges behind more than 14 years of Methodist crisis, it is important to examine how Patriarch Idowu, as the first Patriarch of the Methodist Church of Nigeria (1976-1984), led the church in creating the New Constitution (1976), starting the patriarchy, and adopting Methodist corporate Episcopacy.

There was a major allegation that His Pre-eminence, Professor Bolaji Idowu, equated himself with God through his title. This is far from the truth. As a scholar, ecumenist, and liturgist, Professor Idowu understood ‘pre-eminence’ as episcopal high status, marked by distinction. His idea of pre-eminence refers to a missional high status. For instance, the mediocre American aircraft industry of the 1930s rose to preeminence because of the challenge of World War II.

To Professor Idowu, the Nigerian Methodist episcopacy is globally unique. This is why he used the title ‘pre-eminence.’ The title represents a corporate high status for Nigerian Methodism, not a personal one. ‘Pre-eminence’ means the highest standing—for example, “the pre-eminence of a world-renowned scientist”—and denotes exceeding all others in excellence, importance, or power. In contrast, ‘His Eminence’ is an honorific for high-ranking diplomatic or religious officials, such as ‘Your Eminence’ or ‘His Eminence Cardinal’.

Professor Idowu’s concept of pre-eminence, such as ‘the university’s pre-eminence in research,’ was intended as recognition of missional status, not a claim to absolute authority.