By Bill W. Cooper
The continuous internal wrangling within the United Methodist Church (UMC) is said to be far from ending, as the recently suspended Reverend, Jerry Kulah has publicly denounced his suspension, describing it as a “mere witch hunt.”
Rev. Kulah, rejecting his suspension, which was orchestrated by leaders of the UMC further emphasized, “No institution, including the UMC church can sanction me from teaching the gospel.”
Recently, the UMC-Liberia suspended Rev. Kulah, from his position as Vice President of the Bishop John Innis Graduate School of Professional Studies at the United Methodist University.
The Church, at the same time, further instructed Rev. Kulah to desist from preaching in all of its churches across the country, disclosing that to do so would be at his own detriment.
In a release issued by the Church announcing the suspension, Rev. Kulah is being accused of multiple infractions that undermine the UMC’s teachings, coupled with promoting global policies, something the Church deemed as violations.
But addressing a team of reporters yesterday at his UMC’s office in Monrovia, Rev. Kulah linked his suspension to the acceptance of same sex marriage within the UMC, something which he has vehemently opposed, thus prompting the Bishop Quire’s action to suspend him.
He also expressed his dismay at the decision, asserting that the charges against him are frivolous, unfounded and politically motivated, adding, “This is not about accountability; it’s about silencing voices that challenge the bishop’s same sex marriage advocacy.”
Rev. Kulah, is at the same time emphasizing that he believes the actions taken against him are part of a broader campaign to eliminate progressive and God-fearing leadership within the UMC church.
He added, “I am not deterred or worried as such, I remain the legitimate Vice President of the Bishop John Innis Graduate School of Professional Studies at the United Methodist University.”
“Because, as far as I am concerned, the process that led to my suspension lacks transparency and fairness. I will not be intimidated or silenced, and I will continue my ministry and fight for the values of the UMC and what we believe in,” Rev. Kulah assured.
The UMC has been struggling with what now appears to be an internal division over issues such as LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice, leading to heightened tensions among its members in Liberia.
It can be recalled that in October of this year (2024), the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC was engulfed with serious tension after Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire suspended five pastors who were calling for a special section to allow the church in Liberia decides its position in a new resolution by the global church that allows same-sex marriage in all United Methodist churches.
The delegates from the United Methodist Church’s General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, from April 23 to May 3, 2024, voted 692-51 to repeal the church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy, marking a significant shift in church’s policy.
Since the acceptance of the same-sex marriage by the General Conference in the United States, Bishop Quire of the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC came under mounting criticisms from church members over his refusal to call for a special session and to allow members of the church determine the way forward for the church in Liberia.
Bishop Quire has not taken lightly the scathing criticisms in the UMC, and then suspended several pastors from the Seventy Second (72nd) United Methodist Church, the New Georgia United Methodist Church and other pastors within the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC who questioned his refusal to call for a special section.
This has since led to serious divisions within the UMC, which some local assemblies have now distanced themselves from the UMC, thus returning the Church belongings to its national headquarters in Sinkor.
