MONROVIA – The Africa College of Bishops has closed its first gathering in Liberia with commitments covering church regionalization, episcopal growth, ecumenical action and financial accountability. Meeting in Monrovia from August 31 through September 4, United Methodist bishops reported that regionalization is already shaping ministry across Africa. They highlighted plans to elect another bishop for the West Africa Regional Conference in December 2026 and discussed further episcopal expansion. The college also urged political leaders to advance equality, justice, peace and reconciliation under the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Its statement joined church governance with continental public responsibility, including responses to war, violence and disease. Pundits believe the bishops must now turn declarations into regional structures, transparent stewardship and African representation, as THE ANALYST reports.
For the first time, Africa’s United Methodist bishops met on Liberian soil. They left with a message of growth and self-governance. Regionalization is working, they said, letting African churches minister in their own context. A new West Africa bishop comes in December. The paper notes the bishops thanked Boakai and Sirleaf warmly, and pressed leaders across the continent to advance justice, peace, and Agenda 2063.
The Africa College of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has concluded its first meeting on Liberian soil with a message of growth, self-governance, and gratitude to the government and people of Liberia. Meeting in Monrovia from August 31 to September 4, 2026, the bishops said they had gathered in prayer, fellowship, and discernment over the life and future of the church on the continent, taking their theme from Isaiah 54:2 and its call to enlarge the tent and strengthen the stakes.
The bishops declared that regionalization is now working on the continent, enabling African churches to practice mission and ministry within their own contexts as they update their regional Books of Discipline and establish judicial courts. They stressed that general agencies remain key partners, ensuring that the connection with the wider United Methodist Church stays strong even as regions live out their mission contextually.
They celebrated the growth of the church in Africa, pointing to the planned December 2026 election of a new bishop in the West Africa Regional Conference. That development, they said, would provide greater episcopal leadership for a vast area that includes Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the mission districts of Senegal and Cameroon, with Guinea-Bissau in the process of rejoining the conference through the Sierra Leone Conference.
Ecumenical Ties And Conferences
On ecumenical engagement, the bishops said they continue to work with other Christian denominations and ecumenical bodies on ending war and violence, promoting peace and reconciliation, and responding to pandemics, including an Ebola outbreak they said had recently claimed thousands of lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
They noted that their opening plenary was graced by the President of the Liberia Council of Churches and keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Monrovia, the Most Rev. Gabriel Blamo Snosio Jubwe, and the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, the Rt. Rev. Dr. James Bombo Sellee.
The bishops expressed gratitude for the support of the Council of Bishops and the presence of its President, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., whose participation they said strengthened their fellowship. They also received an update on the 2028 General Conference from Rev. Andy Call and Emily Allen, welcomed a commitment to full African participation, and urged that the 2032 General Conference be organized on the continent of Africa.
Gratitude To Liberia
Aligning the church with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the bishops called on political leaders across the continent to champion equality, justice, peace, reconciliation, and the wellbeing of all citizens, and reaffirmed their own commitment to partner with governments, civil society, and communities.
They commended the faithful stewardship of United Methodists across Africa, citing increases in giving and apportionments and support for the Regional Conferences Theological Education Fund.
The bishops reserved warm thanks for Liberia, where they interacted with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a lifelong United Methodist, describing the country as holding a special place in the history and mission of the church in Africa.
The Special Committee that hosted the meeting, led by Cllr. Medina A. Wesseh as chairperson, Cllr. Ruth Jappy-Samukai as co-chairperson, and Jeremiah S. Swen as secretary, concluded its mandate with appreciation to the government, ecumenical partners, the Liberia National Police, sponsors, and all who supported the gathering.
The bishops said they returned to their episcopal areas with renewed commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ and a shared determination to enlarge the tent of God’s mission across Africa.