By Moses M. Tokpah
editor@news.throngtalk.com
0777130958 / 0886476114
The 5th day of the Green Coast Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) in Ganta City was marked by jubilant celebrations following the announcement that the Republic of Guinea has officially recognized the GMC as a religious denomination.
This historic recognition was revealed by Rev. Dr. Jerry P. Kulah, I., chairperson of the Transitional Committee Advisory Team (TCAT) of GMC-Liberia, during the conference held under the theme “Growing Christian Disciples For The Transformation Of The Church And Society.”
Dr. Kulah explained that the recognition comes after a thorough government evaluation of the denominational doctrines, particularly comparing the GMC’s Book of Discipline with that of the United Methodist Church (UMC).
He noted that the Guinean government granted the GMC a provisional certificate to operate for one year, after which the church’s activities will be reviewed for permanent recognition.
“After the one year, we will evaluate your works, we will evaluate your services, and then when you meet our expectations as a Christian denomination—a Christian denomination that belongs to Jesus Christ, that preaches and teaches the undiluted word of God, then we will make a decision to give you a certificate permanently as a denomination in the Republic of Guinea, he quoted the government.
In a related development, Rev. Dr. Kulah shared that the Guinea Council of Churches has concurrently announced the dissolution of the UMC in Guinea.
This decision according to him, was based on the UMC’s endorsement of LGBTQ+ practices, which contradict Guinea’s laws and cultural values.
As mentioned by Dr. Kulah, the council cited the UMC’s 2024 Book of Discipline, which approves homosexuality and related practices, as grounds for rejecting the church’s legitimacy in the country.
“We reject the practice of LGBTQ+ and all the ungodly practices that are now being ‘endorsed and approved’ as a legal practice in the UMC, and because we reject it, we now dissolved the United Methodist Church in the Republic of Guinea,” he quotes the Guinea Council of Churches.
“A delegation from Conakry is expected to visit Nzérékoré to formally close down the UMC,” Dr. Kulah remarked.
The GMC members at the conference expressed their victory with songs and dances at Riverview International Christian Academy, celebrating what they described as a triumph over a long-standing doctrinal battle with the UMC in Guinea.
Rev. Dr. Kulah expressed confidence that this victory in Guinea will inspire similar progress in Liberia especially with ongoing efforts where similar conflicts over church doctrine and property rights continue.
The conference also welcomed a delegation led by the incoming presiding elder of the Guinea Circuit, signaling the denomination’s growing organizational structure.
Dr. Kulah predicted that by December 2025, the Guinea Circuit will gain district status, further solidifying the GMC’s presence in West Africa.
This development reflects broader regional shifts as the GMC gains recognition in multiple African countries, including recent provisional conferences in the Central African Republic and Tanzania.
The GMC’s expansion is part of a global movement emphasizing traditional Christian doctrines in contrast to the more progressive stances adopted by the UMC.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in Liberia, where disputes over church property and doctrinal differences have led to legal battles and physical altercations between factions loyal to the UMC and those who have joined the GMC.
The courts have recently ruled in favor of GMC members in property disputes, marking significant legal victories for the breakaway denomination.
The recognition of the Global Methodist Church in Guinea marks a pivotal moment in the religious landscape of West Africa, underscoring the complex interplay between faith, law, and cultural values in the region.
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