Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) has strongly condemned the “unfortunate and unnecessary” disturbance that happened on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia.
In a statement from its Executive Committee, the church said the incident took place even though the S.T. Nagbe Church had been temporarily closed since August 6, after months of growing disruptions reportedly led by suspended lay leader Cooper Tomah and his followers. The Committee said the church has faced ongoing disruptions for over three months, including blocking worship services and interrupting important events like weddings and funerals.
The statement also denied social media rumors that Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. was going to officiate a same-sex marriage at the church, calling these claims “completely false.” The LAC/UMC emphasized that it will “never” perform such ceremonies, referring to two resolutions passed in late 2024 and early 2025 that define marriage as only between one man and one woman and that instruct trustees to protect church property.
The Executive Committee explained that this dispute is not about theology but about who owns the church property. The group linked to the breakaway Global Methodist Church, the statement said, is trying to “vandalize and illegally take over church property” rather than acting on religious differences. The Committee also described their behavior as “cult-like” and said they have targeted other United Methodist properties as well.
The LAC/UMC warned that anyone found responsible for causing violence, disrupting worship, or damaging property will face legal action. For now, members of S.T. Nagbe are encouraged to attend other United Methodist churches in Monrovia until the situation is settled.
