By Rufus Divine Brooks Jr
The Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) of The United Methodist Church (UMC) has warmly welcomed the groundbreaking resolutions made at the 2025 Africa College of Bishops Meeting, held from September 1–4 in Luanda, Angola.
In addition to celebrating the event’s outcomes, the LAC proudly announced that Liberia has been selected to host the 2026 Africa College of Bishops Meeting, marking a significant milestone and opportunity for deeper fellowship, reflection, and direction-setting for the church across the continent.
Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference and President of the West Africa College of Bishops, has safely returned to Liberia alongside his wife, Mother Richlain N. Quire, following their full participation in the landmark gathering.
Historic Gathering with Lasting Impact
The Africa College of Bishops, composed of all United Methodist bishops serving across the continent, meets annually to provide spiritual leadership and strategic coordination for the church’s mission in Africa.
This year’s meeting brought together 17 bishops, 14 active and 3 retired, from the Congo Central Conference, West Africa Central Conference, and Africa Central Conference. The bishops issued a strong “Statement of Witness and Commitment” to reaffirm their unity and direction within the global United Methodist Church.
Key highlights of the statement include:
Church Growth and New Leadership: The bishops celebrated the church’s expansion across Africa, including the election of nine new bishops and the creation of new episcopal areas to better serve growing congregations.
Structural Clarity in West Africa: The West Africa Central Conference was authorized to establish a new episcopal area in Nigeria, reflecting the church’s growth and the need for more localized leadership.
Biblical View of Marriage: The College reaffirmed its theological stance that marriage is a sacred covenant exclusively between one man and one woman, offering clarity on a core doctrinal belief.
Regionalization for Unity: Emphasizing unity within diversity, the bishops endorsed regionalization as a faithful and practical model that allows each region to carry out ministry in ways aligned with its cultural and theological realities.
Commitment to Theological Education: The bishops pledged continued support to the Central Conferences Endowment Fund, underlining the importance of investing in the next generation of church leaders.
Protection of Church Property: Expressing solidarity with Liberian United Methodists, the bishops welcomed a recent court ruling that upheld UMC ownership of church property and reaffirmed their collective commitment to defend and preserve church assets across Africa.
Peace and Contextualization: The gathering condemned violence across the continent and called for the contextualization of the Book of Discipline to better reflect African realities. The bishops also extended heartfelt appreciation to the Republic of Angola for its generous hospitality.
Bishop Quire’s Reflections and Call to Unity
Bishop Quire expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome received in Angola and reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to leading the church in Liberia with faith, courage, and vision.
The Liberia Annual Conference offered thanks for the safe return of Bishop and Mother Quire, and called on all United Methodists in Liberia to remain steadfast, prayerful, and united in advancing the mission of Christ.
“As Africa rises, so too does our responsibility to be a light to the nations,” said Bishop Quire, capturing the spirit of the gathering and the continent’s growing leadership role within the global church.
