NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Human Rights Monitor of the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) has strongly condemned a violent attack on Daniel Gongar, Council Chairperson of the New Hope United Methodist Church in Liberia.
The incident, described as a primitive display of violence, occurred on Sunday, January 25, 2026, sparking urgent calls for legal action and the protection of religious freedoms in the country.
The attack was allegedly carried out by Matthew Zeon, an individual affiliated with the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a breakaway faction composed of former UMC pastors and members.
By: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr –rufusbrooks091@gmail.com
According to the Monitor’s statement, the violence was unprovoked and targeted Mr. Gongar while he was performing his duties as a church leader.
The Human Rights Monitor condemned the act as a profound violation of human dignity, the rule of law, and the principles of religious tolerance essential to Liberia’s democratic society.
In a statement released Wednesday in Monrovia, Jefferson Knight, Director of the Monitor, said:
“Physical violence in the name of religious disagreement contradicts the very faith these individuals claim to profess. We cannot, and will not, allow the peace of our congregations to be shattered by the criminal impulses of a few.”
Knight further described the attack as an “evil, demonic, and barbaric” act that strikes at the core of civil peace and the sanctity of human life.
The Monitor has called on Liberia’s National Police and Ministry of Justice to take immediate action, demanding the arrest of Matthew Zeon to prevent further threats to New Hope UMC members.
Additionally, the Monitor urged enhanced security measures for religious spaces to ensure UMC members can worship freely without fear of intimidation from breakaway groups.
The Global Methodist Church emerged in 2022 in response to the UMC’s stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion, prompting some conservative factions to split from the denomination.
While the majority of UMC leaders and members continue to call for dialogue and unity, incidents like the attack on Gongar highlight escalating tensions and the potential for violence in regions with fragile interdenominational relations.
