Gbarnga, Bong County – The Supreme Court of Liberia has intervened in an ongoing authorized dispute surrounding the United Methodist Church (UMC) Annual Conference in Gbarnga, Bong County.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Justice in Chambers, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, has ordered that every one proceedings associated to the matter proceed whereas additionally summoning Judge Boima Konto of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court for a convention.
Supreme Court’s Directive
The intervention follows an injunction issued on the night of February 14, 2025, by Judge Boima Konto, the Resident Circuit Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Bong County. The injunction halted the UMC Annual Conference primarily based on a request by L. Orlando Boyce, District Lay Leader for the St. Paul River District.
However, in a authorized directive, Justice Gbeisay instructed that the case be reviewed in a convention scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. In his official communication to Judge Konto, he said: “By directive of His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr., Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with His Honor on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 a.m., in connection with the above captioned case. Henceforth, you are ordered to return the parties to status quo ante, and stay all further proceedings pending the outcome of the conference before the Justice. Meanwhile, all activities of The United Methodist Church, Liberia Annual Conference will continue as normal as though nothing has been filed before any court in the Republic of Liberia.”
Petitioners Seek Legal Clarity
The petitioners, Rev. JI Joel Gould, Administrative Assistant, and Tolbert Nyenswah, Conference Lay Leader, had earlier requested the Supreme Court to position a maintain on all authorized proceedings whereas their case is underneath overview. They are additionally pushing to take care of the established order, which might permit the United Methodist Church’s actions to proceed uninterrupted till a closing courtroom resolution is reached.
As a part of the Supreme Court’s directive, Judge Konto, who’s listed as the first Respondent, and L. Orlando Boyce, the 2nd Respondent and District Lay Leader for the St. Paul River District in Gbarnga, are required to attend the convention. The session shall be presided over by Justice Gbeisay on the Supreme Court in Monrovia.
Church Operations to Proceed Unhindered
In a big ruling, Justice Gbeisay has emphasised that the church’s operations in Liberia ought to proceed with out interruption, as if no authorized actions had been initiated. This signifies that all additional authorized proceedings concerning the dispute shall be halted till after the convention.
Supreme Court Clerk Confirms Notification of Parties
The Clerk of the Supreme Court, Cllr. Sam Mamulu, has confirmed that every one events concerned have been formally notified and are anticipated to look on the scheduled convention.
The case has attracted consideration because of the inner struggles inside the United Methodist Church in Liberia and its implications for spiritual and authorized governance. With the Supreme Court now actively concerned, the end result of the convention might set a big precedent for church-related authorized disputes within the nation.