Worship Centres, Schools and Hospitals: A Liberian Court Rules the United Methodist Church Keeps Its Property

• A Liberian civil court ruled that the Global Methodist Church has no claim to United Methodist properties
• The ruling covers worship centres, schools, hospitals and other facilities
• The judge said the breakaway group forfeited its interest on disaffiliation
• About 7,500 mostly conservative churches have left the UMC worldwide in recent years

A court in Liberia has ruled that the United Methodist Church (UMC) Liberia Annual Conference, not the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC), owns the church’s properties, the Christian Post reported on September 9, 2025.

Judge George W. Smith of the Civil Law Court of the 6th Judicial Circuit ruled in August 2025 that “The GMC and Rev. Jerry P. Kulah hold no legal or equitable right, title or interest in UMC Liberia Annual Conference properties, including worship centers, schools, hospitals and other facilities.” He said the GMC “forfeited all beneficial ownership and interest” when it disaffiliated.

The split follows the UMC General Conference’s decision to remove bans on same-sex marriage ceremonies and the ordination of noncelibate LGBTQ+ clergy. About 7,500 mostly conservative churches have disaffiliated from the UMC in recent years. In June 2024 Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. said the Liberia conference would keep its traditional rules on marriage and ordination.

The ruling means that congregations joining the new denomination cannot take the buildings and institutions with them.

In Jamaica, Methodist and other connexional churches typically hold property through trust arrangements that place ownership above the local congregation. The Liberian ruling shows how those arrangements decide who keeps buildings, schools and clinics when a church divides. Members and trustees should understand the trust deeds that govern their property long before any split, and denominations should keep those deeds up to date.

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