Liberia’s United Methodist Church (UMC) faces escalating turmoil as theological disputes over LGBTQ+ inclusion policies and church governance have led to dramatic confrontations, including police blockades of a historic sanctuary and a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The crisis, centered on the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia’s Sinkor district, reached a boiling point on August 10 when armed officers barred congregants from entering the building, reportedly acting on instructions from Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr.
The standoff follows months of conflict over a proposed “Regionalization Policy,” which critics argue could pave the way for recognizing same-sex unions—a shift vehemently opposed by conservative factions. The S.T. Nagbe congregation, among Liberia’s most prominent Methodist communities, has accused church leadership of unilaterally imposing theological changes without consensus. “The Bishop is ruining our Church,” said a worshipper identified as Elijah, who described the police presence as shocking and unprecedented.
Bishop Quire ordered the church’s closure after two Sundays of disrupted services, citing “hostile behavior” toward appointed clergy and violations of sacred rituals like Holy Communion. In an August 6 statement, he condemned actions he claimed defied Methodist values of “peace, love, and mutual respect.” However, congregants argue the policy redefining marriage as a union between “two consenting adults of faith” undermines traditional doctrine, with church leaders calling it a departure from core Christian principles.
The rift mirrors global tensions within the UMC, where progressive regions increasingly advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion while conservative blocs, particularly in Africa, resist such reforms. Liberia’s Methodist community, one of the denomination’s largest outside the U.S., now grapples with questions of religious freedom and institutional authority.
In a related legal development, Liberia’s Supreme Court ruled last week in favor of the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC), declaring the eviction of its members from a Paynesville church unlawful. The court rebuked the UMC and Liberian authorities for bypassing due process, ordering the return of the 72nd Methodist Church to GMC worshippers. Justice Ceaineh Clinton-Johnson emphasized that property disputes must be resolved through civil courts, not unilateral police action.
The dual crises—physical blockades at S.T. Nagbe and the court’s rebuke of the UMC’s eviction tactics—highlight deepening fractures within Liberian Methodism. As of publication, congregants remain locked out of the Sinkor sanctuary, with no resolution in sight. Observers warn the clashes could reshape the denomination’s future in Liberia, testing its ability to balance doctrinal unity with regional autonomy in an increasingly polarized global faith community.
