LEGAL BATTLE INTENSIFIES AT MONROVIA CITY COURT AS GLOBAL METHODIST AND UNITED METHODIST CLAIM OWNERSHIP OVER 72ND CHURCH
March 6, 2025
Monrovia: The hearing into the ongoing legal battle over the ownership of 72nd United Methodist Church property has taken center stage at the Monrovia City Court.
Presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco, both sides have presented their arguments in court. The case, a contentious battle between the United Methodist Church and the Global United Methodist Church, has attracted significant public attention.
During the March 4, 2025, proceedings, the prosecution requested continuance, citing the need for additional time to gather more evidence.
On the other hand, defense attorneys representing the Global United Methodist Church argued that their clients should not be charged with criminal trespass or criminal mischief contending that the individuals involved were duly elected and approved by the church congregation to manage the property, thus giving them legitimacy in their actions.
Furthermore, the defense raised a challenge to the court’s jurisdiction, requesting that the case be dismissed on these grounds. The Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, Bishop Samuel Quire, has reaffirmed the church’s commitment to traditional marriage, describing it as a sacred union between a man and a woman.
“Marriage must align with biblical teachings and the laws of our nation,” Bishop Quire stressed, reaffirming the UMC’s firm stance against same-sex marriage. The church is grappling with a schism, with many congregations severing ties over the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion.
His remarks come weeks before and after the 192nd Annual Conference in Gbarnga, Bong County, as the global UMC faces a growing divide over the acceptance of homosexual marriage. Bishop Quire has since urged local churches to continue with their worship and spiritual responsibilities, assuring congregants that state authorities will provide necessary security for UMC places of worship.
Despite the international rift, the church in Liberia remains committed to upholding traditional Christian values, with Bishop Quire calling for unity in fulfilling the mission to make disciples and teach God’s commandments.
As the legal process moves forward, both parties remain resolute in their positions, with the fate of the church property at the core of the ongoing dispute. The case is now scheduled to be reconvened on Friday, March 7, at 10:00 AM.
