The United Methodist Church in Liberia remains deeply divided over debate regarding same-sex marriage in the Church, with some members breaking away from the denomination here.
By: Wise Wesseh
Monrovia, Liberia, February 10, 2025 – Over a hundred members of the 72nd United Methodist Church here have broken away or disaffiliated from the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The congregation’s decision is in response to the alleged supportive stance of the United Methodist Church for same-sex marriage or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer LGBTQ, into regionalization worldwide.
The decision also comes amidst schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the church and at the helm of the 192nd Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (LAC- UMC) in Gbarnga, Bong County, beginning today, February 10-16, 2025.
Church delegates are expected to decide the Liberia Annual Conference’s position on the United Methodist Church’s general conference regarding regionalization law.
In April 2024, the global United Methodist Church approved the regionalization law at its general conference, which supports same-sex marriage within the church among its congregation.
However, an amendment to the new regionalization law allows gay bishops, pastors, and lesbians to preside over the congregation, something that has met resistance from congregations globally characterized by a series of breakaways.
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, in an open church service, 142 out of 162 members of the 72nd United Methodist Church in Paynesville openly opposed same-sex marriage and announced their withdrawal from the United Methodist denomination.
“We cannot support a gay Church, where a man and a man getting married; a woman and a woman getting married, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, that is demonic, and we believe in one Bible; not two bibles, where the United Methodist Church wants to lead us to hell, and we do not want to go to hell,” says Francestina C. Sesay, a 67-year-old member of the 72nd United Methodist Church congregation.
Speaking on the latest move, Pastor Kenneth Jackson says the congregation’s decision comes amid increasing support for homosexuality.
Pastor Jackson explains that the 72nd United Methodist Church is a democratic body of believers, so it has decided to vote against homosexuality and withdraw from the Liberia Annual Conference after a seven (7)-count resolution endorsed by the 142 congregants.
He acknowledges the difficulty of breaking away but emphasizes the need to uphold biblical truth and spiritual integrity.
“We are being deceived, and we need to understand that this is not the right way to serve God,” Rev. Jackson notes.
He describes same-sex marriage as “demonic,” vowing to guide his congregation in what he believes is the true path of Christianity.
“Same-sex marriage is demonic, and I will not sit here and watch my people go to hell,” he adds.
Reading a seven-count resolution, withdrawing their members from the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mr. Lincoln Mayson, a lead servant of the Church, states: “Whereas, at the UMC General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA from 23 April to 3 May 2024, the UMC worldwide took a decision that is against the clear teachings of Scriptures and the moral will of God in so far as homosexuality, ordination of LGBTQ persons for pastoral ministry and Episcopal leadership, and the change in the definition of marriage are concerned,
Therefore, we, the officers and members of the 72 United Methodist Church located at 72nd Junction, Japanese Freeway, Paynesville City, Liberia, believe that we can no longer, in good conscience, remain a part of the UMC in general, and the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in particular.”
Mr. Mayson continued, “Whereas we cannot in good conscience be a part of a denomination that has legally become a ‘Gay Denomination,’ based on its official decision to ordain lesbians and gays as pastors and consecrate some as bishops. Already, there are two avowed lesbian pastors (two women openly married to other women) who are serving as Bishop of the UMC in America, and one avowed gay pastor (a man openly married to another man) also serving as Bishop for the congregation in the church.”
Meanwhile, dozens of members of the 72nd United Methodist Church echoed the church’s decision, emphasizing their opposition to same-sex marriage and their commitment to preserving traditional Christian beliefs.
“We will join the Global United Methodist Church so that they can fight for us if the UMC tries to take our church or take us to court. The church is global,” one member underscores.
“We are going Global; we are not United Methodist Church anymore; we are Methodists and satisfied with our decision. We want to go to Heaven, not hell, as UMC is leading us to hell.” the congregation opposing same-sex marriage in the United Methodist Church echoes its position of withdrawal.
With this move, the 72nd United Methodist Church joins a growing number of congregations worldwide that have broken away from the United Methodist Church (UMC) due to theological disagreements over human sexuality, marriage, and church leadership. Editing by Jonathan Browne
