GBARNGA – Amid ongoing disagreements over same-sex relationships within the United Methodist Church of Liberia, a group of breakaway churches has launched a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church.
During the official launch, Rev. D. Jerry Kula stated that the decision was endorsed by over 100 local Methodist churches across Liberia that oppose regionalization.
Rev. Kula reaffirmed the Global Methodist Church’s commitment to upholding biblical principles and spiritual integrity, emphasizing its opposition to any actions that undermine God’s word.
“You now have a new denomination in Liberia that is biblically committed, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-empowered, and vision-driven,” he declared.
He stressed that their departure from the United Methodist Church of Liberia (UMC-Liberia) was due to Bishop Samuel Quire’s alleged refusal to withdraw support for regionalization or disaffiliate from the worldwide United Methodist Church (UMC).
According to Rev. Kula, the UMC’s continued association with American Methodist churches signals acceptance of LGBTQIA+ inclusion, which he claims compromises the true teachings of the Gospel.
He further argued that the amended Book of Discipline, which governs all United Methodist churches, prohibits discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals. He claimed that any violation of this policy could result in the withholding of funds meant for the church.
“In adherence to the UMC’s commitment not to reject or condemn lesbians, gay members, and friends, and in upholding our pledge to include all people in the life of the church, community, and world, we had no choice but to separate,” he stated.
The formation of the Global Methodist Church follows growing tensions and heated exchanges among clergy and members of UMC-Liberia over the adoption of regionalization.
However, delivering his episcopal address at the 192nd session of the Liberia Annual Conference in Gbarnga, Bishop Samuel Quire strongly criticized the anti-regionalization group for establishing a new denomination. He warned of potential disciplinary action against those leading the movement.
Bishop Quire reiterated that the door for disaffiliation had been firmly closed and cautioned against any further attempts to challenge the decision.
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