2018 Liberia Annual Conference

Liberia Area Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. briefed both the clergy session and the lay session about options being considered by the Commission on a Way Forward and the Council of Bishops to keep The United Methodist Church together amid longstanding division over homosexuality.

Quire had just returned from the Council of Bishops. In separate briefings to the clergy and laity sessions, he detailed two options that are under consideration.

• The one-church model: This plan would remove from church law the statement that the practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching" and let churches decide whether to host same-sex weddings and conferences (through their boards of ordained ministry) whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy. Central conferences — church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines — could maintain their own standards on ordination and marriage. The model would essentially make legal what is already happening in some parts of the connection.
• The multi-branch model: The plan would replace the five current U.S. jurisdictions with three "connectional conferences," that annual conferences could choose among for affiliation. The connectional conferences would align based on theology or perspective on LGBTQ ministry — be it traditionalist, progressive or allowing for a variety of approaches. Central conferences would remain as they are or could choose to affiliate with one of the three connectional conferences. This model would require amendments to the denomination's constitution.

Delegates gathered for the 185^th Annual Session of the United Methodist Church in Liberia did not take a vote on the options.

Clergy and lay members who spoke to United Methodist News Service indicated they favor a third option of affirming the current language in the denomination's Book of Discipline, the denomination's governing document, and seeking to strengthen enforcement of both tradition and Scripture. They said that option needs to be included in any proposal the bishops send to the February 2019 Special General Conference.

The Discipline says the practice of homosexuality "is incompatible with Christian teaching" and lists officiating at a same-gender union or being a "self-avowed practicing" gay clergy member as chargeable offenses under church law.

The Rev. Julius YZK Williams, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Monrovia said the one-church and multi-branch options Quire outlined do not represent The United Methodist Church heritage. "The Holy Scripture is crucial to our unity in this ministry," he said, adding that as a church, our diversity is guided by the Holy Bible.

The conference, which met at the Mount Scott United Methodist Church, had the theme of "A Future With Hope," with texts taken from Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 5:1-6. Bishop Quire presided.

The clergy and lay deliberated on several issues in separate sessions on March 12-13, prior to the official opening activities on March 14, 2018 and the joint session which lasted for five days.

The conference adopted four resolutions:

• Having churches follow the biblical principle of tithing or contributing 10 percent of the church's actual operating budget in their apportionment giving to the conference. A test of this new giving formula will be done with churches in six districts: Monrovia, St. Paul River, Sinoe, Grand Bassa, Gbargna and Gompa. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration shall proceed with both the implementation and collection of the new apportionment system in collaboration with those districts.
• Extend the tenure of the interim treasurer of the conference, David P. Guinkpa, for 12 months so he can assist in the conclusion of the recruitment, training and staffing of the business and finance office to ensure proper evaluation and readiness when he turns over the work to them.
• Recognized the United Methodist Rural and Agricultural Development Program as an episcopal vision of the Liberia Conference; and recognizing the need for food security through intensive agricultural activities across the conference. The resolution further recommended that all districts begin farming and report farming yields at the 2019 Liberia Conference.
• That the strategic plan of the Liberia Conference be adopted as the conference roadmap for the next 10 years. The plan outlines a number of pillars as priority areas for church, including but not limited to evangelism, spiritual formation/growth and mission, financial management accountability and stewardship and agriculture.

Four people were ordained as elders in Full Connection while eight people were commissioned ministers. No clergy retired.

Membership stands at 283,980.

According to the Department of Evangelism, 900 converts were added to the church, 500 people rededicated their lives to the ministry of the church, and 327 people were baptized by the department from March 2017 to February 2018. A total of 5,000 people participated in department's ministry dubbed Jesus Film Crusade and Revival Services held during the conference year and in various parts of the country.

The department trained 1,311 persons (pastors and laity) in evangelism and mission techniques in 17 districts of the 21 districts of the conference.

— E. Julu Swen, United Methodist News Service.