By: Emmanuel Toe
A landmark ruling by the Civil Law Court has affirmed the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) as the sole owner of all its properties, including churches, schools, and hospitals across the country.
The decision was handed down on Monday August 18, 2025, by His Honor Judge George Smith, who presided over the case.
The ruling was in response to a petition for declaratory judgment filed by the LAC/UMC against the Global Methodist Church (GMC) and its leaders.
The dispute arose after the GMC seceded from the United Methodist Church and its leaders allegedly attempted to seize and occupy UMC properties.
Judge Smith’s ruling was unequivocal, stating, “When you leave a Church, you forfeit the rights and privileges over that Church.” He further clarified that those who depart from a church are not “distributees” of its property.
Citing historical precedents of church separations, including the split between the Catholic and Anglican traditions and John Wesley’s break from the Anglican Church, the judge found that the GMC and its leaders had forfeited any claim to ownership of the UMC’s properties.
The court’s decision confirmed that the LAC/UMC holds legal and equitable ownership of its properties, which are held in trust for the benefit of its members.
The ruling also condemned the “illegal property grabs” and “criminal misrepresentation” by the GMC leaders, who were identified as the first and second respondents in the case.
In a press release following the ruling, the LAC/UMC denied claims that it promotes same-sex marriage, reaffirming its stance as a “Bible-believing and Liberian law-abiding Church that upholds the biblical, cultural, and civil definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.”
Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr., Resident Bishop of the Liberia Episcopal Area, called for peace, reconciliation, and spiritual healing within the denomination.
He urged members to “recommit ourselves to the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
The ruling is seen as a significant victory for the LAC/UMC, preserving its properties in perpetuity and upholding the rule of law.
