Confusion within the United Methodist Church appears to be far from over as members of the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor were prevented from having access to the building on grounds that the Bishop had ordered the closure of the Church.
Upon arrival for their regular Sunday worship service on August 10, 2025, they were faced with a harsh reality that disrupted the purpose of their gathering. The Liberia National Police, under the instruction of Inspector General Gregory O. Coleman, had locked the church premises and deployed heavily armed officers to prevent access to the facility and avoid further chaos.
This was not the first time a branch of the church faced such an experience amid the ongoing crisis regarding the recognition of same-sex marriage within the global church body. Information gathered indicates that the police action to shut the doors of the church followed a request by United Methodist Bishop Samuel Quire to the Police.
Members of the congregation accused Bishop Quire of seeking to transform their church into a “gay church” through a policy called “Regionalization.” This policy would allow churches to support programs aimed at the well-being of LGBTQ individuals who are members of the church—an initiative that has faced opposition from numerous churches.
Under this new policy, the church would redefine marriage as not solely between a man and a woman, but rather as “a union between two consenting adults of faith,” which contradicts the foundational principle of Christian marriage. The crisis has persisted for several months, and the events of yesterday may indicate a further deterioration of the situation within the United Methodist Church in Liberia and beyond. Our reporter who witnessed the event noted that Bishop Quire had sent one of his representatives to explain the rationale behind the decision, but frustrated members of the congregation refused to listen and chased the messenger away.
Meanwhile, young men from the congregation threatened to take drastic action if the Bishop did not open the church by the following Saturday. They believe the church is facing persecution due to its firm adherence to the Bible, alleging that the church has not only endorsed same-sex relationships but also approved abortion, allowing any woman the right to terminate a pregnancy with consent. Additionally, they claimed that pastors are permitted to engage in sexual activities with members without it being considered a sin.
They expressed their discontent with the Liberia Council of Churches, which they accused of remaining silent on the matter for too long, and they called on the Christian community to join them in what they described as a “war against the Christian Faith.” The young men also criticized the Police IG for allegedly being complicit in the crisis by unilaterally closing the church without a court order.
However, despite the closure of the church premises, congregants remained undeterred in their worship. They were seen singing and dancing outside on the sidewalk, where a sermon was also delivered. Soon after, the Police IG arrived on the scene and ordered the church building to be opened thus restoring calm.
