The congregation of the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia has strongly condemned the decision of Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. to temporarily close the church, describing the move as unilateral, unjustified, and linked to a deep doctrinal dispute over the redefinition of marriage in the United Methodist Church (UMC).
In a three-page statement issued Thursday, August 8, the church’s leadership said it learned of the closure through Facebook on Wednesday night, August 6, rather than through official communication. The Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) of the UMC, led by Bishop Quire, cited “disruption of worship, interruption of Holy Communion, and hostile behavior towards appointed pastors” as reasons for the shutdown.
However, the S.T. Nagbe congregation dismissed these claims, insisting the real cause is their opposition to a new marriage definition adopted by the global UMC at its 2024 General Conference.
The 2024 Book of Discipline now defines marriage as “a sacred, lifelong covenant between an adult man and an adult woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age.” The inclusion of “two adult persons” opens the way for same-sex marriages, a shift the Monrovia congregation says violates both Scripture and Liberia’s moral and legal order.
“Marriage is, and will always remain, the sacred covenant between one man and one woman, as ordained by God,” the statement declared, quoting Genesis, Matthew, and other biblical passages in defense of their stance.
The congregation also accused the LAC of failing to provide a clear path for churches opposed to the change, noting that thousands of congregations worldwide have already disaffiliated from the UMC over the issue. They said the Liberian leadership’s reliance on a non-binding African Bishops’ resolution upholding traditional marriage, while still adhering to global UMC policies, was an act of “evasion rather than faithful leadership.”
Calling on Bishop Quire to retract the closure order, the church urged “genuine dialogue” and respect for congregations that reject the 2024 Book of Discipline’s marriage language. They also appealed to the Government of Liberia to safeguard the rights of worshiping communities.
For over 50 years, S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church has been a prominent congregation in Monrovia. In their statement, members vowed to continue gathering in their sanctuary, preaching the Gospel, and standing by what they called “the unchanging truth of the Bible.”
“We will not be coerced, misled, or silenced in our commitment to the truth of God’s Word,” they said. “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
