By Bill W. Cooper
A series of violent confrontations erupted yesterday, February 2, 2025, between members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the newly formed Global Methodist Church (GMC) over the ownership of church properties across Liberia.
The conflict, however, led to the arrest of several church members, especially those from the 72nd UMC, now 72nd GMC, including one of the funding pastors of the GMC, Rev. Jerry Kulah, coupled with the damaging of the vehicle belonging to the newly appointed 72nd UMC pastor, Rev. Simon S. Doe.
The turmoil, which came against the backdrop of broader issues within the UMC, including debates over regionalization and the inclusion of LGBTQ practices within the church, further witnessed the use of tear gas by police officers to disperse those believed to be members of the GMC.
The United Methodist Church-Liberia Annual Conference (UMC-LAC) has been struggling with internal divisions for several months now, primarily over issues related to regionalization and LGBTQ inclusion within the church.
Liberian Code of Law Revised Domestic Relations Law – Title 9 states, “Marriage is a civil status, a personal relationship arising out of a civil contract between a male and female to mutually assume marital rights, duties and obligations, to which the consent of parties capable of making such a contract is essential; provided further that such marriage is not prohibited by the provisions.”
While the UMC amended Book of Discipline D. States “Marriage – within the church, we affirm marriage as a lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult and Woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age, into union with one another and into deeper relation with God and the religious community.”
The Book of Discipline D further narrated, “While The United Methodist Church does not recognize marriage as a sacrament, we celebrate and cherish this union as a session of the couple’s faith, grounded in their relationship.”
Note that these debates have since intensified, leading to a division within the denomination, which has further witnessed the formation of the Global Methodist Church (GMC), which seeks to uphold traditional biblical teachings and reject the ordination of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages.
Liberia, with its deep-rooted Christian community, has now become a focal point for this conflict because the UMC has a significant presence in the country, and the emergence of the GMC has now created a battleground for control over church properties and congregations.
However, the tensions within the church reached a boiling point during the first Sunday, when members of both the UMC and GMC clashed over the ownership of the 72nd church property in Paynesville, leading to the arrest of members from the GMC by the police.
The individuals, including Rev. Kulah, who were placed behind bars at the Zone 9 Deport in Jacob Town, according to our reporter, had allegedly defied a recent court ruling by attempting to claim ownership of the church building and conducting their regular Sunday worship service.
In a document in our possession, the Paynesville Magisterial Court had previously ruled in favor of the UMC, affirming its sole ownership of the property, but GMC members argue that the church was built with their dues and tithes, giving them a rightful claim to the facility.
The situation at the 72nd facility further got intense when police intervened, further resulting in clashes between them (LNP officers) and GMC members as stones were thrown and tear gas fired by the police, thus disrupting normal activities among others.
Also, the situation escalated when Bishop Samuel Quire’s newly appointed pastor of the 72nd church, Rev. Simon S. Doe, arrived at the church to conduct a service, as he led a group of UMC members to forcefully open the church edifice; his vehicle later got severely damaged by unknown individuals.
Meanwhile, clashes also erupted yesterday at various Methodist Churches around the country. There were reports of clashes at the N.B. Whitfield United Methodist Church in Buchanan, the Trinity United Methodist Church in New Kru Town, Ebenezer Global Methodist Church and the E.J. McGill Methodist Church.
Others are the New Georgia United Methodist Church, Duazon United Methodist Church, and Miller McAllister Methodist Church in Ganta, chanting, “We want the gay people to leave our church”, in a total rejection of all of the new pastors assigned by Bishop Quire at these churches.
Bishop Samuel Quire of the UMC has since reiterated that while individuals are free to leave the denomination, they cannot take church properties with them, as some of the newly appointed pastors, backed by state security, were successful in taking control of their respective building of assignment.
But speaking to the media shortly after his release yesterday, Rev. Jerry Kulah, on behalf of the GMC thanked his members for standing firm on what he termed as the “true teachings and doctrines of the Methodist Church.”
He said, “We were simply trying to worship and protect our church, and we expected the police to help us and not to attack us as they did because this place is our church and home, and we will not be silenced.”
According to him, the police ‘operating’ under the instruction of Bishop Quire was excessive and violated their rights as peaceful worshippers, lamenting, “The use of tear gas against us at our church is unacceptable and we call for the immediate release of those arrested and an investigation into the police’s actions.”
He further argued that their contributions to the construction and maintenance of church’s properties entitle them to retain ownership. As such, they will not subject what their entitlement to the UMC of Bishop Quire.
Rev. Kulah, at the same time, called on his members across the country to remain calm as they are peacefully working to ensure that the issue is addressed and that they can have full authority and ownership of their respective buildings.
He added, “Do not panic or be intimidated by anyone, wherever from the UMC or their gay leaders and pastors. We are here for you, and we will fight to protect your rights through the help of God. On Monday, we all will be assembling at the LNP headquarters for redress.”
Meanwhile, as the situation continues to unfold, the future of the UMC in Liberia remains uncertain, while the church’s leadership is faced with the daunting task of addressing the internal divisions while also responding to the needs of its congregants.
In the coming weeks, many are hopeful about the potential meeting of both the UMC and GMC, but with emotions running high and trust eroded, it remains to be seen whether both factions will have a fruitful discussion aimed at solving the dispute.