Accra, Ghana – Delegates from the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a breakaway denomination, were barred from participating in the ongoing 10th Quadrennial Session of the West Africa Central Conference (WACC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC), currently being held in Accra, Ghana.
Among those denied entry were Rev. Dr. Jerry P. Kulah, suspended Vice President of the United Methodist University, Rev. George Wilson, and Rev. Dr. Isaac Chukpue-Padmore, alongside other suspended members of the Liberia Annual Conference. Conference officials cited ongoing investigations into their activities as grounds for their exclusion.
Grounds for Exclusion
The barred individuals are under suspension from the UMC in Liberia, following accusations of advocating for and facilitating the transition of congregations to the Global Methodist Church. Their actions have been deemed divisive within the denomination.
Conference insiders revealed that allowing suspended members to participate would contravene the church’s standing rules, which prohibit involvement in official activities while under disciplinary action.
“The integrity and unity of the UMC must be protected. These individuals cannot participate in the conference while undermining the church and refusing to submit to investigative processes,” said a source who requested anonymity.
Sources disclose that they were denied participation to the ongoing Conference in the Ghanaian Capitol on grounds that they are facing investigation following their suspension from the United Methodist Church of Liberia and the Liberia Annual Conference activities.
The individuals were reportedly barred on the grounds of their suspension from the UMC in Liberia, where they are under investigation for alleged violations of church policies. These actions are tied to their involvement with the Global Methodist Church, a breakaway denomination formed amidst the ongoing denominational split within the global Methodist community.
The decision to deny their entry reflects the WACC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and unity of the UMC amidst these challenges. According to sources at the conference, the suspended members’ attendance would have contravened the church’s standing rules regarding participation by individuals under disciplinary action.
The denied individuals have been accused of advocating for and facilitating the transition of UMC congregations to the Global Methodist Church, actions that are seen as divisive within the UMC. In response, the Liberia Annual Conference initiated disciplinary measures, including suspensions and investigations, to address these concerns.
The exclusion of the Global Methodist surrogates has gain weight as supporters of the decision argue that it was necessary to safeguard the unity of the conference and prevent disruptions to its proceedings.
“Those who are denied cannot be in the Church and denigrate the Church. They should stay out of the UMC Conference and its activities and submit themselves to the investigative committee,” an anonymous source.
This development highlights the broader tensions within the global Methodist family, as the denomination grapples with doctrinal disputes, property concerns, and leadership realignments.
A resolution is on the way to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman in line with the holy bible and traditional and state laws in Africa and Liberia is of no exception.
Despite the controversy, the WACC continues its deliberations with a focus on unity and mission under the theme “By Your Spirit, Make Us One with Christ, One with Each Other, One in Service to the World.” The conference aims to address critical issues, including leadership transitions, mission strategies, and the role of the church in fostering social and spiritual transformation across West Africa.
As the Methodist Church navigates these turbulent times, the decisions made at this session will significantly influence its direction in the years to come. The exclusion of suspended members underscores the church’s resolve to address internal challenges while maintaining its mission-driven focus.
By: Charles Gbayor C. Gbayor , Contributor
