Amid Rising Crisis In The United Methodist Church Over Allowing Same Sex Marriage
PHOTO: Jefferson Knight, Program Director, United Methodist Church Human Rights Monitor
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
As the crisis over whether or not to accept Same Sex marriage in the United Methodist Church in Liberia continues, the Program Director of the United Methodist Human Rights Monitor has denied a local newspaper report that he has hashed a plan to assassinate United Methodists who are campaigning against Gay marriage in the church.
Recently, there have been calls by a segment of Liberian Methodists for the Church here to breakaway in protest against the move and the holding of an emergency Annual Conference, the leadership of Bishop Samuel Quaire insists that the Annual conference can’t be until next year, though he maintains that the UMC in Liberia ‘is not a Gay Church”.
Liberia United Methodist Church Bishop Samuel Quire
At the meeting in the US early in May this year, United Methodist General Conference, the church’s global legislative body, voted to overturn every ban on LGBTQ people. The historic changes include a new definition of marriage as a lifelong covenant between “two people of faith,” rather than solely between a man and a woman, and a repeal of its ban on LGBTQ clergy, although Reverend Jerry Kulah, a delegate from Liberia, was quoted as saying: “We do not believe we know better than the Bible.”
The General Conference also struck down a 52-year-old stance on homosexuality being “incompatible with Christian teaching.” At A Meeting In The US: United Methodist Church Holds Historic Vote in Favour Of LGBTQ Inclusion – News Public Trust
Amid the deepening row in the UMC, there have continued to be claims and counter claims of threat of violence.
Under the caption: “Bishop Quire Alley Threatens to Massacre Members for Standing Against Same-Sex Marriage,” the New Democrat newspaper in Monrovia recently reported that Jefferson Knight has put in place a plan to assassinate individuals who are campaigning against gay marriage in the UMC.
But Jefferson Knight, who is also the Vice President of the Kakata –Farmington River District Conference Men Organization, described the story as , story is not only inaccurate but also misleading and does not reflect my words or beliefs
Below is the full text of Mr. Jefferson knight’s reaction to the New Democrat’s story:
“I would like to take this opportunity to address and condemn a recent article in the October 15, 2024 edition of the Democrat Newspaper that falsely attributes to me the headline, “Bishop Quire Alley Threatens to Massacre Members for Standing Against Same-Sex Marriage.”
“This story is not only inaccurate but also misleading and does not reflect my words or beliefs.”
“At no point have I threatened any United Methodists for their stance against same-sex marriage.”
“On the contrary, I stand firmly alongside my fellow United Methodists in rejecting same-sex marriage within our church.”
“Why would I threaten peaceful citizens who are expressing their convictions about homosexuality?”
“I believe this is a deliberate attempt to silence my critical voice against the surrogates of the Global Methodist Church, a breakaway denomination from the United Methodist Church that is based in Liberia, who are trying to mislabel the UMC in Liberia as a “gay church in favor of that new denomination.”
“Such tactics are aimed at deterring me from exposing those who seek to tarnish our church’s reputation.”
“We will continue to defend our church vigorously, and no amount of intimidation will force me to back down.”
“I stand united with all United Methodists in Liberia, including our esteemed Bishop, Samuel J. Quire, Jr., Cllr. Dr. Tolbert Nyeswah, Conference Lay Leader, and countless others across the nation, in rejecting homosexuality both in our church and State.”
“We remain committed to upholding the Biblical definition of marriage as a sacred, lifelong union between a man and a woman.”
“Together, we will ensure that our values and beliefs are protected and respected” .