By Bill W. Cooper
The Bishop of United Methodist Church-Liberia Annual Conference (UMC-UMC-LAC), Samuel J. Quire and his congregation reportedly boycotted a crucial Senate mediation hearing aimed at resolving the ongoing internal conflicts within the church.
The meeting, organized by the Senate joint committee on Internal Affairs, Defense, Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs, along with the Judiciary, Claims, and Petition Committee, as mandated by Plenary, was also intended to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the conflict.
But surprisingly, Bishop Quire, who has been at the center of the entire saga/controversy was absent from the mediation meeting, along with his congregations. It was later gathered that the absence of Bishop Quire and team was attributed to a bereavement even though the Inquirer Newspaper is yet to independently verify the claim as this outlet has not seen an official communication for the excuse.
The meeting was however attended by key stakeholders, including the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC) leader, Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah and his delegation, Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh and the Liberia National Police (LNP).
However, the committee, at the conclusion of the discussion then set-up a three-member committee to relay the committee’s concerns and recommendations to Bishop Quire and his congregation.
Key amongst the resolutions from the hearing are to ensure the full cooperation of all parties in the mediation process, preventing the use of state security forces to the detriment of any party, and maintaining neutrality among state security agencies in addressing the crisis.
Others are to encourage both groups to actively work toward de-escalating tensions within their various congregations, urging the leadership on both sides to refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict while mediation is ongoing.
As part of the resolution, it was also advised that pastoral appointments in disputed churches be paused during negotiations, facilitating peaceful worship and assembly in all UMC churches across Liberia.
The Senate at the same time advised the Justice Minister to remain committed in fostering a peaceful and amicable resolution, while calling on all stakeholders to remain committed in ensuring peace is restored.
It can be recalled that the disputes which have been exacerbated by issues surrounding regionalization, LGBTQ inclusion, and the management of the church properties, have created a rift that has drawn the attention of several church leaders, the government and the citizenry.
The Senate mediation hearing, which was held this gone March 7, 2025, comes days following serious fight between the UMC members and the breakaway GMC members over legitimacy of the edifices of the church.
The UMC is currently struggling with differing views on how to navigate the complexities of modern society, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ rights and the regionalization of the UMC. This has significantly divided the congregations, coupled with battles over the church’s properties.
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.
The United Methodist Church was officially established in 1968, and its history dates back to 1730 when John and Charles Wesley, two students at Oxford University in England, gathered a small group of students who sought to spread the Methodist movement.
But since the alleged acceptance of same-sex marriage by the General Conference in the US, Bishop Quire of the UMC-Liberia Annual Conference has come under intense criticism from church members for allegedly endorsing the practice.
The saga followed since the return of the resident Bishop from the General Conference of the Church in the US, where a new resolution by the global church allows same-sex marriage in all UMC.
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 policy.
The amended UMC 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.”
However, the 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.”
Meanwhile, Bishop Quire’s decision to boycott the Senate hearing has sparked mixed reactions from the public, with supporters of the Bishop arguing that his absence is a testament to his commitment to family and the importance of prioritizing personal loss over institutional politics.
The Bishop critics further argued that his absence sends a troubling message about the seriousness of the ongoing disputes within the church, noting, “We need strong leadership now more than ever.”
“Because by him not attending the mediation, it feels like we are missing an opportunity to address the issues that are tearing us apart and this clearly shows that the Bishop is the problem within the UMC,” they added.
