2019 Liberia Annual Conference

Feb. 4-10, in Gbarnga, Liberia 

Guest speakers and memorable points or quotes by speakers:

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Baltimore-Washington Conference served as the conference speaker while the Rev. Momoh S. Kpaan of the Liberia Conference served as the ordination speaker. Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr. delivered the closing message.

Though no vote was taken by the conference, delegates to the 2019 Special General Conference were told in both lay and clergy session to vote for the Traditional Plan that was coming before the 2019 General Conference.

The conference agreed to full implementation of the Liberia Annual Conference Strategic Plan that had been set out at in 2017 at the annual conference meeting Ganta.

“I am encouraging all United Methodists, especially leaders of the church, to read the document and abide by it,” Quire told members of the conference.In his episcopal address, he said the strategic plan is expected to guide the church in achieving its mission work for better growth and development.

“All departments and agencies of the church, including district superintendents, local churches, are encouraged to use the conference strategic plan to develop their own strategic plan for the work of the church before the end of July 2019,” he emphasized.

New delegates were elected for the 2020 General Conference. Lay delegates are: Tolbert G. Nyneswah, conference lay leader; Muriel V. Nelson, conference women president; Abraham Newland, conference men president; Victor K. Howard, conference young adult president; Cyrus P. Yini, conference youth president; Jefferson Knight; L. Orlando Boyce, Adolphus W. Dupley, and Phebean Tobey.

The first five delegates leaders who are automatically elected and the title is listed with the understanding that the organization may hold their election prior to the General Conference. 

Alternate lay delegates are: Emmanuel Lloyd, Ophelia S. Kennedy, Dormah Kayakpan, DehkonteeT arr, Mai Pealey, Cyrus Saye, Cletus A. Sieh, Samuel Cole and Theresa Davis.

Clergy delegates: the Revs. Jerry P. Kulah, Nelly W. Wright, Julius S. Nelson Jr., George K. Weagba, James Z. Labala, Karyidia P. Gartor, Anna S. Kpaan, George Wilson and Samuel B. Browne.

Clergy alternates: The Revs. Dr. Isaac C. Padmore, Anthony G. Dioh, Decontee A. Johnson, Cecelia Marpleh, A. Varney Cassell, Jebbeh Kiazulu, George Monbo, Robertha Nyankan, Dorothy Macauley.

The conference commissioned seven people, including one woman, while six candidates were ordained elders in full connection.

There were no clergy retirements. The Rev. George D. Wilson Jr., chair of the Board of Ordained Ministries, there were no additional retirements because the conference has reached its quota of retirees for the global church pension fund.

“When any clergy reaches retirement age, we negotiate with them on the on how best they will receive their benefits,” Wilson said. He also reminded the conference of its commitment to support the clergy ministry with 2% of all conference investment returns and said that commitment has not been honored since 2015. “We need to honor our commitment to the clergy ministry if we want this church to grow stronger spiritually,” he cautioned.

Membership stands at 297,308, up from 297,000 from the previous year.

Worship attendance stands at 232,567, up from 232,000.

Church school attendance stands at 28,845, up from 28,000.

What did your annual conference do to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus, and what commitments have the conference made for the coming year:

The full implementation of the strategic plan is the conference commitment for 2019 with agriculture, health, and education taking the center stage.

— E Julu Swen