MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A growing disagreement over same-sex marriage within the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia escalated on Sunday, March 2, 2025, after the arrest and subsequent release of Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah. The incident occurred following a violent confrontation at the 72nd United Methodist Church in Paynesville, where tensions flared between supporters of the church’s traditional stance and those backing a more progressive approach to LGBTQ+ issues.
Rev. Kulah, who leads a breakaway faction opposing same-sex marriage, was taken into custody alongside several others. Upon his release from the Zone-9 Police Station, he delivered fiery remarks condemning the church’s perceived shift toward accepting same-sex relationships. He accused the UMC’s leadership, particularly Bishop Samuel J. Quire, of undermining biblical teachings by allowing a preacher in the church who is openly in a same-sex marriage.
Addressing his supporters, Rev. Kulah reaffirmed his commitment to resist any efforts to impose same-sex marriage within the church. He warned that if the United Methodist Church officially adopts pro-LGBTQ+ policies, his faction would sever ties with the denomination. Kulah, a founding member of the Global Methodist Church—a conservative group formed in response to the UMC’s growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ inclusion—has consistently criticized Bishop Quire’s leadership and alleged that the Bishop is working to enforce practices contrary to traditional Christian doctrine.
The violent confrontation at the 72nd United Methodist Church came after months of increasing unrest among church members who claim that Bishop Quire has refused to convene a special session to address their concerns. According to the United Methodist Book of Discipline, such a session is required for the Liberian church to deliberate on decisions from the UMC’s General Conference in the United States. Many of Bishop Quire’s critics believe his refusal is an attempt to prevent opposition to the church’s evolving position on LGBTQ+ issues.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, Abraham Williams, President of the United Bassa Organizations in the Americas (UNIBOA), issued a scathing condemnation of Rev. Kulah’s arrest. Williams argued that no authority should compel any religious institution to accept same-sex marriage, calling the arrest an infringement on religious freedom. He urged the Liberia Council of Churches to intervene, warning against government overreach into matters of faith.
Williams described the situation as a dangerous precedent that could threaten religious liberties across Liberia. He called on religious leaders to remain steadfast in their beliefs and resist any external pressure to alter long-standing doctrinal positions. Expressing solidarity with Rev. Kulah, Williams insisted that the church should have the right to uphold its traditional view of marriage without interference.
The dispute within the UMC has been further fueled by the dismissal of two outspoken clergymen, Pastor Leo T. Mayson and Pastor Elijah Dajue, who were removed from their positions after denouncing same-sex marriage. Their removal has sparked outrage among congregants, who accuse Bishop Quire of silencing dissenting voices. Pastor Dajue, who publicly condemned the church’s direction, argued that the push for “regionalization” is merely a tactic to advance same-sex marriage within the Liberian branch of the church.
Tensions reached a boiling point during a church visit by Bishop Quire in June when protesters in Nimba County publicly jeered him while chanting slogans against same-sex marriage. The bishop’s actions have continued to provoke backlash, with many church members fearing that his leadership is steering the denomination toward embracing LGBTQ+ practices despite Liberia’s legal prohibition of same-sex relationships under the 1976 Penal Law.
The latest confrontation in Paynesville occurred as a group of church members gathered to protest the induction of new pastoral leadership. Many believe the new appointments are intended to replace leaders who oppose the church’s evolving stance on same-sex relationships. Protesters argued that these changes reflect a broader agenda to impose values that are inconsistent with the moral teachings of the church.
Despite the rising tension, the Liberia National Police have not issued a statement addressing the circumstances surrounding the violence or the conditions of Rev. Kulah’s release. However, the incident has intensified fears that the UMC in Liberia is on the verge of a significant schism as conservative members remain firmly opposed to any policy changes regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion.
