By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
MONROVIA –Following the recent Council of Bishops meeting in Chicago, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., President of the West Africa Central Conference and Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference, has issued a formal statement addressing concerns related to Judicial Council Decision 1516.
The ruling, which has stirred significant discussion across the global United Methodist Church, prompted Bishop Quire to offer a pastoral response tailored to the West African context.
“Judicial Council Decision 1516 does not affect the West Africa Central Conference or any of its Annual Conferences,” Bishop Quire stated firmly, seeking to alleviate anxiety in a region where cultural, legal, and religious traditions differ from those in other parts of the global Church.
The decision reaffirms the authority of clergy to decide whether or not to perform marriage ceremonies, including those involving same-sex couples. It upholds Paragraph 341.3 of the Book of Discipline, which states that no clergy can be compelled to officiate—or prohibited from officiating—any marriage, union, or blessing, and that they retain the right to act according to their conscience.
However, Bishop Quire emphasized that this ruling does not override the authority of Central Conferences under Paragraph 544.15, which allows them to establish marriage policies in accordance with local laws and cultural practices.
“In our context,” the bishop said, “the Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria Annual Conferences have all affirmed their commitment to the biblical definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.”
These declarations, made during Annual Conference sessions held earlier this year, align with national laws in West African countries that do not recognize same-sex marriage.
Bishop Quire clarified that within the West Africa Central Conference, no pastor is authorized to perform same-sex marriages. “The Judicial Council decision does not grant permission for clergy to act contrary to the laws of their country,” he said. “We must respect and honor the legal frameworks of our nations.”
The bishop concluded with a call for unity and faithfulness among United Methodists in the region. “We are a global Church—diverse in culture and context—yet called to be one in Christ,” he said. “Let us stay focused on our mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
Bishop Quire’s statement seeks to provide clarity and promote peace within the Church as it navigates complex issues with grace and conviction.
