Ganta – Members of the breakaway faction of the United Methodist Church, now known as the Global Methodist Church, took control of the Sunday service at the Miller McAllister Global Methodist Church in Ganta, Nimba County, on February 18.
By Franklin Doloquee
The service, which was poorly attended, became a platform for strong condemnation of the United Methodist Church’s stance on same-sex marriage.
During the service, Rev. Ebenezer Belleh, a leader of the breakaway group, openly referred to the United Methodist Church as a “gay church.”
He expressed strong opposition to the alleged involvement of the United Methodist Church in same-sex marriage practices and criticized both the United and Global Methodist churches for their perceived acceptance of such activities.
Rev. Belleh, who had previously been expelled as a district superintendent, accused the church’s leadership, particularly Resident Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire Jr., of misleading them regarding the church’s stance on same-sex marriage.
According to Belleh, Bishop Quire had allegedly downplayed the matter, causing confusion among church members.
In his remarks, Belleh declared, “We from the Global Methodist Church, alongside the United Methodist Church, are all gay people. We are gay,” highlighting his rejection of the United Methodist Church’s position on the issue.
Another leader from the Global Methodist Church, Rev. Jerry Kandea, also spoke to reporters, stating that their faction had now taken control of the Methodist Church in Ganta.
He announced that they would not allow the pending induction ceremony for the new district superintendent to take place, nor would they permit the United Methodist Church to claim ownership of church properties, including lands, schools, and hospitals.
Rev. Kandea emphasized that the Global Methodist Church would not allow any United Methodist Church property in Nimba County to be used for religious ceremonies or other activities, marking a sharp division between the two factions. The tensions surrounding the dispute continue to simmer, with no clear resolution in sight.