The Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) is set to convene its 192nd Annual Session from February 10-16, 2025, in Gbarnga City, Bong County.
This momentous gathering brings together thousands of accredited delegates from all 20 districts and two circuits across Liberia, along with distinguished international guests, including Bishop James Boye-Caulker of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area and Bishop Ande Ikimun Emmanuel of the Nigeria Episcopal Area.
According to a release, representatives from the Michigan and Ohio Annual Conferences in the United States will also be in attendance to grace the occasion.
The Liberia Annual Conference, which has been a cornerstone of Methodism in Liberia since 1821, serves as a crucial platform for policy-making, reviewing church activities, elections of annual conference officials for the next quadrennial and ratification of the 2020/2024 General Conference decisions on Worldwide Regionalization.
The release further noted that the conference will also deliberate on key resolutions affecting the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia, particularly in alignment with the West Africa Central Conference (WACC) resolutions and recent amendments to Paragraph 540 of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2020/2024.
“These decisions reaffirm the church’s commitment to upholding traditional biblical principles, Scripture, particularly regarding the definition of marriage which the LAC/UMC believes to be between a man and a woman, in accordance with Liberia’s cultural values, traditions, and civil marriage laws,” the release stated.
“Against the backdrop of global challenges including health crises, wars, looming deportation, economic uncertainty, and spiritual trials the conference will encourage members to trust in God as the Help of the helpless, Hope of the hopeless, and the Defense of the defenseless.”
The United Methodist Church has played a pivotal role in Liberia’s spiritual, educational, and political development.
The church has been instrumental in the Christianization and education of Liberians and foreigners, with institutions such as The Gbarnga School of Theology, United Methodist University, College of West Africa (CWA), J.J. Roberts United Methodist School, United Methodist Schools System across the country and Ganta United Methodist School serving as legacies of its commitment to knowledge and true faith of God.
The annual session will be presided over by Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., Resident Bishop of the Liberia Episcopal Area and President of the West Africa Central Conference College of Bishops.
Cllr. Dr. Tolbert G. Nyenswah, Lay Leader of the Liberia Annual Conference, stated, “Gbarnga, Bong County, will be filled with the Holy Spirit as the people called United Methodists celebrate the uniqueness of Jesus Christ the true son of God.”
The host district superintendent, Rev. Peter Flomo Kaykpah, assured residents and United Methodists gathered in Gbarnga not to harbor fear, saying, “Christ is on the vessel, we shall fear no storm” (Mark 4:35-41).
He emphasized that they are well prepared to host the event.
The occasion is expected to be graced by accredited Annual Conference officials, District Lay Leaders, visiting bishops, retired bishops, clergy, and laity from across Liberia and beyond.
As the Liberia Annual Conference embarks on its 192nd session, the church remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening the spiritual, social, and moral fabric of the nation, ensuring that the values of Methodism continue to uplift communities and shape Liberia’s future.
The United Methodist Church extends its appreciation to the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Liberia National Police, the Office of the Superintendent of Bong County, and the peace-loving people of Bong County for their continued and steadfast support.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 192nd annual conference of the UMC, this outlet has gathered that the 72nd United Methodist Church in Liberia has officially announced its departure from the United Methodist Church (UMC) over theological disagreements, particularly regarding regionalization and the recent approval of same-sex marriage within the global denomination.
The decision followed two decisive votes by the congregation.
On February 3, 2025, members overwhelmingly rejected the UMC’s Regionalization Plan, which was adopted during the 2024 General Conference (April–May 2024) in Charlotte, North Carolina. This plan permitted same-sex marriage within the worldwide UMC.
Reaffirming their stance, the church held another vote on February 9, 2025, to formally disassociate from the UMC.
In a formal statement, the church’s leadership cited decisions made at the 2024 General Conference as their primary reason for leaving, arguing that they contradict biblical teachings on homosexuality, LGBTQ ordination, and the definition of marriage.
“We can no longer, in good conscience, remain a part of the UMC in general, and the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) in particular,” the statement read.
At a congregational meeting on February 9, 2025, church leaders, under what they described as the “guidance of the Holy Spirit,” officially voted to sever ties with both the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC).
Speaking on the decision, Rev. Kenneth Jackson, acknowledged the difficulty of breaking away but emphasized the importance of upholding biblical principles pointing out, “We are being deceived, and we need to understand that this is not the right way to serve God.”
He further described same-sex marriage as “demonic” and vowed to lead his congregation in what he believes is the true path of Christianity.
“Same-sex marriage is demonic, and I will not sit here and watch my people go to hell,” he declared.
The 72nd United Methodist Church, just at the heel of the convention, announced that it will now affiliate with the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a denomination that upholds traditional Christian values.
Several members of the congregation supported the decision, expressing their opposition to same-sex marriage and their commitment to preserving traditional Christian beliefs.
“We will join the Global Methodist Church so that they can fight for us if the UMC tries to take our church or take us to court,” one member explained.
It can be recalled that the tension in the UMC, reached a boiling point where the Barnerville and the 72nd United Methodist Churches were embroiled in violent altercation during worship services between two opposing factions in the church.
Other churches within the fold of the UMC, Liberia Annual Conference, reportedly removed the UMC emblems from their edifices and returned them to the office of the UMC Bishop.
Some congregations of the UMC who have threatened to break away blame their actions on the heavy handed manner in which Bishop Quire continues to suspend, dismiss and refuse to meet with other aggrieved Methodists in the spirit of humble leadership.
“Bishop Quire has allowed himself to be surrounded by a clique of the powerful few who believe the voice other Methodists should not be heard,” a vocal Methodist cleric pointed out to this paper.
Also, the pastor-in charge of the Refuge UMC located in Matadi in Monrovia, Saye Dolo, preaching on the theme, “A time for a change” yesterday charged his congregation drawing from Luke 5: 1-11 said every time someone is engaged with the things of God, there are challenges but he narrated that the challenges are not meant to harm you rather to strengthen the faith.
Rev. Dolo said everything you fail on and have nothing to show, then it proves that you need a change adding, “If you continue to do what you do now, in ten years where will you be or will you still be making the same excuses but what you need to do is change the strategy.”
“A life we refuse to change is a life we choose. There are some people who are saying the opposite; they do not want to change it, yet they do not choose it. You cant eat your cake and have it. We might have been fishing all night and caught nothing; it does not mean we will not succeed,” he preached.
Describing the book of discipline as now a book of indiscipline being used to guide all Methodists, Rev. Dolo said no man is an island regardless of status understanding the importance of partnership, there is no competition rather all parties work to achieve a goal and that was Peter’s point.
The UMC prelate said, “God is a God of law, until you can recognize that something is wrong with you only Jesus can fill that emptiness. Jesus promised Peter that he will go into a new profession; catching men than catching fish; the responsibility to continue the ministry is a privilege to partner with Christ,”
“This is a time that we forsake our sins and follow Christ; letting go of attachments in our walk with God but the question is, what have we forsaken? This is my 30th year as a United Methodist and we are having conferences instead of a conference however, we all will be represented. Whether we like it or not, some will be regionalized, some will be independent while others will be globalized,” he expressed.
As the United Methodist Church goes to its 192nd convention in Gbarnga, Bong County, this week, the Christian Community is watchful to see how Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire will deal with this delicate issue of deep rooted division in the church based on doctrinal differences under his episcopacy.
