The fighting at the Mission Station’s administrative building has left many concerned about the deepening divide within the church.
Ganta – Tension is running high at the United Methodist Church compound in Ganta, Nimba County, after a physical altercation broke out on Tuesday afternoon at the Mission Superintendent’s facility.
By Franklin Doloquee
Police were quickly deployed to the scene as Methodist pastors are now undergoing an investigation into the incident.
The conflict stemmed from an escalating disagreement over the United Methodist Church’s stance on same-sex marriage.
Reports indicate that Rev. Jerry Kandea, a leader of the Gompa District Methodist Church, led a group of disgruntled church members from Gompa to confront Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire Jr., who has publicly supported the church’s position on same-sex marriage.
This disagreement is part of a broader rift within the church. Rev. Kandea, along with Rev. Ebenezer Belleh, the Gompa District Superintendent, had previously led members and pastors in a move to leave the United Methodist Church, citing opposition to its stance on same-sex marriage.
During a recent area conference in Lao Bundin Town, the group made their departure official, announcing that they were joining the Global Methodist Church.
They argued that staying within the United Methodist Church would force them to support activities they fundamentally disagreed with, including the acceptance of same-sex marriage.
In the wake of this division, some former members of the United Methodist Church, now aligned with the Global Methodist Church, used the Gbarnga Administrative compound to host their conference, while those who chose to remain with the United Methodist Church continued their activities at the Methodist facility in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The situation escalated on Tuesday, February 18, when Rev. Kandea, along with several others from the Gompa District, arrived at the Mission Superintendent’s facility in Ganta without prior notice.
Rev. Kandea, attempting to remove office materials, was confronted and prevented from doing so by church officials who argued that he had entered the premises unlawfully.
Tensions quickly boiled over, leading to a physical confrontation.
In the heat of the altercation, Rev. Prescillia Legay Gleyenneh, the State Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, reportedly used pepper spray to subdue a key figure in the conflict, temporarily blinding him in the eye.
Sources indicate that the dispute over property ownership has become a significant issue between the two factions, with members of the Global Methodist Church now claiming control over assets that belong to the United Methodist Church.
The fighting at the Mission Station’s administrative building has left many concerned about the deepening divide within the church.
While the investigation is ongoing, the incident has drawn attention to the growing tensions between the two Methodist factions in Liberia, raising questions about leadership, doctrine, and the future of the church’s unity.
