This crisis has also caused a significant decline in student enrollment at various Methodist schools across the county.
Ganta, Nimba County — Several properties belonging to the Methodist Church Families in Nimba County, including high schools, churches and other facilities have reportedly been abandoned amid a deepening crisis within the Methodist Community.
By D. Franklin Doloquee/Nimba County
This crisis has also caused a significant decline in student enrollment at various Methodist schools across the county.
The crisis stems from disputes within the Methodist Church related to allegations of homosexuality, which has caused a painful division among church members.
Families and congregants are split between those who remain with the traditional United Methodist Church and those who have broken away to form the Global Methodist Church, each accusing the other of unchristian practices.
In recent months, tension between the two factions has escalated, with the breakaway Global Methodist group referring to the United Methodist Church as a “gay institution,” while the United Methodist Faction rejects the claim and calls the Global Methodist Church a non-legitimate splinter group.
The impact of the crisis has been visible across churches and schools in Nimba County and Liberia at large. A tour of Methodist facilities reveals a stark decline in attendance and enrollment. Many United Methodist Schools, now being transitioned to Global Methodist Control, show very low student populations compared to previous years. For example, the Ganta United Methodist School, once one of the leading educational institutions in the county with over 1,000 students, now has enrollment numbers fallen to less than 100.
Physical properties have also suffered. Buildings and offices in various Methodist Church Missions, particularly in Ganta have been left abandoned, with grass and weeds growing unchecked on the premises. The crisis has led to confusion over the ownership and control of these facilities. Currently, both the United Methodist and Global Methodist Factions claim control over the Ganta United Methodist Mission Stations, creating a tense standoff that has left buildings unused and in disrepair.
Local parents have expressed concerns about the instability, with many withdrawing their children from the Methodist schools due to fears and uncertainty about the future of the institutions. The impact stretches beyond the physical decay of property. As the Methodist Community struggles with internal divisions, the reputation and influence of the church in education and spiritual guidance have been seriously damaged.
Observers say the crisis is not only a spiritual conflict but also a social and economic challenge. Methodist Schools have traditionally been pillars of education in the community, contributing significantly to youth development and community cohesion. The ongoing division threatens to erode this foundation, leaving students with fewer quality education options and the community with a fractured church.
Efforts to mediate the crisis have not yet yielded results and church leaders on both sides have remained firm in their positions. The Methodist Community in Nimba County and beyond faces a difficult road ahead, with the need to reconcile differences to restore trust, heal divisions, and revitalize abandoned properties and institutions.
The Gbloryee United Methodist School has been changed to Dr. Harley Memorial School Methodist School among others United Methodist school have reportedly been changed.
The Gbloryee United Methodist School has been renamed Dr. Harley Memorial Methodist School. Additionally, several other United Methodist schools have reportedly undergone name changed.
