A Commendable Liberia Council of Churches’ Position, but….

The Liberia Council of Churches – a conglomeration of institutional members of the Christian Faith in Liberia, has finally distance itself from any/all attempts to legitimize Christianity in Liberia.

The Liberia Council of Churches, through its President, the Rev. Dr. Jonathan B.B Hart of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, of late, publicly disclosed that it is not in support – in any form or manner, of making Liberia a Christian state as agreed by delegates attending the March 2015 Gbarnga Constitution Review Conference in Central Liberia.
Twenty (25) propositions, including Proposition 24, resulting from the Conference are currently before the Legislature for determination in a national referendum either this year or early 2017, following submission by the Constitution Review Committee chaired by former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, through President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Since then, the debates on whether or not to make Liberia a Christian state continue to be unending.

In the wake of these debates, the Muslim Community remains in strong opposition, with several threats against the nation, including boycott and succession, while the government and Liberia Council of Churches remained conspicuously silent on such threats.

But given the sensitivity of the proposition and considering its implication on the nation’s security, according to the LCC during a news conference in Monrovia on Monday, May 2, 2016, the Council elected to get involved in the debates and discussions surrounding the issue in order to inform Liberians where the church stands on the matter.

“Instead, we strongly believe that furthering our collaboration and interfaith dialogue with all those united with us by faith and humanity will strengthen our harmonious relationship and create a peaceful society for mutual coexistence irrespective of race, creed, ethnicity or religion, ” noted the LCC, through its President, Bishop Jonathan B. B. Hart, emphasizing that Liberians were aware of the misuse of religious sentiments leading to clashes between Muslims and
Christians more than once.

“We encourage believers within the diverse religious groups to respect freedom of conscience with those who claim no religious identification,” the LCC advised.

While this latest development must be welcomed, especially in an attempt to make its position clear, the LCC’s latest move may just be belated.

While many Liberians subscribe to the fact that the country was built on Christian principles, and that it is a Christian nation, such belief must be manifested in the manner and form Liberians conduct themselves as Christians to win more souls as a way of overshadowing other religions, and not legitimization through legislation as is being pursued.

Even though the position of the LCC is belated, it is also one in which we all – Liberian Christians, must see reason(s) and make the necessary sense of, in avoiding or preventing whatever may be behind the ‘sentimental opposition, agitation and threats’.

The current position of the Liberia Council of Churches must be welcomed by all Liberian Christians at home and abroad – not out of fear, but love for our motherland – the land of our nativity, while we await the decision of the Liberian Legislature.