The Doctrinal Crisis within the United Methodist Church Escalates as Lay Leader Orlando Boyce Separates from the Church and Joins the Global Methodist Church

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Amid deepening divisions within United Methodism, the District Lay Leader of the St. Paul River Conference, L. Orlando Boyce, has officially parted ways with the United Methodist Church (UMC), declaring his affiliation with the newly established Global Methodist Church (GMC).

The decision, he said, follows the UMC’s evolving stance on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion, which he views as “incompatible with biblical doctrine.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Boyce said his disaffiliation stemmed from what he described as a “serious moral and doctrinal divide” within the denomination. 

He pointed to the church’s 2024 Book of Discipline, which legalized same-sex marriages, LGBTQ+ ordinations, and other provisions he believes signal a “sharp departure from scriptural standards.”

The UMC’s controversial reforms were formalized during its 2020/2024 General Conference held in North Carolina, USA, where delegates approved sweeping changes, including the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexual clergy, same sex weddings.

This stance has been interpreted by many conservatives as permissive toward abortion, fornication, and other practices previously regarded as inconsistent with Methodist theology.

Upon returning from the General Conference, Boyce said, leaders of the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) requested that Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., elected to the episcopacy in 2016 and currently serving as Resident Bishop of the Liberia Area to implement resolutions passed at their annual session urging a formal distance from these practices.

However, Boyce alleges that Bishop Quire declined the request and “instead suspended clergy and lay leaders who raised concerns or demanded clarity on the matter.”

The fallout, according to Boyce, has led to a deep rift within the Liberian church, splitting congregations and forcing conservative voices to the margins.

Boyce, who previously served as official spokesperson for the United Methodist Church in Liberia, stated that his departure is both personal and symbolic of what he termed a broader moral collapse within the denomination.

“I cannot continue to serve in a system where the core teachings of Scripture are being reinterpreted to suit modern culture,” he said, expressing fear that future generations within the church will inherit what I believe is an abomination.”

He further claimed that “many members who shared similar views have been silenced, blacklisted, and pushed out.”

Boyce criticized the church for “failing to reconcile or engage in dialogue to preserve unity,” and accused the Liberia UMC of becoming “a place where loyalty to individuals supersedes faith in Christ.”

He went on to allege that internal divisions have intensified, stating: “There is a brotherhood in the church that has become so toxic that every action is riddled with suspicion as long as it’s not in line with Bishop Samuel Quire and Lay Leader Tolbert Nyenswah’s  wishes.”

Boyce concluded by reaffirming his commitment to remain vocal on the direction of the church. He said his decision to leave is not rooted in rebellion but in conscience and faith, and he pledged to “defend the truth even when the price is heavy.”