The Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has officially removed Rev. Dr. Jerry K. Kulah and 122 other pastors from the clergy roll, marking one of the most far-reaching disciplinary decisions in the history of the denomination in Liberia.
The action was approved during the 193rd Annual Session of the conference, held in Greenville, Sinoe County, where delegates voted by an overwhelming margin to revoke the ministerial credentials of the affected clergy. Church authorities concluded that those removed had willfully acted contrary to established doctrine, discipline, and ecclesiastical authority.
Among the pastors whose credentials were terminated are Rev. Dr. Sarwolo J. Nelson Jr., Rev. Dr. George G. Wilson Jr., Rev. Dr. Isaac Chukpue-Padmore, Rev. Dr. Julius Z. Y. K. Williams, Rev. Rose Farhat, Rev. Jerry Kandea, Rev. Kenneth C. Jackson, Rev. Rodney Marshall, Rev. Allen Paye, Rev. Dr. Charles Fiske, Rev. Dr. Anna K. Labala, Rev. Cooper Pay Mondolo, along with 113 others who previously served within the church.
According to conference leaders, investigations determined that the expelled clergy demonstrated “open disregard and disobedience” to the governing principles and doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church. The conference said the pastors, despite their training and ordination, engaged in conduct that weakened church unity, challenged institutional authority, and exposed the denomination to public controversy.
The resolution also cited the clergy’s refusal to surrender their ministerial credentials when formally requested, a requirement outlined in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. Acting under provisions of the Book of Discipline, delegates in the Clergy Session voted by more than a two-thirds majority to nullify and permanently revoke the credentials of those involved. The Board of Ordained Ministry confirmed that the process followed all disciplinary procedures.
Conference Imposes Additional Sanctions
Beyond the expulsions, the conference adopted a series of strict measures aimed at enforcing the decision. These include publicizing the names of the expelled individuals to inform congregations and the wider public that they no longer hold clergy status, barring them from preaching or entering the chancery of any United Methodist congregation within the Liberia Annual Conference, and warning that any clergy member who permits them to function in ministerial roles will face disciplinary consequences.
The decision comes against the backdrop of a prolonged internal conflict within the church in Liberia. Tensions escalated in October 2024 when Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. suspended several pastors over alleged insubordination, defiance of episcopal authority, and actions described by church officials as contributing to a growing rebellion within the denomination.
Despite the controversy, conference leaders insist the move was necessary to safeguard the church’s identity and governance. In a statement, the conference reaffirmed its resolve to uphold doctrinal integrity, discipline, and connectional order, while continuing its mission of evangelism, discipleship, and service.
The mass expulsion of Rev. Kulah and the other clergy is widely viewed as a defining moment in the ongoing effort by the United Methodist Church in Liberia to reassert ecclesiastical authority and restore unity amid deep internal divisions.
Source: The Liberian Investigator
