By: Archie Boan
The Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) has sounded a strong warning against what it describes as a fraudulent scheme being carried out by the Global Methodist Church (GMC), which is falsely claiming authority over the Everlyn S. Chapman United Methodist School in the New Georgia Housing Estate.
According to an official statement issued by the UMC Education Department, the GMC sect has been issuing fake graduation certificates and report cards without providing any instructional services to students. The UMC emphasized that only its official administration is authorized to operate the school and issue valid academic credentials.
The UMC confirmed that both the Office of the Bishop and the Ministry of Education have been notified about the development.
“It must be noted that only the official UMC administration of the Everlyn S. Chapman United Methodist School in the New Georgia Housing Estate is authorized to issue valid UMC report cards,” the statement read.
Background of Property Disputes
The UMC recalled that the GMC had previously attempted to seize and vandalize the Everlyn S. Chapman School and the adjoining church edifice in New Georgia. That confrontation prompted the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC to petition the Civil Law Court, which later ruled in favor of the UMC, affirming its ownership of all UMC properties in Liberia.
Despite this ruling, the UMC accused the GMC of continuing to mislead its members by falsely claiming it had appealed to the Supreme Court and sought the presiding judge’s recusal. The UMC described such claims as deceptive and aimed at fueling “acts of lawlessness,” including attacks on churches, health centers, and schools.
Recent Takeovers
The statement also highlighted the GMC’s recent forceful seizure of the Weala Clinic in Margibi County, branding the act as provocative and a clear violation of the rule of law.
“The GMC cult and its leadership are fraudulently falsifying and changing the names of legitimate institutions such as UMC clinics and schools,” the statement said.
Call for Vigilance
The UMC is urging state institutions, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, to take note of the GMC’s alleged fraudulent actions. It also warned parents and guardians against accepting unauthorized school credentials.
“The United Methodist Church in Liberia has not changed the names of any of its institutions,” the church emphasized, warning that accepting fake certificates could jeopardize students’ educational futures and block their chances of admission to universities.
