
18/08/2025
Just In…
Court Orders Reopening of ST Nagbe Church Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute
By Melvin Jackson
The Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, has issued an interim order mandating the reopening of the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church, pending final determination of a declaratory judgment petition filed by the congregation’s leadership.
Despite this order from the Civil law court another matter that had been pending before the Monrovia city court was heard and ruling reserves for Thursday, following the writ of summon issues on the ST Nagbe congregations for a temporary closure of the ST Nagbe church.
During the Mondays hearing defence lead lawyers Atty. Jeremiah Samuel Dugbo I. asserted that even if the church structure is owned by the United Methodist Church and its Liberia Annual Conference, the petitioner’s pursuit of a temporary closure is not the appropriate legal channel.
Atty Dugbo , suggested that if the UMC believes they hold legal title to the property, the appropriate route would be an ejectment action or summary proceedings to recover possession.
He at the same time urged the court to dismiss what is described as an “unmeritorious petition” and allow the parties to return to the Civil Law Court, where the matter is already pending.
Both parties were granted ten minutes each to present final arguments, with legal references excluded. The petitioner cited Chapter 25, Section 25.3 of Liberian law, while the respondent relied on multiple provisions, including Sections 3.31, 16.1, and 62.1 of the Civil Procedure Law, and Article 20(a) of the Constitution.
The court interim order signed by Assigned Circuit Judge George W. Smith, instructs Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire Jr., Father Henry Brunsun, and all corporate/church officers of the United Methodist Church Liberia Annual Conference to revert to the status quo ante.
This means the church must immediately allow the ST Nagbe congregation to resume services and meetings at the church edifice located on 13th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia.
The decision follows a legal petition filed by the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church seeking a declaratory judgment at the civil law court regarding leadership authority and interpretation of church doctrine, particularly on the definition of marriage and church governance.
The court's interim order is effective immediately and will remain in place until a final ruling is made on the petition.
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