-As UMC Bishops Wrap Up Major Monrovia Meeting
By: Laymah Kollie
FARMINGTON — Bishops of The United Methodist Church from across Africa have called for a stronger African voice in the global church, wrapping up a major five-day gathering in Monrovia with a push for greater influence in the denomination’s worldwide leadership and decision-making.
The meeting, held from August 31 to September 4, marked the first time the continental body (the Africa College of Bishops) has convened in Liberia. It brought together church leaders for prayer, fellowship, and deliberation on the future of Methodism on the continent.
In a closing statement, the bishops struck a hopeful tone, framing their discussions around a passage from Isaiah urging believers to “enlarge the site of your tent,” language they used to describe the Church’s expanding footprint across Africa.
Regionalization Taking Root
A central theme of the gathering was the progress of “regionalization,” a restructuring that allows African Methodists to shape church governance and ministry according to their own contexts. The bishops said they are now updating regional church law books and setting up judicial courts under the new arrangement, while maintaining close ties with the Church’s international agencies and the wider global connection.
New Bishop Coming for West Africa
The College announced that a new bishop will be elected in December for the West Africa Regional Conference, a jurisdiction spanning Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and mission districts in Senegal and Cameroon. Guinea-Bissau is also set to formally rejoin the West Africa Regional Conference, becoming part of the Sierra Leone Conference. Bishops noted that discussions are underway about whether more episcopal positions should be created across Africa in the coming years.
Interfaith Ties and Regional Crises
The bishops highlighted continued cooperation with other Christian denominations on issues ranging from conflict resolution to public health, including the response to an Ebola outbreak that has killed thousands in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. The opening session drew a prominent interfaith presence, including leaders from the Liberia Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, and the Episcopal Church of Liberia.
Council of Bishops President Attends
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president of the global Council of Bishops, was present at the meeting, which the African bishops said reinforced ties between their regional body and the worldwide church leadership.
Looking Ahead to 2028 — and a Push for 2032 in Africa
Church officials briefed the bishops on preparations for the denomination’s 2028 General Conference, with assurances that African delegates would be able to participate fully. The bishops went further, calling on organizers to consider holding the 2032 General Conference on African soil for the first time.
Backing for African Union’s Agenda 2063
The body also voiced support for the African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063, urging political leaders across the continent to prioritize justice, peace, and the welfare of citizens, and pledging the Church’s continued partnership with governments and civil society.
Financial Stewardship
Officials reported growth in giving and apportionments across African episcopal areas, along with strong support for a fund dedicated to theological education in the regional conferences.
Gratitude to Liberia
The Church offered extensive thanks to the Liberian government and public for hosting the gathering, citing meetings with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state and a lifelong United Methodist. Organizers, led by a local hosting committee, thanked the Liberia National Police and numerous partners and sponsors for logistical and financial support in making the historic meeting possible.
The bishops said they now return to their respective areas “with renewed commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ” and a shared resolve to expand the Church’s work across the continent.
