By Moses M. Tokpah/Margibi
Nearly two weeks after it was birthed in Gbarnga City, Bong County, the Global Methodist Church (GMC) in Liberia has announced the holding of a nationwide fast and prayer service, aimed at bringing spiritual renewal to the nation.
The Global Methodist Church was birthed after some officials and members of the United Methodist Church, including Rev. Jerry p. Kulah, disaffiliated with the denomination in Liberia over biblical and spiritual differences. At the core of the trending divisive discourse that continues to sweep through the church surrounds same-sex marriage and regionalization.
The disaffiliation and the subsequent establishment of the GMC, according to its leadership, is based on the fact that the worldwide UMC denomination to which the LAC/UMC belongs, voted to ‘compromise’ the teachings of the Holy Scripture. Instead, he leaders of the GMC claim, they accepted to act in favor of some Cultural Practices that are perceived quixotic to our African culture, inimical to our calling and detrimental to faithful Christian living.
The GMC leadership also claimed that among the many unbiblical practices, the UMC voted to ‘legalize’ homosexuality, the practice of same sex marriage in the United Methodist congregations, the ordination and consecration of self-avowed lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons as pastors and bishops in the UMC.
It states that the church also voted to change the Biblical definition of marriage by adding another option to it as stated in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline, adding that the UMC now defines marriage “as a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consent age into union with one another (para. 162D, para 123).
The leadership intoned that this addition creates a space for the inclusion of self-avowed homosexual persons, and supports the church’s decision to officiate same-sex marriage in the UMC congregations among many other claims and as such, they cannot do business with the UMC thereby establishing the new denomination.
The Chairperson of the transitional leadership team of the Global Methodist Church-Liberia, Rev. Kulah, in a statement said the one-day prayer convocation will take place on Friday, February 28, 2025 at various venues across Liberia, and it will begin at mid-night on Thursday until Friday, at 1pm.
According to him, the one-day fast and prayer is meant for the commencement of the ministries of the Global Methodist Church in Liberia and Guinea.
“All members of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) of Liberia are invited to participate in a one-day prayer convocation on Friday, 28 February 2025 at various venues across Liberia” he announced.
Rev. Dr. Kulah, continues: “Team leaders in the various counties, including the Republic of Guinea, are asked to coordinate the fast and prayer event in their various areas.
GMC pastors and leaders of the laity in Monrovia and its environs are asked to gather at the headquarters of the GMC, located at the Refuge Global Methodist Church, on the compounds of the Barnes Foundation School in Lakpazee, Fiamah, Monrovia for the fast and prayer, from 9 am to 1pm on Friday, February 28, 2025.”
