—- As S/T. Nagbe UMC Rejects Any false redefinition of marriage
Serious tension again erupted at the S. T. Nagbe United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 10, 2025, after police officers of the Libera National Police besieged the premises of the church preventing worshippers’ entry into the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist church.
Outside the church, some members of the church expressed outrage at the action of their Bishiop Rev. Dr. Samuel J. Quire and his officials.
In a full statement, the church Laid leader, Rev. Father Copper Y. Tomah, stated that contrary to the redefinition by the new Book of Discipline promulgated by Bishop Quire for Marriage, members of S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church believes that the closure of their church is not due to disruption of worship, interruption of the Holy Communion, and hostile behavior towards appointed pastors, as stated by the Liberia Annual Conference. However, t, this pronouncement was made without any written communication to their duly constituted leadership in cross-deviation from established protocols of the United Methodist Church, connection, and in clear disregard for due process and the dignity of its congregation.
Rev. Father Tomah among other things stated that the true cause of the dispute, is rather ‘faithful opposition to doctrinal change’.
“The real issue is not disruption of worship, but rather our unwavering stance against the altered definition of marriage adopted by the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church and incorporated into the 2024 Book of Discipline currently in use by the Church.”
“In paragraph 161G of the 2024 Book of Discipline, marriage is now defined as a sacred, long life, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and an adult woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age, into union with one another and into a deeper relationship with God and the religious community. This change departs from the historic United Methodist definition of marriage as solely between one man and one woman, a definition rooted in scripture and reaffirmed in every (2:19) previous Book of Discipline since the denomination’s inception.” Rev. Father Tomah stated.
Tomah also argued that by explicitly including two adult persons of consenting age, the 2024 Book of Discipline permits same-sex marriage in contradiction to the clear biblical teachings in Genesis 20-24, Matthew 19-4-6, Leviticus 18-22, Leviticus 20-13, (2:51) and Romans 1-26-27. 2. Liberians’ Laws and Moral Order. ‘This redefinition not only violates the (3:02) Word of God, but also contravenes the laws and public morality of the Republic of Liberia, where a legal and cultural understanding of marriage remains firmly rooted in a union of a man and a woman’.
The Role of the Church Under the LAC:
Father Tomah further argues that the ‘Misleading Role of the Liberian Annual Conference. Instead of addressing the theological and legal contradictions created by the new Book of Discipline, the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church has sought refuge in a non-binding resolution of the Council of Bishops of the African Regional Conference, which claims to uphold the traditional definition of marriage, while at the same time committing to abide by the decisions of the Universal Methodist Church.
“We note that resolutions do not supersede the Book of Discipline, which is the supreme law and guiding document of the United Methodist Church worldwide.
The reaffirmation of this resolution by the 192nd section of the LAC-UMC in February 2025 was therefore an act of evasion rather than faithful leadership.
Furthermore, ‘The Global Exodus from the United Methodist Church. Following the 2024 General Conference, all the amendments 1, 26 to 27., secondly, Liberians’ Laws and Moral Order. This redefinition not only violates the Word of God, but also contravenes the laws and public morality of the Republic of Liberia, where a legal and cultural understanding of marriage remains firmly rooted in a union of a man and a woman.
Global Exodus from the United Methodist Church:
Following the 2024 General Conference, more than 8,000 congregations in the United States, Africa, and other regions exercised their right under the disaffiliation provisions of the Book of Discipline to leave the denomination in peace. The Liberian Annual Conference, however, allowed the disaffiliation window to close on December 31, 2023, without offering a transparent, biblically faithful path for churches as ours that reject the redefinition of marriage.
S. T. Nagbe Commitment and Call to Action.
Father Tomah stated that members of the S. T. Nagbe -UMC, affirm without compromise that marriage is and will always remain in this church the sacred covenant between one man and one woman as ordained by God. We reject any doctrine or practice that contradicts the Holy Scripture.
Rev. Father Tomah additionally vow that S.T. Nagbe will not be coerced, misled, or silenced in our commitment to the truth of God’s Word, and calls upon Bishop, Quire , and the Executive Committee of the Liberian Annual Conference to the following:
1. Retract the crucial order and engage in genuine dialogue towards a biblically, faithful, and amicable resolution.
2. Respect the conscience of congregations who, in obedience to Scripture, cannot adopt the 2024 Book of Discipline’s redefinition of marriage
Rev. Father Cooper Y. Tomah at the same time call upon the Government of Liberia to take note of this troubling development in a denomination that has contributed immensely to the nation’s spiritual, educational, and social life, and to ensure that the rights of worshipping communities are respected under the Liberian Law.
Additionally, Father Tomah said S.T. Nagbe pledge Before God. or more than 50 years, has stood as a beacon of faith in Monrovia, built and sustained by the grace of God and the sacrificial service of His members.
“We continue to gather in the sanctuary of the Lord as given us, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and uphold the unchanging truth of the Bible. We remain prayerful, steadfast, and open to honest dialogue, but we will not compromise the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 1.3. For the sake of false doctrine, however popular or financially expedient it may be, as for me and my house, we will serve the law.” Rev. Father Cooper Y. Tomah statement concludes.
LAC Stances:
Meanwhile, the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) has strongly condemned what it described as “the unfortunate and unwarranted gathering and disturbance” that took place on Sunday August 10, 2025, in front of S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church.
The Executive Committee said the incident occurred despite the church’s “temporary closure” on August 6, following “months of escalating disruptions to worship services and sacred events” led by suspended lay leader Mr. Cooper Tomah and others.
They stated that for over three months, the premises had seen “repeated acts of disorder, including the obstruction of church services and the disruption of sacred occasions such as weddings and funerals.”
The release dismissed social media claims that the bishop was to officiate a same-sex marriage, calling it “far from the truth” and reaffirming that the UMC in Liberia will “never” perform such ceremonies. It cited two resolutions from late 2024 and early 2025 that define marriage “solely between one man and one woman” and direct trustees to protect church properties.
The Committee accused the Tomah group, which aligns with the breakaway Global Methodist Church, of trying to “vandalize and unlawfully seize church property” rather than acting on doctrinal grounds.
The statement stressed that the dispute is “not about faith or same-sex marriage — it is about church property, the building, and its rightful ownership.” It described the actions of the breakaway group as “cult-like behavior” and said they have been attempting to seize additional UMC properties.
The Committee vowed that anyone who “perpetrates violence, instigates unrest, or disrupts worship” will face legal consequences.
In the meantime, S.T. Nagbe members are urged to worship at other UMC churches in Monrovia until the situation is resolved.
