Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.”

Revelation 22:19 “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher in Monrovia, Liberia

For nearly six months now there’s been intense internal rift in United Methodist Churches here over Same-Sex marriage differences. But what local media aren’t reporting is how this controversial issue has torn once knitted families apart just as it did in the USA where it all started years ago.

According to information gathered by Global Ekklesia, the fight has worsened  in the Barnersville Community branch of the UMC, James Edward Marshall Church called “J.E. Marshall” for short. There, parishioners from the UMC Orthodox wing and Global Methodist Church reportedly rolled up sleeves, exchanging blows! 

Global Methodist Church (GMC) is the new movement calling for an amendment to United Methodist Church’s “marriage” doctrine. Once its demand goes through, it will allow a man to marry his fellow man in the church, the same with the women, something the UMC Orthodox wing vehemently opposes.

Properties not yet listed, belonging to J.E. Marshall United Methodist Church are reported to have gotten damaged after arguments heated up and a fistfight ensued, among parishioners over which group had the “right” to mount its own signposts at that UMC compound located in the capital’s Barnesville suburb. 

It is said that supporters of one branch, during one Sunday morning, took down the church’s original signpost and had it replaced with their preferred name or signpost. Thereafter, the group’s rival party moved in, similarly dismantled it and mounted its own.

Our source, a prominent figure at J.E. Marshall revealed both Barnersville-Monrovia rival UMC branches have since initiated numerous litigations that mainly lay claims to the church’s properties located not only in their localities but nationwide as a whole. 

Our source also indicated that each side, in its lawsuit, had alleged its rival “incited” supporters to carry out “burglary” on the church’s premises, while encouraging them to resort to “unlawful” acts. 

The ongoing battle over UMC’s Same-Sex controversy first began months ago at the denomination’s Monrovia headquarters along Tubman Boulevard in Sinkor during their annual church conference. The disagreement caused a big split in the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church (attached to the HQs.), before spreading to other UMC branches nationwide. 

The disagreement became so severe prompting law enforcement units to move in to prevent members from engaging in fistfight and possibly stop damages to the diocese’s properties in the area. A freeze was also placed on further worship at the S. Trowen Nagbe UMC.  

In August, a civil law court in the Liberian capital passed a ruling in favor of the church’s Orthodox UMC Wing. The verdict ruled that the Orthodox side shall retain all UMC properties nationwide-these include: schools, universities and hospitals. 

The ruling apparently left the Global Methodist Church-the breakaway group-with nothing. This decision caused GMC to file an appeal through the Supreme Court of Liberia. 

While the two contending sides await a final settlement in this matter, the two groups at the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor opted to let normal church worship resume especially during Sundays, without further interruption. 

In this case, the real question became, which group or party would decide on the “preacher” or “speaker?”

Fortunately, the two sides agreed they would let a “guest preacher” instead go in every Sunday and preach at the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church, the epic center of the battle.

The turn-out meanwhile, according to an inside source, remains relatively poor.

In order to better understand the situation Global Ekklesia news crew has visited the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church multiple times, beginning Sunday, August 31, 2025, during which it found attendance to be low, apparently due to the ongoing sex conflict.

Global Ekklesia did not speak with any of the contending sides for this story.

Editor’s Note: Global Ekklesia is a nonprofit independent Christian News Magazine. We report both good and bad Christian news as the Spirit of God Leads. Read these stories below:

Liberia: Churches quarrel over name change; What’s going on at Bethel World Outreach?

Liberia: 3 brothers, all ‘pastors & teachers’ of Gospel fired over fraudulent acts at top Bible college funded by a U.S. church mission