Published: October 17, 2024
MONROVIA – The Secretary General of the Liberian Delegation to the recently held 2024 United Methodist General Conference in the United States, L. Olandor Boyce, has voiced strong opposition to UMC Liberia Bishop Samuel Quire’s stance on regionalization, while also rejecting the practice of homosexuality within the denomination.
Mr. Boyce’s critique of Bishop Quire and other leaders of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia follows protests by congregants from two churches. The congregants accused Bishop Quire of suspending their pastors for taking a critical stance against same-sex marriage.
At the New Georgia United Methodist Church, members expressed disappointment over the alleged suspension of Rev. Leo T. Mayson for his outspoken opposition to homosexuality and the church’s regionalization strategy. Similarly, leaders from various church groups, including men’s, women’s, and youth ministries at the 72nd United Methodist Church, declared their church’s autonomy from the UMC in Liberia. They vowed to operate independently until the denomination’s leadership takes a firm stance against same-sex marriage.
Despite Bishop Quire’s denial of these claims, Mr. Boyce, in a live radio appearance on Prime FM in Monrovia, emphasized his opposition to both same-sex marriage and regionalization. He argued, “If the Bishop and other leaders say no to homosexuality, then they should not endorse regionalization.”
Boyce criticized Bishop Quire for what he called a “contradiction” in supporting regionalization while opposing same-sex marriage, especially in the absence of the expected Annual Conference in February 2025. He noted that during this conference, a two-thirds vote will be required to either endorse or reject same-sex marriage and regionalization within the UMC in Liberia.
The Secretary General also highlighted that Bishop Quire has yet to communicate the decisions made at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference to members in Liberia. Boyce suggested that the Bishop should convene a meeting to address these pressing issues ahead of the Annual Conference.
According to Boyce, such a meeting would allow members to express their concerns, ask questions, and gain a clearer understanding of regionalization. “If that meeting is called, we will know what direction or decision to take to the Annual Conference because it’s also an election year,” Boyce said. He further explained that elections for Conference Secretary, Treasurer, and other positions, which take four days to complete, will also take place during the conference.
Boyce stressed the importance of beginning discussions on regionalization now, calling it a sensitive matter that should not be left until the Annual Conference. He also revealed that while the UMC’s global operational arm is teaching regionalization in Tanzania, the denomination in Liberia is still unclear on its true meaning.
Providing insights from his research, Boyce criticized regionalization, quoting passages that he finds restrictive. “Positions on human sexuality, standards of marriage, and ordination; to set the standards and policies for rites and ceremonies for the solemnization of marriage and the licensing of pastoral ministry,” he quoted, denouncing these provisions. Boyce emphasized that the standards for marriage are set by God, stating that no human authority has the right to redefine them.
He stressed that, according to the Bible, marriage is between a man and a woman, and the UMC cannot impose new standards contrary to scripture. He also pointed to another aspect of the General Book of Discipline under regionalization, which prohibits a regional conference from creating its own constitution or adopting policies that violate the General Book of Discipline.
Boyce argued that this aspect of regionalization is anti-democratic and limits the freedoms of church members. He also raised concerns about the UMC’s Social Principles, which, he said, define marriage as between a man and a woman or two consenting adults. “What kind of church is this that tells us to do this or to write our own constitution when we are four countries—Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria—each with different cultural values?” he asked.
He criticized the regionalization strategy for grouping these four African countries together, imposing uniform cultural standards, while leaders in the U.S. create an exclusive jurisdiction with greater powers, thereby limiting the autonomy and freedom of the African church.
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