Church Closed
Leaders of the Liberia Annual Conference have temporarily closed S.T. Nagbe UMC in Monrovia in hopes of defusing disruptions between church members and supporters of the Global Methodist Church. (Photo Courtesy of The New Dawn Liberia)
Monrovia, August 11, 2025 – The Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) has strongly condemned what it described as an “unfortunate and unwarranted” disturbance that occurred Sunday, August 10, in front of the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church (S.T. Nagbe UMC) on Tubman Boulevard, despite the church’s recent closure.
The Executive Committee of LAC/UMC said the disturbance, reportedly involving a group of dismissed and suspended church officers, underscored the necessity of the August 6 closure order, which was implemented to protect worshippers, safeguard property, and maintain public order.
Months of Escalating Disruptions
According to church authorities, S.T. Nagbe UMC has faced over three months of repeated disorder, including the obstruction of worship services and disruption of sacred ceremonies such as weddings, Holy Communion, and funerals. These incidents, they said, have eroded peace, unity, and spiritual discipline within the congregation.
The Executive Committee alleged that the unrest is being fueled by individuals aligned with the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC), who had previously sought to withdraw from the Liberia Annual Conference but are now attempting to occupy the S.T. Nagbe premises and exclude members who wish to remain in the UMC.
“This dispute is not about faith or same-sex marriage, it is about church property, the building, and its rightful ownership,” the statement read.
Photo by Julu Swen, UMNS
Bishop Samuel Quire
Newly elected Bishop Samuel Quire will serve the Liberia Area in Africa.
The LAC/UMC also dismissed social media claims suggesting that the church’s bishop was preparing to officiate a same-sex wedding. The Executive Committee labeled the allegation as “false and misleading,” stressing that both the Liberia Annual Conference and the West Africa Central Conference uphold marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman, consistent with biblical teaching and Liberian law.
The statement cited resolutions passed at the West Africa Central Conference in Ghana (December 2024) and the LAC/UMC’s 192nd Annual Session (February 2025), both of which reaffirmed the traditional definition of marriage and mandated the protection of all United Methodist properties across Liberia.
Commitment to Law and Order
Church leaders pledged to ensure that United Methodists can worship without fear, warning that those who instigate unrest or vandalize church property will face legal consequences under Liberian law.
In the meantime, members of S.T. Nagbe UMC are being encouraged to attend services at other United Methodist churches in Monrovia and surrounding areas under the guidance of the District Superintendent, who is coordinating with law enforcement to maintain safety and order.
Founded over two centuries ago, The United Methodist Church has played a significant role in Liberia’s history and maintains that its doctrinal and property policies will continue to be upheld.
Church leaders complain about closure
Prior to the Aug. 10 event, S.T. Nagbe UMC leaders had issued what they called a "rebuke" to Liberia Conference leaders over the church's closure.
According to The New Dawn Liberia on Aug. 8:
A leadership segment of the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church (S.T. Nagbe UMC) has issued a strong rebuke against the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) of the United Methodist Church, condemning what it calls the “unilateral and unjust” decision to shut down its sanctuary.
The closure announced through a press release on August 6, 2025, was ordered by Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., and the LAC Executive Committee, citing alleged “disruption of worship, interruption of Holy Communion, and hostile behavior towards appointed pastors.”
But S.T. Nagbe UMC leaders insist the accusations are unfounded and that no formal written notice or consultation preceded the decision, which they say violates the church’s established protocols and undermines the dignity of their congregation.
In a press statement, the congregation asserted that the real source of conflict is their steadfast rejection of a controversial amendment adopted at the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The change, now embedded in Paragraph 161.G of the Book of Discipline, redefines marriage as:
“A sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and an adult woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age, into union with one another and into a deeper relationship with God and the religious community.”
Church leaders say the new definition, by recognizing same-sex marriage, contradicts Scripture and stands in direct conflict with Liberia’s legal and cultural understanding of marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman.
The congregation accused the LAC of sidestepping the theological and legal implications of the change by relying on a non-binding resolution from the African Regional Conference bishops. That resolution reaffirms traditional marriage in principle but commits to honoring the global church’s decisions an approach S.T. Nagbe UMC says is inadequate and misleading.
They argued that the Book of Discipline remains the supreme law of the denomination, and no resolution can override it. The church also criticized the LAC for not offering a transparent process for congregations wishing to disaffiliate a path taken by more than 8,000 churches worldwide following the 2024 conference.
The S.T. Nagbe congregation issued three clear demands to Bishop Quire and the LAC:
Retract the closure order immediately. Enter into genuine dialogue aimed at a biblically faithful and amicable resolution.
Respect the conscience of congregations that reject the new marriage definition in the 2024 Book of Discipline.
The church also called on the Government of Liberia to safeguard the rights of worshiping communities under national law.
Founded in 1967, S.T. Nagbe UMC has been a prominent spiritual, educational, and social pillar in Monrovia for more than five decades. The congregation pledged to continue gathering in its sanctuary, proclaiming the Gospel, and defending what it calls “the unchanging truth of the Bible.”
“We remain prayerful, steadfast, and open to honest dialogue,” the statement declared, “but we will not compromise the faith once delivered to the saints.”
The statement was signed by leaders representing the church’s youth, young adults, women’s organization, men’s unit, lay delegates, and finance committee.
This article combines two stories from The New Dawn Liberia to provide coverage of both the annual conference's position and that of the leadership of S.T. Nagbe UMC.