Liberian United Methodists Affirm UMC Loyalty, Call Out Divisive Actors

by

Special to United Methodist Insight

Editor's note: The following press release and accompanying photo were received from the Rev. Lloyd T. Nyarota, general coordinator of the United Methodist Africa Forum.

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH-LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Held at the UMC 12th Street, Sinkor Conference Office

The clergy, and laity of the United Methodist Church, Liberia Annual Conference, the people called United Methodists around the world, members of the press, sympathizers, and friends. Let us extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you who have come to join us in our quest to protect our church against some unfaithful people who continue to claim to be United Methodists but are propagating lies and false teachings about the United Methodist Church and urging faithful United Methodists to disaffiliate from the UMC to join other denominations. This press release aims to first condemn these unfaithful people’s quest to destroy our church and second to reaffirm our commitment to the United Methodist Church, and present our support for the regionalization of the United Methodist Church around the world. We kindly request that you give close attention to the below position statements.

Whereas: We are members of the United Methodist Church of the Liberia Annual Conference UMC/LAC both clergy and laity have agreed for the unity of the United Methodist Church aim at staying, protecting, and defending the United Methodist Church against all kinds of false teachings and statements that undermine the truthful doctrine and teachings of the United Methodist Church.

Whereas: We are also aware that there are members and leaders who are still claiming to be United Methodists including Rev. Jerry Paye Kulah, and others have made discriminatory and derogatory statements against the United Methodist Church and are propagating and spreading lies, and have refused to obey the order of the Bishop and the Annual Conference that we will remain United Methodists for which this press statement is issued to condemn their behaviors and to publicly express our stand in reaffirming our commitment to the United Methodist Church and regionalization.

Whereas: We endorse and stand by the Holy Scripture, UMC Book of Discipline, the Liberia Annual Conference resolutions, and the College of Bishops of Africa definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. We also condemn all attempts to use the issue of homosexuality or any other divisive tactics to falsely characterize the UMC as a homosexual denomination. We therefore call on all faithful UMC members to resist and reject these lies against the United Methodist Church

Whereas: We strongly condemn and request that those advocating for disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church to form part of the Global Methodist Church, a racist denomination to immediately leave the United Methodist Church, resign all UMC positions, and be banned from representing the Liberia Annual at the UM General Conferences in North Carolina, USA. Meanwhile, we strongly urge all delegates of the Liberia Annual Conference to remain firm in protecting the United Methodist Church by denouncing and resisting any statement calling for disaffiliation from the UMC.

Whereas: We demand that those leaders who are claiming to be United Methodists and are serving in key positions in the United Methodist Church, and at the same time, are undermining the unity and mission of our denomination to resign immediately and leave.

Whereas: We remain committed to the mission and values of the United Methodist Church and believe that through open and respectful dialogue, we urge all members and leaders to approach these discussions at the General Conference with wisdom, humility, and a spirit of unity, and we remain hopeful that we can find a way forward that preserves the unity and integrity of the United Methodist Church.

Whereas: Be it hereby resolved that:

  • That Rev. Jerry Kulah and others who have aligned and been propagating Global Methodist Church ideologies in the United Methodist Church and are also advocating for disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church be denial participation and representation of the Liberia Annual Conference to the General Conference held in North Carolina, USA.
  • We call on the Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr. assigned to the Liberia Area and the Board of Ordained Ministry of the United Methodist Church to immediately investigate the allegations brought against Rev, Jerry Kulah in a formal complaint sent to the Bishop and the Board.
  • We call on the Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr, Resident Bishop of the Liberia Area of the United Methodist Church to continue to help us protect the integrity, dignity, and to remain vigilant and discerning in the face of misinformation and to uphold the truth and teaching and doctrine of the United Methodist Church in actions, and not only words.

THANK YOU!

Rev. Caleb S. G. Dormah

Dr. Roland Clarke

Memh Bedell Nuway

S. Edward Harmon

Jefferson B. Knight