Ganta, Nimba County – In the midst of a deepening schism rocking the United Methodist Churches in Liberia, Rev. Patrick Z. Luogon, District Superintendent of the Gompa District Conference, passionately called on church members to reject ingratitude.

By D. Franklin Doloquee

Speaking to a packed congregation in Gompa, he reminded them of the church’s profound legacy as one of Liberia’s oldest institutions, which has long served as a pillar of education, healthcare, and leadership training.

“Today, some have turned against the very institution that shaped their lives,” he lamented, his voice echoing through the vibrant halls adorned with Methodist banners and flickering candlelight.

The heartfelt appeal came at the close of a momentous five-day event: the 74th annual session of the Gompa District Conference under the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, coupled with the 99th anniversary celebration of the denomination’s enduring presence in Liberia.

Held in a bustling community center alive with hymns, prayers and rhythmic African drumming, the gathering drew several  faithful  United Methodist Churches from across the district.

Under the theme: “A Call to Serve the Lord in Such  A Time as This,” drew  from Esther 4:12-17, participants reflected on biblical calls to faithfulness amid trials.

Rev. Luogon, dressed in traditional clerical robes embroidered with the Methodist cross, urged attendees many wiping tears or nodding in solemn agreement to remain grateful for the church’s transformative role.

He highlighted how Methodist schools have educated generations of Liberian leaders, mission hospitals have healed the sick during epidemics like Ebola, and training programs have empowered clergy and laypeople to guide communities through civil unrest and poverty.

The Methodist family has been your cradle, your healer, and your guide,” he declared. “Do not forget these blessings in times of strife.

He also offered a beacon of hope, encouraging members to “keep the faith” as God fights their battles.

This message resonated deeply amid the church’s ongoing crisis, sparked by global debates over same-sex marriage.

The United Methodist Church’s perceived shift toward acceptance has fractured congregations worldwide, particularly in Africa, where conservative values hold strong.

In Liberia, this has birthed breakaway factions like the Global Methodist Church, which oppose the policy and have seized church properties, claiming the parent body has strayed from scriptural Even though United Methodist Churches have not come up publicly to agree and disagree with such practices in the Church.

The dispute has escalated to Liberia’s Supreme Court, where justices are deliberating a ruling expected imminently.

Tensions simmer in districts like Gompa, where loyalists and dissenters once worshipped side by side, now divided by ideology and legal battles over multimillion-dollar assets including schools,  hospitals and clinic and historic sanctuaries built over a century ago.

As the conference ended with a rousing chorus of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Rev. Luogon’s words hung in the humid evening air, a rallying cry for unity and resilience in Liberia’s oldest Protestant denomination, founded in the 19th century by American missionaries amid the young nation’s struggles.

The event, held in a sunlit auditorium adorned with colorful banners bearing scriptural verses, buzzed with anticipation as attendees clergy in flowing robes, lay leaders, and devoted members filled the pews, their faces reflecting a mix of weariness from ongoing challenges and renewed determination.

Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., a towering figure known for his resonant voice and unwavering resolve, officially opened the conference with a powerful invocation. Joined by Gompa District Superintendent Rev. Patrick Z. Luogon, whose calm demeanor and pastoral wisdom have

long inspired his community, the leaders delivered a message of unshakeable hope.  

Together, they urged church members to hold fast amid the protracted crisis plaguing Methodist Churches a turmoil marked by internal divisions, leadership disputes, and external pressures that have tested the unity of the faith across the continent.

“In such a time as this, God is seeking true worshipers and devoted followers,” Bishop Quire proclaimed, his words echoing through the hall as sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows depicting biblical triumphs.

He called on attendees to anchor their spirits in faith, assuring them that divine intervention was at work.

“Have faith and await God’s mighty actions to resolve the crisis in our Methodist Churches,” he added, his tone blending solemn authority with tender encouragement. Rev. Luogon echoed this sentiment, sharing personal anecdotes of past deliverances and leading the congregation in a stirring hymn that filled the air with harmonious resolve.

Monrovia – The Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice has put an end to the ongoing fight over church properties between the United Methodist Church (UMC) Liberia Annual Conference and a group that broke away to form the Global Methodist Church (GMC).

By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr. and By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway  

In a strong ruling handed down by Judge George W. Smith, the court made it clear that those who left the UMC have no right to take or claim any church property.

The breakaway group, led by Rev. Jerry P. Kulah, had argued that they were entitled to a share of the UMC’s properties — including churches, schools, hospitals, and other facilities after they left to form the GMC.

But the judge of the circuit court ruled that once they left the UMC, they gave up any rights to its properties. “You can’t claim what you don’t own,” Judge Smith said, citing key legal principles.

The court also ruled that Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., the leader of the UMC Liberia Annual Conference, had no legal authority to hand over or divide church properties to the breakaway group.

Instead, the court said those properties are held in trust by the church’s official trustees — not individuals or groups who decide to walk away. In its final judgment, the court declared that the GMC and Rev. Kulah have no legal claim to any UMC properties.

“They are not allowed to use, possess, or transfer any of the UMC’s buildings, land, or materials.

The ruling also stated that, “They are forbidden from removing signs or anything that belongs to the UMC Liberia Annual Conference.

The case came from a petition for declaratory judgment — a legal move asking the court to make a clear ruling. The judgment now sets a big example for how church property fights will be handled in the future.

Many are of the conviction that the decision strengthens the UMC’s legal control over its assets and sends a strong message to anyone thinking of leaving and taking church property with them.

But at the same time, the Civil Law Court has affirmed that the church properties remain under the ownership of the parent body even when members or leaders secede to form new denominations.

Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr., Resident Bishop of the LAC/UMC has extended olive branch to aggrieved parties to see reason to join hands for once again, a “United Methodist Church.”

“Let us recommit ourselves to the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he added.

House begins hearing

Meanwhile, representatives of the United Methodist Church appeared before the House Committee on Peace and Reconciliation on Monday, August 18, 2025.  

The hearing comes on the heel of endless fight over allegation of endorsing same sex marriage at the level of the UMC in Liberia. It followed a communication from Maryland County District #2 Representative Anthony Williams.

In his communication, the Maryland County lawmaker urged plenary to engage the Resident Bishop of the UMC, Rev. Samuel J. Quire and the President of the LCC, Rev. Samuel B. Reeves to clarify whether the church in Liberia is aligned with the 2024 General Conference of the Global UMC, which lifted the ban on same-sex marriages and LGBTQ clergy.

He contended that Liberia’s Constitution obliges lawmakers to defend the nation’s “cultural heritage and the sanctity of family life.”

 While acknowledging Article 14’s guarantee of religious freedom, he stressed that practices “contrary to public morality and law” cannot be tolerated.

Accordingly, during the public hearing, the Church through its designated representatives that included former River Gee County Senator, Conmany B. Wesseh, dismissed claims.

The former River Gee lawmaker and ranking member of the UMC denied accusation that the denomination has endorsed same-sex marriage as contended by dissenting members.

Speaking on behalf of the church, he termed the report as “false, misleading and damaging” to the church and the country’s image.

 Conmany B. Wesseh said the accusations were rooted in misinformation and misinterpretation of what the church’s true values.

“This is a serious issue of misinformation. To say that the church that is far older than Liberia and one that has produced many national leaders, has endorsed gay practices is false and misleading. It is inconsistent with our national laws and inconsistent with our culture. This has never happened and will never happen,” he asserted.

However, contrary to the denial, Mr. Wesseh revealed that the controversy stems from a 2023 decision at the United Methodist Church General Conference in the United States, which lifted a decades-long ban on same-sex marriage.

Howbeit, he explained that the Conference granted regional conferences autonomy to align practices with their own laws and cultural contexts.

The UMC Official emphasized that the United Methodist Church in Liberia remains aligned with national law and cultural values, and will not sanction same-sex marriage, thus averring that these claims are clouded around the Church’s properties.

“As I said earlier, it is inconsistent with our national laws and inconsistent with our culture. It was a discussion at the Methodist Church in America, but that conference gave freedom of choice to member country to decide what’s good for them. This debate or false accusation is about the properties owned by the Methodist Church. These are people who had long wanted to break away. These terminologies are not good for the public ears.”

Francis K. Zayzay, former lay leader of S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church, explained that while the global church took a liberal stance, Liberia was among the countries that opposed the measure.

“Liberia rejected the idea of same-sex marriage at the conference. The problem started after the 2024 Book of Discipline was established. The conference gave every region the power to adapt within their own culture and laws, but some misunderstood the 2024 Book of Discipline. We will not abide by any policy that lifts the ban on same-sex marriage,” Zayzay told lawmakers.

Rev. Caleb S.G. Dormah, Chairperson of the Crisis Management Team of the UMC, also denied the allegation, stressing that Liberia’s church body has already taken a formal stance as he presented a notarized document to the House Committee on Peace and Reconciliation presided over by Co-chair, Jeremiah Sokan.

The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) had been invited to intervene to calm tensions after rumors spread that St. Nagbe Church was hosting a same-sex wedding, and so was included in the House’s invitation for the hearing.

Rev. Christopher Wleh Toe, First Vice President of LCC, said the leadership of the Council has held numerous engagements with both parties and has established that the root cause of the conflict is due to the Church’s leadership to provide clarity to its members on its stance.  

“We received official documents confirming that the church in Liberia supports marriage strictly between a man and a woman. The problem has been a misunderstanding on the explanation of the definition of same-sex marriage.”

According to the Council, claims that S.T. Nagbe Church doors were closed for the sole purpose of conducting a same-sex wedding were unfounded.

Following testimonies and queries of members of the UMC, a motion was proffered for continuance to allow the opposing parties before a final decision is made by the Committee.

Monrovia – The President of the West Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC), Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., has clarified that a recent U.S.-based church ruling will have no bearing on West African UMC policies, reaffirming the Conference’s commitment to biblical standards and local laws that prohibit same-sex marriage.

Bishop Quire, who also serves as the Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference, made the statement following the United Methodist Council of Bishops’ meeting held in Chicago, Illinois, where Judicial Council Decision 1516 was issued. The ruling reiterates that UMC clergy worldwide cannot be forced to perform or prohibited from performing marriages, including those involving same-sex couples, based on personal conscience.

However, in a press release issued on May 31, Bishop Quire emphasized that the decision “does not affect the West Africa Central Conference or any of its Annual Conferences,” adding that “cultural, traditional, and legal frameworks in West Africa differ significantly from other regions.”

“The Liberia Annual Conference and all Annual Conferences within the West Africa Central Conference have made their position clear: Reject same-sex marriage; uphold biblical standards and the laws,” Bishop Quire stated.

The Bishop noted that Judicial Council Decision 1516 reaffirms pastors’ discretion over church property use for religious services, including weddings. However, he stressed that the decision does not override Paragraph 544.15 of the UMC Book of Discipline, which gives Central Conferences the authority to establish marriage policies in line with their local contexts. That authority, he said, may also be delegated to Annual Conferences.

In West Africa, the Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria Annual Conferences, during their respective sessions in February and March 2025, voted to define marriage as strictly between one man and one woman—a definition consistent with national laws in these countries.

Bishop Quire said that, under this regional policy, “no pastor within the West Africa Central Conference is authorized to perform same-sex marriages.” He also warned that the recent U.S.-based ruling does not give clergy license to break national laws where same-sex marriage is prohibited.

“We respect and honor the legal frameworks of our countries and urge all pastors, members, and the public to do the same,” he added.

Despite ongoing debates and divisions within the global UMC over LGBTQ inclusion, Bishop Quire called for unity, prayer, and a continued focus on the Church’s core mission:

“To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

He acknowledged the diversity within the global United Methodist Church and urged members to remain respectful of differing theological and cultural convictions.

“We are a global Church—diverse in culture and context—yet called to be one in Christ,” he said. “Let us remain focused on our mission, even in the midst of these challenges.”

The clarification comes at a time when growing theological rifts have led to denominational splits and regional autonomy movements across the global Methodist community.