By Edwin Benson | Liberia Episcopal Area Communications
It was memorable moments when Bishops and officials of The United Methodist Church from across Africa, the United States of America and the host, Liberia attending the Africa College of Bishops Meeting in Liberia paid a courtesy visit with the Liberian President, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia and participated in a dinner with former Liberian President, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Monrovia City Hall on Friday September 4, 2026 respectively.
During the visit, the President of the Council of Bishops of the worldwide United Methodist Church, Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr. offered prayer of gratitude and years of service to God for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. at the Executive Mansion and for former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Monrovia City Hall at the dinner.
Bishop Saenz thanked God for Pres. Boakai and the peace he (Pres. Boakai) has helped restore in the country asking God to be the president’s strength when the days are long. He prayed that God will bless the people of Liberia and a generation that will inherit a country more prosperous and peaceful under the leadership of Pres. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
At the same time during the dinner at the Monrovia City Hall, Bishop Saenz prayed and thanked God for the people of Liberia and the peace He (God) has preserved among Liberians. He thanked God for the gifts of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and every leader who serve for the common good of the people they lead.
As the result of the protocols at the respective events, the President of the Africa College of Bishops, Bishop Mande Muyombo introduced all Bishops and officials of The United Methodist Church from across Africa, America and other parts of the world in attendance.
For his part, the President of the West Africa College of Bishops and Bishop of the Liberia Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr. pointed out that members of the Africa College of Bishops have been deliberating on issues that affecting the church on the Continent of African.
Bishop Quire assured the Liberian leader of the commitment of The United Methodist Church to healthcare, agriculture, education among others in the country. He averred that the church through the J. J. Roberts Educational Foundation is making tremendous contribution to youth education in the country. He noted that church is now producing eggs and other crops at the White Plains Agriculture site.
He emphasized that The United Methodist Church is about making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and in no way The United Methodist Church will violate the laws of the land. He further stressed that during their deliberations, The United Methodist Church indicated times without number, that marriage in The United Methodist Church in Africa will remain a union between one man and one woman. He intimated that such affirmation was made in Angola and was again reaffirmed in Liberia during the 2026 Africa College of Bishops Meeting.
During the visit, the Liberian leader, Pres. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. thanked The United Methodist Church Africa College of Bishops for choosing Liberia at this time to host their meeting. He counts it all a blessing to sit with Bishops from across Africa. He recounted and quoted that Melville B. Cox once said, “though a thousand fall, let not Africa be given up.”
He paid tribute to the first indigenous Bishop of The United Methodist Church in Liberia, Bishop Stephen Trowen Nagbe followed by Bishop Arthur F. Kulah, Bishop John G. Innis and now Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr. and noted that he has been friends to all of the Bishops of The United Methodist Church and indicated that The United Methodist Church has made some of the most contribution including political leaderships mentioning Pres. William V. S. Tubman who served the country for many years.
Pres. Boakai maintained that the church has always been the home where people seek refuge and a place of quality education, especially The United Methodist Church and will continue to work with The United Methodist Church in the areas of healthcare, education and agriculture among others.
At the same time, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf welcome and thanked the Africa College of Bishops for their presence in Liberia and mentioned that she was grateful to share the opportunity with the people of God in an occasion of fellowship, reflection and gratitude. She avowed that the country may not be what it ought to be, but it has a heart of friendship and spirituality. She stated that she is so glad that she is a United Methodist and that she knows God for herself.
She asserted that the presence of The United Methodist Church Bishops from across Africa at said gathering represents more than an important church gathering. She stressed that it is a powerful demonstration of a continuous role of faith based institutions in Africa’s development and transformation. She therefore joined the many others and warmly welcome the Bishops and other United Methodists attending such meeting in Liberia.
At the dinner, the Special Committee headed by Mth. Medina Wesseh presented several gift items to all of the Bishops as a sign of gratitude for their services and commitment to the work of Jesus Christ through The United Methodist Church in their respective Episcopal Areas. The Episcopacy Committee of the Liberia Episcopal Area also presented a pre-birthday gift to Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, Jr. on the occasion of his sixty seventh birthday on September 5, 2026.
The dinner was graced by several officials of The United Methodist Church in Liberia including the Conference United Methodist Men and Women Organizations Presidents Samuel Swen Kun, Jr. and Josephine D. Snorton, the Youth and Young Adult Fellowships and a cultural dance group among others.
