By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberian Senate has summoned Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and aggrieved leaders of the United Methodist Church (UMC) to address the government’s legal position on same-sex marriage legitimacy and respond to the ongoing crisis in the UMC.
The summon comes at a time when tensions are already high within the church, particularly following a recent clash between the UMC and the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC) over the ownership of the church properties.
The Senate’s decision follows a communication from River Cess County Senator Wellington Geevon Smith, who raised alarm over the escalating conflict within the UMC, a dispute he attributes to disagreements regarding same-sex marriage.
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 Laws 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.”
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.
But in his communication to his colleagues, Sen. Smith further questioned whether the government’s continued silence on the matter suggests either tacit approval or an inability to enforce existing laws that define and regulate marriage in Liberia.
The River Cess Senator, has at the same time, emphasized the importance of clarifying the legal framework surrounding marriage in Liberia and said, “We must ensure that our laws reflect the values and beliefs of our society.”
“As such, the issue of same-sex marriage is not just a legal matter; it is a moral one that affects the very fabric of our nation, and with this ongoing crisis within the UMC over the legalization of the practice, I think it is prudent that we as senators exercise our oversight responsibility.
“To this end, I will crave your indulgence to invite before this full plenary, the Ministry of Justice and the aggrieved leaders of the UMC to come and address us. The legal issue of the government’s position on same-sex marriage legitimacy and response to the ongoing crisis in the UMC,” he added.
Meanwhile, both the Minister of Justice and the aggrieved leaders of the UMC are expected to appear before the Senate this Thursday, March 6, 2025, to address the Senator and his colleagues’ concerns.
In a related development, the embattled Bishop of the UMC, Quire, announced that the LAC/UMC reaffirms its unwavering commitment expressed through resolutions adopted from the 187th to the 192nd Sessions to uphold the traditional biblical principle of marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman.
In a statement issued recently, Bishop Quire emphasized, “This stance aligns with Biblical teachings, Liberia’s cultural values and traditions, and the civil marriage laws of our nation and people.”
“So, as the highest policy-making body of the Church, and under the authority vested in me as Bishop and President of the Liberia Episcopal Area, l direct all member churches and affiliated bodies this resolution by the biblical, doctrinal, and legal principles to uphold Christian values while ensuring adherence to the laws of Liberia,” he encouraged.
Bishop Quire, at the same time, urges all members of local churches to continue worshipping in their congregations, thus calling on pastors who have been newly assigned or reappointed to their various churches to proceed with their responsibilities accordingly.
The Bishop maintained, “We assure you that the relevant state authorities have been duly informed and will provide the necessary security to safeguard places of worship for the United Methodist Churches across the country.”
“The UMC in Liberia remains steadfast in its mission to heed the divine call of our Lord Jesus Christ, who declares: Come unto me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…(Mt. 11:28). Our mission is to make disciples of all nations, to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to teach obedience to God’s commandments,” he added.
