Ganta, Nimba County – Police officers have been deployed at the Miller McAllister United Methodist Church in Ganta, Nimba County, amid an ongoing internal dispute between the United Methodist Church and the breakaway faction, the Global Methodist Church.
By Franklin Doloquee, [email protected]
The dispute stems from a battle over church properties in the county. The Global Methodist Church, which split from the United Methodist Church, is claiming ownership of several properties and has prevented the United Methodist Church from carrying out its regular activities at the Miller McAllister United Methodist Church in Ganta.
FrontPage Africa has learned that the First United Methodist Church in Sanniquellie has also been renamed the Sanniquellie Global Methodist Church.
During Sunday’s service, led by a Global Methodist Church pastor, members blamed Resident Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire Jr. for the ongoing crisis within the church.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, Reverends Eblezene Belleh and Jerry Kandea vowed to take a firm stand in reclaiming the disputed properties. They stated that if the United Methodist Church wants to challenge their claim, it should take legal action. However, they emphasized that the ongoing conflict requires divine intervention rather than human resolution.
Police officers were deployed from Yekepa and Ganta to maintain order at the church facility.
Meanwhile, pastors of the Global Methodist Church have criticized President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung for not being proactive in addressing the situation. They called on the United Methodist Church to resolve the matter through legal means.
The latest conflict comes after the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) holding its 192nd Annual Session, where two key resolutions were unanimously passed. These resolutions aim to reaffirm the Church’s traditional stance on marriage and bolster efforts to safeguard its properties.
Marriage Resolution and Traditional Values
In the first resolution, the LAC/UMC reiterated its commitment to the traditional definition of marriage, aligning with both Biblical principles and Liberia’s civil laws. This stance follows an amendment to The Book of Discipline (2020/2024), approved by the West Africa Central Conference (WACC), which mandates that marriage within the United Methodist Church in West Africa shall be between a man and a woman, in accordance with national, state, and local laws.
Protecting Church Properties
The second resolution focuses on protecting church assets from unauthorized encroachment, conversion, or misuse. It empowers the Board of Trustees to take necessary legal actions to protect and recover all properties held in trust for the Church. According to The Book of Discipline (2020/2024) and a prior resolution (No. 014/LAC/UMC) adopted at the 190th Annual Session, the Board of Trustees holds fiduciary responsibility for these assets. The Church has vowed to rigorously protect its properties not only within Liberia’s 15 counties and 20 church districts but also any assets held abroad.
Internal Disputes and Wider Context
The adoption of these resolutions comes amid ongoing internal disputes within the United Methodist Church over its evolving stance on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2024, changes were made to the Church’s rulebook—removing a provision that stated homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, eliminating penalties for ministers officiating same-sex weddings, and broadening the definition of marriage to include any two consenting adults. These changes have sparked backlash in many parts of Africa, including Liberia.
Despite reassurances from LAC leadership, led by Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr., that the Church does not support same-sex marriage, dissenters had called for an emergency conference to clarify the official position. Although the reaffirmation of marriage as a union between a man and a woman was expected to ease tensions, divisions persist. Several branches, particularly in Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba Counties, continue to experience unrest.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
