GBARNGA, Liberia: To provide its members with adequate information about the Regionalization Plan, the United Methodist Church has concluded a three-day dialogue focused on the Regionalization Rectification Plan in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The event, held from November 14-16, 2024, at the Saint John United Methodist Church, brought together church leaders, clergy, conference lay leaders, and District Superintendents from Lofa River, Kokoyah, Weala, Jorquelleh, Gbarnga, Tappita, and Gompa Districts to discuss and refine the church’s approach to regionalization.
Several banners at the event displayed messages affirming the church’s traditional beliefs, including: “The United Methodist Church is not a gay church. We reject same-sex marriage” and “The United Methodist Church of Liberia believes in the Bible and holds to traditional practices.”
Objective of the Regionalization Plan:
The Regionalization Plan seeks to restructure the UMC’s governance, allowing for more localized decision-making and responses tailored to the diverse needs of its global congregations.
The initiative is part of the church’s efforts to ensure greater inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and operational efficiency across its ministries. The plan aims to grant increased autonomy to regional conferences, enabling them to address unique challenges within their specific cultural and socio-economic contexts while maintaining the unity of the global church body.
Solidarity from the Sierra Leone Annual Conference:
A delegation from the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, showing solidarity with the Liberia Annual Conference, supported the dialogue.
Rev. Emmanuel Pewa, Senior Pastor of King Memorial United Methodist Church, emphasized that “regionalization is not about same-sex marriage but about worshiping according to the church’s beliefs, culture, traditions, and constitution.”
“Regionalization is not about man and man getting married; it’s about worshiping according to our beliefs, culture, traditions, and constitution. The Sierra Leone Annual Conference stands in support of you during this time, and we urge Methodists to back regionalization,” said Rev. Pewa. He encouraged members to understand the UMC’s values, emphasizing that the church’s beliefs remain unchanged.
Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., head of the Liberia Annual Conference, highlighted the importance of the dialogue, stating:
“This rectification process is crucial for ensuring that our church remains relevant and responsive to the needs of all our members. By embracing regionalization, we can empower local conferences to serve their communities more effectively.”
Bishop Quire also clarified misconceptions regarding the church’s stance on same-sex marriage, stating: “As you go through the education of regional legislation, our reorganization has nothing to do with same-sex marriage. The UMC is not a gay church.”
He encouraged positive engagement, urging members to dialogue constructively.
“Let’s dialogue positively to move our church forward. I proudly commend the Central Region for being committed and steadfast. Let’s do everything we can to defend and strengthen our church.”
The dialogue featured plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and feedback from church members on implementing the plan. Key facilitators included Cllr. Dr. Tolbert Nyeswah (Lay Leader), Dr. E. Julu Swen, and Rev. Caleb S.G. Dormah led the sessions at the Saint John UMC in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Topics covered included:
The presentation covers the General Conference 2024 on Regionalization, the UMC/Liberia Annual Conference’s stance on same-sex marriage, Liberia’s constitutional laws regarding same-sex marriage, Biblical perspectives on regionalization and its application within the Liberian context, and the steps and processes for Regionalization Rectification within the global church setting.
Strong Stance against Same-Sex Marriage:
During his presentation, Cllr. Dr. Tolbert Nyeswah emphasized that the United Methodist Church of Liberia will uphold its traditional beliefs.
“With my sweat, blood, and the Bible, I will give my all to ensure we remain UMC. The United Methodist Church preaches the Bible, not just its Book of Discipline. Same-sex marriage is against our country’s constitution, and we will not accept it in our church.”
Rev. Caleb S.G. Dormah, Chairperson of the Taskforce on the Regionalization Plan Rectification Committee, also reaffirmed the church’s commitment to its traditional values:
“This regionalization rectification dialogue is very educative and will provide a foundation for regionalized worship according to our tradition, culture, and constitution. We reject same-sex marriage, and the UMC is not a gay church.”
Participants also addressed potential challenges, such as maintaining theological consistency and ensuring equitable resource distribution across regions.
The event concluded with recommendations to be forwarded to the United Methodist Church’s General Conference for consideration.
One participant expressed gratitude for the initiative: “We are grateful for this dialogue because it prepares us for conversations in our districts and churches.”
Another added: “We joined the United Methodist Church on our own, and no one can force us to leave unless we choose to.”
As the church advances with its Regionalization Plan, additional dialogues are planned in other regions to gather more insights and refine the strategy.
A similar dialogue has already been held in Pleebo, Maryland County, preparing members for the Annual Conference scheduled for February 2025.
This dialogue in Gbarnga marks a significant step toward a more decentralized and adaptive church structure that honors the diverse expressions of faith within the United Methodist community worldwide.
By: J. Peter S. Dennis/ Correspondent
