There are reports of increasing tension at the United Methodist Church as a breakaway group known as the Global Methodist Church allegedly renews its tactic of “unlawfully” taking over the church’s properties.
The latest property to allegedly fall victim to this conduct is the Evelyn S. Chapman United Methodist School at the New Georgia Housing Estate in Monrovia
The Liberia Annual Conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, accused the group of falsely claiming jurisdiction over the school in clear violation of the Civil Law Court’s ruling on the matter.
Despite the ruling granting the church legitimacy over the school, the breakaway faction recently issued graduation certificates and report card to students at the school though it provided no learning or instructional services to the institution.
In a statement issued this week, LAC said it has since notified the office of the Bishop and the Ministry of Education about the incident, insisting that only the official UMC administration of the school is authorized to issue valid report card or graduation certificate.
The statement maintained that in furtherance of its illegal and violent act the GMC is allegedly changing the names of United Methodist Church properties to suit its selfish aim, disregarding the increasing public outcry over the action.
The UMC statement noted that Global Methodist Church is hiding behind what it called false claim that the Supreme Court rescinded earlier ruling granting UMC legitimacy over the church’s properties to cause confusion among the congregation.
The narrative, the statement noted, is fueling further acts of lawlessness, including attempts to seize churches health centers and educational institutions that serve not only the UMC but Liberians as a whole.
The LAC described the action as provocative and a clear violation of the rule of law as provided for under the Constitution, and called on parents, sponsors and guardians to remain vigilant, not accepting credentials that are not authorized by the Ministry of Education.
