As we approach the 21^st Century, the United Methodist Church in Liberia needs to adopt a contextual vision that reflects our African cultural heritage.  This means that we should have more than one Annual Conferences in Liberia.  Having one Conference creates lots of headaches for the clergy and laity alike, many of whom may not admit, although they are sick and tired of dealing with a ‘sick-and-tired’ Bishop.  Some may feel the reality of being dictated to and ruled by a Bishop, whose red ink wipes out the clergy or isolates the laity. 

What this means then, is for the Liberia Annual Conference to recreate itself by decentralizing the Episcopacy, and having two Bishops.  In short, this is the ripe time to have more than one UMC Conference in Liberia, if the Church is to make the necessary adjustments for adopting the cultural context and local theology, in addition to being a fully inclusive and connectional Church.  

This proposal is not because I am displeased with the way the current leadership is ruling the church.  I must admit, the current leadership has done more than its best by instituting the retirement system for local pastors, as well as “isolate” people who were bent on challenging his administration, and now, we have one single church.  However, here are some reasons why I believe the Liberia Annual Conference must split in two to be at least two Annual Conferences. 

The first reason is that the idea of one Bishop solves all problems is not feasible and possible in this day and age.  With the current Bishop spending more than seventy-five percent of his time in the United States for fear that “someone will sleep with his wife,” has made the church to have a Bishop who is not only a “missionary Bishop” but also, a scarce Bishop at best.  Many UMC members in Liberia wonder why their Bishop spends all the time in Worchester, Massachusetts, when he could be in Liberia making a difference. 

The second reason is that the “one Bishop fits all” system has made the Bishops become lord unto themselves.  For example, if the Bishop hates someone, or is against a particular minister because the minister could potentially replace him, he isolates the minister, and creates a false impression of that minister in the minds of people.  And because it is the Bishop making such complaints, people fall in line behind him, not because they believe him, but either because they are trying to save their ‘butts’ or they have no way of verifying the validity of the complaints.  Any Bishop with such powers can be abusive, corrupt, dishonest, ruthless, incompassionate, and unforgiving – a very bad and dangerous combination.  These are qualities a Church leader doesn’t need, and the country does not need either, especially coming from years of civil war.

The third reason is that the population of the Conference has grown.  The UMC in Liberia is probably the largest denomination among the other mainline denominations.  The church is located in every enclave, village, and seat of government.  And this one Bishop controls all things, decides with impunity, and appoints cronies and people who will say, “Yes sir,” without questioning his authority, even if he were morally or ethically bankrupt.

The fourth reason is that the time has come, in Liberia, for Liberian United Methodists to develop a sense of consciousness in how we conduct our worship services.  For example, instead of trying to be this “western church” we could be contextualizing the Book of Discipline, the Book of Worship, the UMC Hymnal, as well as liturgies to reflect our African (Liberian) cultural perspectives and experiences.   I do not believe it is sin to worship God in one’s own context, because God understands all languages, and listens to all peoples.  Jesus died for the world, not just for the American missionaries that introduced Methodism to Liberia.  And because Jesus died for all human beings, even Liberian United Methodists should be able to worship God in their context, using United Methodist materials, but one that we, in Liberia, can contextualize. 

I have been in the United Methodist in Liberia since birth.  I believe this church is the source of my saving grace.  I love the Church, and I work for the church.  I love the Conference, and the current Bishop, a relative of mine.  But in recent times, the Church in Liberia has been very corrupt, and it has not provided the right environment for Liberians to nurture a relationship with God.  Things are happening in the Conference that no one wants to talk against.

For example, the Bishop, along with some of his pastors, is practically engaged in witchcraft, with the sole purpose of maintaining their positions.  Seeing them involved in such activities will make you think you were dealing with the bankrupt politicians of the Tubman era, who engaged in the “Bojo” business, by ritually killing innocent children, extracting their body parts for use in their activities.  Another example is the way in which the Bishop and some of his closet ministers detest their opposition.

Rev. Julius S. Nelson, Jr., who ran against the Bishop in the 2000 elections, is completely isolated.  And even though no human being is without fault, and Rev. Nelson, Jr., is not without fault, he is not a bad man.  Here is someone who loves the church, made sacrifices, and well educated, by not buying academic credentials, but studied hard to obtain what knowledge he has.  Yet, Rev. Nelson, Jr., cannot have a peace of mind as a United Methodist minister in Liberia because the Bishop keeps taunting him, and making people think that Rev. Nelson, Jr., is a “bad man.”  

The other person is Rev. P. K. Early, a son of the Conference, whose parents virtually and realistically adopted and mentored this Bishop.  The Bishop has destroyed Rev. Early’s image, by making up false story about the young preacher and his wife.  As such, the Bishop has kept him isolated as well as people who try to explain to the Bishop that Rev. PK is not after his wife. 

 I personally know Rev. Nelson, Jr., and Rev. Early.  These two, along with Rev. Charles Boayue (Detroit Annual Conference, USA), and Rev. Michael Wah, were moral and ethical giants when they were youth leaders in the youth department of the Church.  But because the Bishop had a falling out with them, their image has been tarnished.  Rev. Cletus Sieh and the Bishop do not see eye-to-eye, because he is accused of ‘supporting Rev. Nelson, Jr.  Since when was it illegal to support the opposition?  Such attitudes, actions, and styles of leadership are killing the Church, crippling the future of the church, and making people to wonder whether the United Methodist Church is actually an institution of God, or an institution of the Bishop. 

The fifth reason why the church should split is because it will allow the Conferences to be more competitive.  Imagine that the Liberia Annual Conference is the oldest mission field of Methodism in Africa.  But, the Conference still lags behind all other conferences in Africa, with lots of trained ministers, educators, doctors, and other forms of profession.  Yet, many of these people, because the Bishop feels threatened by their presence in the Conference, discourages them from participating in the church, through isolation and suppression.  It is a shame, as a relative of Bishop Innis, and with the current situation of the Church, I am making this observation, not because I hate my uncle to be Bishop, but because I love the Church.  We cannot continue down this path. 

I know that after reading this article, the Bishop or some “authority” at this United Methodist University will want to drop me, or punish me with expulsion.  I am prepared for the result.  I rather speak the truth than hide behind my spiritual father who is blundering or plundering God’s resources.  “It was for the truth, that John the Baptist was beheaded.”  And I am prepared for the result, but the reality is this:  If there were two Conferences, one Bishop would not dominate in the manner as described above, but because the one Bishop knows his power, he uses it to intimidate, harass, condemn, and isolate qualified persons who may be more willing to sacrifice than some of the people the Bishop hangs with.  

Splitting the Church in two (if we can put it in those literal terms) is the best solution for the 21^st Century, and for Liberia.