August 25 2009
Click here for a transcript of the LCC Statement on the
the TRC Final Report Volume 2.
July 9 2009
Click here for a transcript of the LCC press release concerning the recent release of
the TRC Final Report Volume 2. Click here for a scanned signed copy of this
document.
June 15th 2009
Click here for a transcript of opening remarks made by Her Excellency Madam Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf for the 2009 West Africa Church Leaders Consultation.
Click here to read a transcript of the Final Communique for the consultation. For
scanned copies of this document, see: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5
June 14th - 20th, 2009
Church consultation on climate change, human rights, peace and security, hosted by
the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Fellowship of Christian
Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) in Collaboration with the Liberian
Council of Churches (LCC)
From On Sunday 14th an Ecumenical & Thanksgiving Service will be held in
commemoration of FECCIWA's 15th Anniversary at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church,
Sinkor, Monrovia. Bishop Sumoward E. Harris former President of LCC is the
Presiding Bishop. The Rev. Dr. Andre Karamaga, General Secretary of the AACC will
be the Guest Preacher.
On Monday 15th the Official Opening of the Consultation will be held at the First
United Methodist Church on Ashmun Street, Monrovia. Rev. Dr. John McCullough,
Executive Director of Church World Service, USA, will serve as the Keynote Speaker.
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia will officially open
the Consultation.
The Consultation sessions will be held in the Conference Room of the Samuel K. Doe
Sport Complex. Participants will be lodged at the Thinker Village along the
Robertsfield Highway.
For full participants list, click here
January 9, 2009
Christians and Muslims in Liberia cautioned against making inflammatory Remarks
Christian and Muslim Leaders in Liberia have been cautioned against making
derogatory statements in public against one another. Dr. Benjamin Dorme Lartey,
General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) in a remarks at the 8th
Annual Conference of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Liberia known as the Jalsa
Salana held at the Shah Taj Institute at Tweh Farm on the Bushrod Island, Monrovia
from December 26-27, 2008, the Secretary praised the Movement for their
commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence at a time when some Leaders
have become vocally mischievous to the Liberian Society. He said that, 'Leaders
should refrain from making statements that undermines peaceful coexistence'.
In a recent development (see below) that threw the country into a frenzied
atmosphere like the one that took place in 2004 which eventually led to the clash
between the two groups on October 29, 2004; some harmony was achieved through the
prompt intervention of the Advisor to the President of Liberia on Religious Affairs in
October 2008. In a Press Statement she admonished all groups to refrain from
making derogatory statements against each other especially in the Media.
The tensions have barely subsided with the recent pronouncements by Sheikh
Kafumba Konneh, one of the Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission in Liberia (TRC) and a leading figure of the Muslim Leadership in
Liberia . Sheikh Konneh in a statement noted that during the just-ended Idu’l Adha,
the Monrovia City Council did not request for the painting and white washing of all
buildings and stores within the city limit, and Muslims living in Monrovia will not
adhere to any call at Christmas by the Council to give the city a face-lift.
In a response, the Chairman of the City Council, Mr. Daniel Johnson told the press
that the request for peoples living within the city range to paint and give their
structures a face lift for the season has no religious relevance; it is an ordinance of
the City to clean up the city at the end of year.
In a related development, the GS of LCC sharply responded to a topic “Did Jesus die
on the cross?” at the 2008 conference of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Liberia by
openly confessing his faith as a Christian to rebut the Muslim Speaker on that topic;
and urged all Christian Leaders to read the Qur’an to know what Muslims stand for.
Mr. Andrew Nimely, the Coordinator of the Catholic Youth Association in Liberia on a
radio interview with Radio Veritas (the Catholic Media Center in Liberia) speaking on
the on-going tensions between Christians and Muslims, called on PROCMURA to
support the Churches in Liberia to engage youths in Liberia to understand the issues
of Christian-Muslim Relations to prevent the reoccurrences of clashes between them.
Rev. St. John York
Liberia
October 2008
PROCMURA AREA COMMITTEE (PAC) Liberia, strategizes for the coming six years.
During the visit of the Interfaith Advisor of the Church of Sweden to Liberia, Ms
Kerstin Pihl from October 15-24 2008, the Area Committee presented to her the plan
of Action for 2008-2013. The expressed the need to establish a Finance and
Administration Section to oversee its activities for expediency. It also strategized to
maintain the ongoing collaboration with the Liberian Council of Churches and other
Ecumenical organizations and to diverge from the position as a sub/standing
Committee of the Liberian Council of Churches and look forward to strong
partnership with Church of Sweden in some of the areas within the document they
envisage to ably accompany us.
The Area Committee committed itself to the expansion program where its awareness
and training for Church Leaders in the art of Christian-Muslim Relations has
extended to Communities in the border region of Cote d'voire with Liberia, Guinea
and Mali.
Recent developments of the relations between Christians and Muslims has been
marred by conflictual arguments on the media that has the propensity to agitate the
vulnerable communities of both faith groups to violence. However, in advisory to the
Religious Advisor to the President of the Republic, the Press Release available here
was published in the Newspapers and echoed in news casts to send the right kind of
signals.
The Area Committee has objected to work more in the area of Research and training
and to support the ideals of ATI (Access to Information) and demands; that is to
provide the needed data to create better policies for our communities. In another
meeting today held with The Carter Center USA team led by Ms Laura Nueman
committed to charted a course with Civil Society groups to have the passing into the
law the Freedom for Information bill, however, the need to study the document and
request for freedoms that are relevant for a sound participatory democracy in Liberia
was urged.
The Area Committee, however call for support from Partners and organizations to
work along with it in order to make the plan of action successful. All forms of support
are required the Advisor reiterated.
See the six-year plan of action and send your comments or support to:
Rev. St John York
Interfaith Advisor
Liberia
stjohnyork1@yahoo.com
stjohn.york@gmail.com
Phone#: (+231) 6-536-682
August 2008
A team from Carter Center USA visiting Liberia will meet with Church Leaders at
the Council House to discuss the Mental Health Program in Liberia. The LCC has
been seeking positive means of addressing the increase of Mental Health problems
which is critically attributed to the prolonged conflict that affected the lives of
Liberians. The visit of the Mental Health Team from the Carter Center will aid the
Council to explore productive measures to support the Program.
Over 20 Ministers from different Churches have been invited to participate in this
Meeting that is scheduled for August 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The
President of the Council, Bishop John G. Innis will give the invocation and will
welcome the four person Team led by Dr. Thomas H. Bornemann to the Council
House.
Church Leaders are already discussing the following questions and will give their
reaction during the meeting with the Team:
* What services are churches providing in communities as it relates to health and
mental health?
* What basic health and mental health services are provided to different
cultural/religious communities/groups?
* How do churches help people with health/mental health issues in the community and
in their families? Do they have a network of social services? Is there any type of
referral system?
* What terms do they use for individuals with different conditions?
* What is the perception of psychiatry/Western medicine? Can it be used with
traditional healing methods?
* How do religious and cultural groups conceptualize, classify/define, deal with, and
treat mental illnesses?
* What belief does the Liberian community have regarding the causality of mental
health issues as it relates to war-related trauma?
* What is considered "disability?" How does trauma affect daily life and functioning?
Is effect on functioning taken into consideration?
* Is the rate of suicide high? How does the community deal with it?
* Is there an education system through the churches? If so, is health addressed?
Mental health?
* Are there support groups for people with certain health issues or other?
Click here for a transcript of the LCC Statement on the
the TRC Final Report Volume 2.
July 9 2009
Click here for a transcript of the LCC press release concerning the recent release of
the TRC Final Report Volume 2. Click here for a scanned signed copy of this
document.
June 15th 2009
Click here for a transcript of opening remarks made by Her Excellency Madam Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf for the 2009 West Africa Church Leaders Consultation.
Click here to read a transcript of the Final Communique for the consultation. For
scanned copies of this document, see: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5
June 14th - 20th, 2009
Church consultation on climate change, human rights, peace and security, hosted by
the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Fellowship of Christian
Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) in Collaboration with the Liberian
Council of Churches (LCC)
From On Sunday 14th an Ecumenical & Thanksgiving Service will be held in
commemoration of FECCIWA's 15th Anniversary at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church,
Sinkor, Monrovia. Bishop Sumoward E. Harris former President of LCC is the
Presiding Bishop. The Rev. Dr. Andre Karamaga, General Secretary of the AACC will
be the Guest Preacher.
On Monday 15th the Official Opening of the Consultation will be held at the First
United Methodist Church on Ashmun Street, Monrovia. Rev. Dr. John McCullough,
Executive Director of Church World Service, USA, will serve as the Keynote Speaker.
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia will officially open
the Consultation.
The Consultation sessions will be held in the Conference Room of the Samuel K. Doe
Sport Complex. Participants will be lodged at the Thinker Village along the
Robertsfield Highway.
For full participants list, click here
January 9, 2009
Christians and Muslims in Liberia cautioned against making inflammatory Remarks
Christian and Muslim Leaders in Liberia have been cautioned against making
derogatory statements in public against one another. Dr. Benjamin Dorme Lartey,
General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) in a remarks at the 8th
Annual Conference of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Liberia known as the Jalsa
Salana held at the Shah Taj Institute at Tweh Farm on the Bushrod Island, Monrovia
from December 26-27, 2008, the Secretary praised the Movement for their
commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence at a time when some Leaders
have become vocally mischievous to the Liberian Society. He said that, 'Leaders
should refrain from making statements that undermines peaceful coexistence'.
In a recent development (see below) that threw the country into a frenzied
atmosphere like the one that took place in 2004 which eventually led to the clash
between the two groups on October 29, 2004; some harmony was achieved through the
prompt intervention of the Advisor to the President of Liberia on Religious Affairs in
October 2008. In a Press Statement she admonished all groups to refrain from
making derogatory statements against each other especially in the Media.
The tensions have barely subsided with the recent pronouncements by Sheikh
Kafumba Konneh, one of the Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission in Liberia (TRC) and a leading figure of the Muslim Leadership in
Liberia . Sheikh Konneh in a statement noted that during the just-ended Idu’l Adha,
the Monrovia City Council did not request for the painting and white washing of all
buildings and stores within the city limit, and Muslims living in Monrovia will not
adhere to any call at Christmas by the Council to give the city a face-lift.
In a response, the Chairman of the City Council, Mr. Daniel Johnson told the press
that the request for peoples living within the city range to paint and give their
structures a face lift for the season has no religious relevance; it is an ordinance of
the City to clean up the city at the end of year.
In a related development, the GS of LCC sharply responded to a topic “Did Jesus die
on the cross?” at the 2008 conference of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Liberia by
openly confessing his faith as a Christian to rebut the Muslim Speaker on that topic;
and urged all Christian Leaders to read the Qur’an to know what Muslims stand for.
Mr. Andrew Nimely, the Coordinator of the Catholic Youth Association in Liberia on a
radio interview with Radio Veritas (the Catholic Media Center in Liberia) speaking on
the on-going tensions between Christians and Muslims, called on PROCMURA to
support the Churches in Liberia to engage youths in Liberia to understand the issues
of Christian-Muslim Relations to prevent the reoccurrences of clashes between them.
Rev. St. John York
Liberia
October 2008
PROCMURA AREA COMMITTEE (PAC) Liberia, strategizes for the coming six years.
During the visit of the Interfaith Advisor of the Church of Sweden to Liberia, Ms
Kerstin Pihl from October 15-24 2008, the Area Committee presented to her the plan
of Action for 2008-2013. The expressed the need to establish a Finance and
Administration Section to oversee its activities for expediency. It also strategized to
maintain the ongoing collaboration with the Liberian Council of Churches and other
Ecumenical organizations and to diverge from the position as a sub/standing
Committee of the Liberian Council of Churches and look forward to strong
partnership with Church of Sweden in some of the areas within the document they
envisage to ably accompany us.
The Area Committee committed itself to the expansion program where its awareness
and training for Church Leaders in the art of Christian-Muslim Relations has
extended to Communities in the border region of Cote d'voire with Liberia, Guinea
and Mali.
Recent developments of the relations between Christians and Muslims has been
marred by conflictual arguments on the media that has the propensity to agitate the
vulnerable communities of both faith groups to violence. However, in advisory to the
Religious Advisor to the President of the Republic, the Press Release available here
was published in the Newspapers and echoed in news casts to send the right kind of
signals.
The Area Committee has objected to work more in the area of Research and training
and to support the ideals of ATI (Access to Information) and demands; that is to
provide the needed data to create better policies for our communities. In another
meeting today held with The Carter Center USA team led by Ms Laura Nueman
committed to charted a course with Civil Society groups to have the passing into the
law the Freedom for Information bill, however, the need to study the document and
request for freedoms that are relevant for a sound participatory democracy in Liberia
was urged.
The Area Committee, however call for support from Partners and organizations to
work along with it in order to make the plan of action successful. All forms of support
are required the Advisor reiterated.
See the six-year plan of action and send your comments or support to:
Rev. St John York
Interfaith Advisor
Liberia
stjohnyork1@yahoo.com
stjohn.york@gmail.com
Phone#: (+231) 6-536-682
August 2008
A team from Carter Center USA visiting Liberia will meet with Church Leaders at
the Council House to discuss the Mental Health Program in Liberia. The LCC has
been seeking positive means of addressing the increase of Mental Health problems
which is critically attributed to the prolonged conflict that affected the lives of
Liberians. The visit of the Mental Health Team from the Carter Center will aid the
Council to explore productive measures to support the Program.
Over 20 Ministers from different Churches have been invited to participate in this
Meeting that is scheduled for August 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The
President of the Council, Bishop John G. Innis will give the invocation and will
welcome the four person Team led by Dr. Thomas H. Bornemann to the Council
House.
Church Leaders are already discussing the following questions and will give their
reaction during the meeting with the Team:
* What services are churches providing in communities as it relates to health and
mental health?
* What basic health and mental health services are provided to different
cultural/religious communities/groups?
* How do churches help people with health/mental health issues in the community and
in their families? Do they have a network of social services? Is there any type of
referral system?
* What terms do they use for individuals with different conditions?
* What is the perception of psychiatry/Western medicine? Can it be used with
traditional healing methods?
* How do religious and cultural groups conceptualize, classify/define, deal with, and
treat mental illnesses?
* What belief does the Liberian community have regarding the causality of mental
health issues as it relates to war-related trauma?
* What is considered "disability?" How does trauma affect daily life and functioning?
Is effect on functioning taken into consideration?
* Is the rate of suicide high? How does the community deal with it?
* Is there an education system through the churches? If so, is health addressed?
Mental health?
* Are there support groups for people with certain health issues or other?
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Current Activities