By Bill W. Cooper
A group of aggrieved members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is calling upon its Bishop, Samuel Quire, to, with immediate effect, reinstate several pastors who were suspended for their stance against the practice of same-sex marriage within the UMC.
The aggrieved members are also calling on Bishop Quire to ensure the timely holding of the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC), to enable local assemblies to decide on the future of the Liberia-UMC as it relates to the practice of same-sex marriage within the UMC.
However, the UMC, known for its rich history and commitment to social justice, has been embroiled in internal conflict over issues such as human sexuality, church governance, and the role of clergy.
It can be recalled that the controversy is triggered by the Global UMC’s decision to affirm the LGBTQ+ community, a position that has divided congregations worldwide with some seeing the decision as ungodly and sinful.
In Liberia, some congregations, including Refuge, 72nd, John Warner, and New Georgia UMCs, have all taken a firmed stance against its acceptance, leading to growing calls for disassociation and realignment.
The church’s Book of Discipline, which outlines its policies and practices, has historically prohibited the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” and has deemed same-sex marriages as incompatible with Christian teachings.
However, the global United Methodist Church recently repealed its 50-year ban on LGBTQ clergy and approved new language opening doors for same-sex marriages within all of the UMC across the globe.
And since Bishop Quire returned in May 2024 from the USA, he has allegedly refused to call a session to discuss such a critical issue rather, he is accused of arbitrarily dismissing church leaders who speak against gay marriage/homosexuality.
Though he has denounced any acceptance of homosexual marriage in the church, his action has since sparked concerns amongst the congregation leading them to stand against his appearance in any of their churches, calling on the bishop to call for a special session and report to members in Liberia on discussions held at the General Conference in the USA.
This impasse has since witnessed the breakaway of some Methodist churches, with the Refugee UMC being the latest to break ranks with the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) by publicly returning the church items to the office of Bishop Quire in Sinkor.
The situation also led to the suspension of several of the pastors by Bishop Quire, who have been vocal advocates against the endorsement of the practice of same-sex marriage within the UMC.
Speaking on behalf of the group during their protest yesterday, one of the suspended UMC pastors, Jerry Kulah said, “We believe that the suspension of pastors by Bishop Quire is an affront to the members and leaders of our noble Church.”
“The Bishop doesn’t have the right to do so and as such, we therefore call for the immediate reinstatement of all those pastors suspended by him, as it is time that the Bishop recognizes the harm that his decision has caused the church,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, to the reinstatement of the suspended pastors, Rev. Kulah is also advocating for the timely holding of a special session to address the outcomes of the General Conference.
He argued that the decisions made during the conference do not reflect the views of the majority members of the church and that a more inclusive dialogue is necessary to heal the divisions within the denomination.
“We need a space where all voices can be heard, especially those who feel marginalized, and the special session will allow us to revisit these issues and work towards a more unified church,” he added.
