MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A legal showdown between former members of the 72nd United Methodist Church in Paynesville and the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which recently issued an alternative writ of prohibition against key church leaders, the Ministry of Justice, and the Liberia National Police. This unprecedented intervention by the nation’s highest court underscores the growing tension surrounding property rights, religious freedom, and doctrinal disputes within Liberia’s religious institutions.
The case centers around a group of former church members who have claimed legal ownership of the church property they developed and named the 72nd United Methodist Church. In their petition, they assert that they rightfully acquired the land and built the church, and they are now fighting to prevent what they see as unlawful interference from the church’s leadership and government authorities. The petitioners have demanded that the respondents, including Bishop Samuel J. Quire, provide legal justification for their actions by March 27, 2025.
The conflict between the former members and the United Methodist Church’s leadership has escalated due to a significant doctrinal shift within the denomination. The church’s revised Book of Discipline now allows the ordination of gay clergy and the recognition of same-sex marriages, policies that have been met with strong opposition from some members. The petitioners argue that Bishop Quire has enforced these changes within the Liberia Episcopal Area, even going so far as to suspend members who opposed the new doctrines. Furthermore, they allege that the bishop replaced the church’s leadership with new appointees, effectively sidelining those who resisted the changes.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the Ministry of Justice transferred ownership of the church property to the Liberia Annual Conference, an action the petitioners believe violated their constitutional rights. They argue that this move not only deprived them of due process but also ignored their right to disassociate from the church and its evolving doctrines. For the petitioners, this dispute has transcended religious beliefs, becoming a matter of property rights and personal freedoms.
In response, the petitioners have turned to the Supreme Court, asking for a writ of prohibition to prevent further interference by the respondents and to restore the property rights they claim to have held prior to the Ministry of Justice’s involvement. The outcome of the case has the potential to set a significant precedent, as it touches on the intersection of legal property ownership and religious freedoms, both of which are enshrined in Liberia’s Constitution.
