By H Matthew Turry
MONROVIA – Maryland County District #2 Representative, Anthony Williams, has written the House of Representatives to invite the leadership of the Liberia Council of Churches and the Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Liberia, Rev. Samuel J. Quire, to appear before plenary and address reports of the Church’s alleged promotion of same-sex marriage in Liberia.
In his communication to House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, Representative Williams emphasized that the request is in keeping with the Legislature’s constitutional mandate to safeguard the cultural, moral, and religious values of the Republic.
He urged plenary to engage the Bishop of the United Methodist Church and the President of the Liberia Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr., to provide clarity and justification on the matter.
The 1986 Constitution of Liberia, in its Preamble, underscores the “Preservation of our cultural heritage and the sanctity of family life.” While Article 14 guarantees freedom of religion, the Mary County lawmaker Williams noted that it does not permit practices that contravene public policy, morality, or existing laws.
Representative Wlliams referenced scriptural passages such as Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Leviticus 18:22, and Romans 1:26-27, which define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and condemn sexual relations between persons of the same sex.
He further pointed to the Liberian Penal Law, Title 26, Subchapter D, Section 14.74, which criminalizes “voluntary sodomy” and classifies it as a first-degree misdemeanour, thus prohibiting same-sex sexual conduct.
Given the moral, legal, and cultural implications of this issue, the Maryland district #2 lawmaker Williams called for a prompt engagement with the said religious leaders to ensure clarity and uphold Liberia’s moral fabric.
Plenary is expected to deliberate on the communication and set a date for the appearance of the Liberia Council of Churches leadership and the Bishop of the United Methodist Church before the House.
It can be recalled in 2024 the global United Methodist Church repealed its 50-year ban on LGBTQ clergy, and approved new language opening doors for same-sex marriage where the Liberia Annual Conference sent a delegation to the USA, from 23 April to 3 May 2024,
Upon the return of the delegation, UMC members accused the Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, Samuel Quire of refusing to call for a special annual conference session to take a decision regarding the future of the UMC in Liberia in the wake of the General Conference passage to legalize homosexuality.
According some members of the Church, prior to the Liberian Delegation going to the General Conference, the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church held its 191st annual session which came up with the decision that upon the return Church delegation from the General Conference, the Liberia Annual Conference would hold a special annual session for two purposes.
The two purposes include to receive a report from the delegation to the General Conference, and to consider the Way Forward Commission report; and to take a decision regarding the future of the UMC in Liberia in the wake of the General Conference passage to legalize homosexuality.