A legal dispute over control and operation of the S T. Nagbe United Methodist Church has taken center stage at the Monrovia City Court, where Stipendiary Magistrate Kennedy Peabody has reserved ruling until Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM, following intense legal arguments from both parties.
The case, titled In Re: Petition for Voluntary and Temporary Closure of the St. Nagbe United Methodist Church, was filed by the United Methodist Church (UMC) Board of Trustees through its Chairperson, Father Hemy Brumsun; Directress, Mother Eliza Kronyahn; and Resident Bishop, Rev. Dr. Samuel Quire, Jr., who serve as petitioners.
The petitioners, represented by Counsellor Emmanuel T. Reeves, are requesting the temporary closure of the church due to what they claim is a risk of conflict, confusion, and possible violence stemming from the actions of Cooper Tomah, a suspended lay leader, and his associates.
However, the respondents, represented by a large legal team from J. Johnny Momo and Associates in association with Unicent Law Group Inc., pushed back strongly against the petition.
Their legal delegation included Counsellors Juan Lawson, Darius Ambrus Nman, Joseph Tegbel, and several attorneys.
Legal Arguments
The respondents contended that the action brought before the court is procedurally flawed and lacks legal standing. They argued that the petition is “foreign to this jurisdiction”, noting that in re proceedings are typically non-adversarial and do not warrant service of summons or prayer for a court-ordered closure.
They further contended that no actual action or underlying complaint justifies the relief being sought.
Even if the petition were validly filed, they argued, the petitioners have failed to provide an indemnity bond-a legal requirement to protect the respondent from potential losses should the closure be wrongfully granted.
Respondent’s counsel also disputed the petitioner’s allegations that church operations under Mr. Tomah would cause unrest.
They cited recent funeral services conducted under his leadership, which reportedly proceeded peacefully and in accordance with church protocols, to counter claims of potential disorder. Photographic evidence was submitted to support this claim.
Additionally, the respondents informed the court that the same dispute is already pending before the Civil Law Court, a superior court of competent jurisdiction.
As such, they urged Magistrate Peabody to relinquish jurisdiction over the matter and allow the Circuit Court to adjudicate the case.
They concluded by stating that if the petitioners truly owned the property, their proper legal recourse would be to initiate Summary Proceedings to Recover Possession of Real Property or file an ejectment action, rather than seek a temporary closure order, which they labeled as “strange” to the legal practice in Liberia.
Petitioner’s Response
In response, Counsellor Reeves, representing the petitioners, defended the petition and argued that the Court has the authority to act preventively in matters where potential disruption and disorder are anticipated.
He cited Chapter 25, Section 25.3 of the Liberian Civil Procedure Law under the caption “Presumption” in support of the petition.
Court’s Decision Pending
After hearing legal citations from both sides, including Sections 3.31, 16.1, 62.1, and 62.21 of the Civil Procedure Law and Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution cited by the respondent, the Court granted ten minutes to each party for closing legal arguments, excluding citations.
Following the arguments, Magistrate Peabody reserved ruling, setting the matter down for Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 12:00 noon, when the Court is expected to determine whether the petition for the temporary closure of St. Nagbe United Methodist Church will be granted or denied.
The case has attracted significant attention within both the legal and religious communities, with observers awaiting Thursday’s ruling to see how the Court navigates the sensitive intersection of ecclesiastical authority, property rights, and civil law.
