The Liberian Council of Churches

PROFILE

PROCMURA's existence in Liberia can be traced back to 1983 when the Liberian
Council of Churches hosted the Consultation of Church Leaders from the Sub-region
in Monrovia to study the issues of co-existence of Christians and Muslims in Liberia.
The activities of PROCMURA however became overshadowed by the political events
that characterized the beginning of the prolonged conflict in Liberia. PROCMURA
resurfaced in 1999 where Church Leaders in Liberia were called upon to study a way
forward for a sincere approach for collaboration between the Christian organizations
and Islamic ones. An Area Committee was formed in 2002 and her affairs coordinated
by a trained Interfaith Adviser. The Adviser ran the day to day program activities of
the Area Committee.

The Committee has so far successfully implemented the following projects:

1.        In October 2002, the Committee staged a forum for the sensitization of the
Christian Community on Christian-Muslim relations, which was attended by 300
Church Leaders. This was held at Life Tabernacle on Benson Street, Monrovia.
2.        In December 2002, the Committee conducted a Church Leaders Sensitization
and awareness program on Christian-Muslim Relations, which was attended by 40
Clergy persons from the Christian Community in Liberia. This was held at Brown
Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Benson Street, Monrovia.
3.        In August 2004, the Committee with support from the Liberian Council of
Churches conducted a workshop on Awareness on the art of Christian-Muslim
relations in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. 40 persons benefited.
4.        In November 2004, the Committee conducted Meetings with the conflicting
parties in the October 28, 2004 Conflict between Christians and Muslims in
Jacobstown, Paynesville.
5.        In March 2006, Team from the Central Office of PROCMURA, facilitated two
(2) workshops; HIV/AIDS prevention techniques with Christian and Muslim Youth in
Liberia. 30 youths benefited. Christian-Muslim Relations in the Liberian Context was
the theme for the working of 30 Christian women from the Churches in Liberia
6.        In November 2007, the Committee launched an Inter-religious dialogue and
consultation for 30 religious leaders on conflicting issues of national concerns to them.
7.        In March 2008, the Committee conducted a Religious Leaders consultation on
Global warming and Climate Change, and HIV/AIDS.
8.        In April 2008, in collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, the
Committee had a three-day retreat for 100 youths/students with different religious
backgrounds to discuss on religious tolerance and co-existence.
9.        In January 2009, PROCMURA held a Church Leaders Consultation; the report
is available here
10.        In May 2009, PROCMURA held a Church Leaders Conference on
Christian-Muslim Relations; the report is available here.

PROCMURA PLAN OF ACTION and PROGRAM GOALS

The Institutional strengthening of the Area Committee in order to be more effective
and proactive include developing a fundraising strategy that will make the Program
sustainable and better institutionalized. This suggests reviewing organizational
policies and guideline in areas of administration, financial and human resource
management systems, program monitoring and evaluation systems including
provision of equipments especially for the Advisor to give it the needed potential to
attract funding. This also calls for diversified approaches for engagement of
Christians and Muslim to discuss relevant areas such as religious rights and
freedoms, gender, poverty elimination and development, globalization, climate change
and global warming, etc.

Christian-Muslim relations like else where in the world is a complex business as it has
its core issues in politics, economics, culture, religious and social standings between
the West and the East. In a six-year strategic plan, the Area Committee will focus on
seven (7) thematic points here- Awareness and Capacity-building of Church Leaders
in Christian-Muslim relations
- Provision of adequate information and education on women issues in
Christian-Muslim relations
- Youth capacity to practice their faith peacefully
- Increase Christian-Muslim literature production, dissemination and communication
programs
- Increase research and training for resource persons
- Advocacy programs
- Finance and Administration

IMPLEMENTATION

The Area Committee has a membership set-up of the Churches and Organizations
that are members of the Liberian Council of Churches. The Advisor is the Chief
Administrative Officer for the Area Committee in consultation with the Chairperson
of the Committee. The Advisor reports to the Area Committee and to the General
Council of PROCMURA through the Central Office in Nairobi, Kenya.

During the strategic plan period the Area Committee shall work in concert with
established governance procedures as well as adhere to the legal requirements that
govern its operations.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

To monitor the entire processes involved in the six (6) year strategic plan, a number
of tools and mechanisms identified are:

1.        Annual and six monthly review of performance of staff against the set targets
in operational plans
2.        Periodic financial and narrative reports to management, Executive and the
General Council of PROCMURA
3.        Submission of financial and narrative reports to developmental Partners as
mutually agreed upon or as stipulated in project agreements
4.        Development of Annual and six-monthly operational plans
5.        Development and use of report formats and time frames as agreed with
Partners
6.        Annual audits which will include both corporate and specific projects as deemed
necessary
7.        Regular evaluation and assessment of the programs and projects within the
six-year strategic Action plan

PROCMURA REPORTS

Click the links to read PROCMURA reports about events we have held:

Church Leader Conference on Christian-Muslim Relations, May 2009

Consultation with Church Leaders Report, January 2009

PROCMURA