The Global Methodist Church (GMC) has filed a motion seeking to overturn the recent ruling of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Civil Law Court in the property dispute case.
The movants, who are contesting ownership of UMC schools, hospitals, universities, and worship centers, are now challenging the credibility of the judge who presided over the case. GMC argues that His Honor Judge George Smith, who ruled against them, lacks the impartiality and judicial independence required to fairly determine such a sensitive matter.
In their motion to rescind the judgment and have Judge Smith recuse himself, the breakaway members presented compelling arguments, citing multiple conflicts of interest.
According to the motion, Judge Smith and his entire family have long-standing ties to the United Methodist Church, the Petitioner in the case. The movants disclosed that Judge Smith has been a lifelong member of the Martha Tubman United Methodist Church in Paynesville, where he continues to worship with his family.
More troubling, they claim that since 2022, Judge Smith has served as a member of the Tubman Church Legal Committee, succeeding prominent church lawyer Cllr. George W. Sagbe, Sr. The motion further revealed that Judge Smith’s sister, Mrs. Beatrice Smith-Williams, has held the influential post of Finance Committee Chairperson of the same church since 202, and that his Sister’s Husband, Cephas William is the Associate Director of education in the UMC and hold other keep positions in the Office of the Bishop and the UMC. The GMC insists that such close personal and family involvement with the UMC makes it impossible for the Judge to deliver justice without bias.
“Judge Smith is not only a member of the Petitioner church, but an active legal advisor to its affairs,” the motion stressed. “This compromises every judicial quality needed to adjudicate this matter impartially.” The breakaway Methodists strongly believe that the judge’s ruling in favor of the UMC was tainted by these conflicts of interest and amounted to an abuse of judicial discretion. They are now calling for the judgment to be vacated and a neutral judge assigned to rehear the case.
Legal scholars noted that the outcome of the motion could have far-reaching implications, not only for the disputing factions of the United Methodist Church but also for Liberia’s judicial integrity. At the heart of the debate is whether a judge who maintains deep personal ties to one party can ever sit fairly in judgment over a dispute involving that same party. For the breakaway members, the answer is no. They remain confident that justice can only prevail if Judge Smith steps aside and allows a fresh, unbiased review of their claims.
