Monrovia-Liberia: The Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) welcomes the historic decisions made by the 2025 Africa College of Bishops Meeting and announces that it will host the 2026 Africa College of Bishop’s Meeting. This gathering is a historic opportunity for the United Methodist Church to welcome bishop’s from across the continent for fellowship, prayer, and discernment on the future of the church.
The Africa College of Bishop’s is the collective body of all United Methodist Bishop’s serving across Africa. Meeting annually, it provides spiritual leadership, fellowship, and coordination for the mission of the church on the continent. Seventeen bishops—fourteen active and three retired—representing the Congo Central Conference, West Africa Central Conference, and Africa Central Conference attended the 2025 meeting in Luanda, Angola, from September 1–4.
The Liberia Annual Conference also proudly announces the return of Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. and his wife, Mother Richlain N. Quire, following their full participation in the meeting.
During the gathering, the bishop’s issued a Statement of Witness and Commitment to the global connection of The United Methodist Church. The statement, released on September 4, 2025, highlighted several key decisions and affirmations:
Growth of the Church in Africa: The election of nine new episcopal leaders and the creation of new episcopal areas.
Structural Clarity in West Africa: Granting the West Africa Central Conference the authority to create a new episcopal area in Nigeria.
Biblical Understanding of Marriage: Affirming marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman.
Unity through Regionalization: Upholding the importance of regionalization as a faithful and strategic path forward, allowing each region to carry out ministry in ways reflecting its cultural, social, and theological context.
Theological Education: Pledging support for the Central Conferences Endowment Fund.
Protection of Church Property: Rejoicing with Liberian United Methodists following the recent court decision affirming rightful church property ownership, and resolving to preserve, protect, and defend United Methodist properties across Africa.
The bishop’s also called for peace and an end to violence across the continent, emphasized contextualizing the Book of Discipline within African realities, and expressed gratitude to the Republic of Angola for hosting the historic gathering.
Bishop Quire, who also serves as President of the West Africa College of Bishop’s and Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference, expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality received in Angola and reaffirmed his commitment to leading the Liberian church with faith, courage, and vision.
The Liberia Annual Conference thanks God for the safe return of Bishop Quire and Mother Quire and calls on all United Methodists in Liberia to remain prayerful, steadfast, and united as we continue advancing the mission of Christ in our nation and beyond.
“As Africa rises, so too does our responsibility to be a light to the nations.”
