Published: January 21, 2025
WEALA, Margibi – The United Methodist Church (UMC) Weala District, comprising 41 local churches and three preaching points with more than 12,000 members, has officially withdrawn from the UMC Liberia Annual Conference. The decision was announced following a resolution passed at the conclusion of the district’s 27th annual session in Bong Mines, Lower Bong County, on Sunday, January 19, 2024.
The Weala District, one of the major constituencies of the Methodist Church, includes member churches in Margibi, Rural Montserrado, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties.
Reverend Methuselah Sackie, Superintendent of the UMC Weala District, revealed that the decision to withdraw was made by over 1,000 delegates during the district conference. He attributed the move to the growing tension surrounding the global UMC’s stance on same-sex marriage and related doctrinal issues. Rev. Sackie disclosed that nearly 2,000 members of the Weala District have left the church since the controversy began.
He further explained that the delegates decided to break away due to irreconcilable differences over the UMC’s position on same-sex marriage, particularly following the 2024 UMC Global Conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina, which officially allowed gay marriage within the church. The decision has sparked intense debate and division within the global denomination and has caused significant unrest among local congregations.
Rev. Sackie emphasized that the Weala District remains committed to upholding “traditional biblical principles” amid the changing global perspectives within the UMC. “The delegates in both our ministerial and business sessions overwhelmingly voted to dissociate from the UMC because they disagree with the global church’s acceptance of gay marriage and related practices,” he noted.
The separation is expected to have far-reaching implications, as the Weala District has vowed to reject any directives or appointments from the Bishop of the UMC Liberia Annual Conference. Count two of the resolution explicitly states: “All pastors and members of the Weala District Conference reject and refuse to accept any appointment coming from the Liberia Annual Conference until otherwise ordered.”
The decision followed a visit from UMC Bishop Samuel Quire during the conference. While Bishop Quire preached and explained the rationale behind the regionalization of the global conference’s decision, the local congregation chose to break away shortly after his departure.
Some local pastors have accused Bishop Quire of playing a double standard on the issue of same-sex marriage. They allege that while the Bishop has called on local congregations to accept people regardless of their background and culture, his approach has created confusion and dissatisfaction among members.
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