Bishop Brown the Council should have considered the political climate and recent public dissatisfaction over the leadership of the House of Representatives before bestowing such honors.
Monrovia – A decision by the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) to honor House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon at its 36th General Assembly over the weekend has drawn sharp criticism, including from one of its own former presidents, Bishop Kortu Brown.
By Obediah Johnson
Bishop Brown said the move was ill-timed and failed to reflect the Council’s historical role as a neutral and moral voice in Liberian society.
The LCC, a prominent ecumenical Christian body founded in 1982, has come under scrutiny in recent years due to internal disagreements and allegations of financial mismanagement. These tensions have been further inflamed by recent changes to the Council’s constitution, reportedly aimed at solidifying the control of the current leadership under Reverend Samuel Reeves.
Critics, including Bishop Brown, allege that the leadership has failed to account for funds received from the government and other donors, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Despite the unresolved crisis within the organization, the LCC proceeded to honor Speaker Koon alongside other prominent Liberians, including veteran journalist Kenneth Y. Best and economist Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh.
The ceremony took place in Paynesville, just outside Monrovia. However, the award to Speaker Koon was received on his behalf by Representative James Kolleh, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, as the Speaker did not attend the event. Also invited but absent were President Joseph Boakai and former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, June 2 from his church in Brewerville, Bishop Brown questioned the judgment of the LCC leadership in choosing to recognize Speaker Koon during what he described as a period of national and institutional uncertainty.
He said the Council should have considered the political climate and recent public dissatisfaction over the leadership of the House of Representatives before bestowing such honors.
“Liberia and its citizens are depending on and looking up to the Liberia Council of Churches,” Bishop Brown stated. “As such, the Council should do as much as it can to ensure that it continues to play her national role.” He added that honoring Speaker Koon at this moment risked undermining the Council’s credibility. “There are few things that come to my mind about the honoring of Speaker Koon and the others. There is deep love and appreciation of the works of the LCC or the role the Council is expected to play in Liberia. People want a group in Liberia that they can always run to in times of crisis. They want to ensure that the group is balanced,” he said.
Bishop Brown acknowledged that not all honorees were controversial, pointing to Best and Tipoteh as examples of deserving recipients. “People may feel that the honoring of some of the honorees were untimely, but there were also good honorees. Nobody can argue that Kenneth Best does not deserve an honor or Togba Nah Tipoteh, among others,” he added.
However, he maintained that the Council’s decision to include Speaker Koon among the honorees raised serious concerns, especially in light of the recent crisis in the House of Representatives and public perception surrounding it. “Reactions from Liberians clearly show that it was not timely for the Council to honor Speaker Koon,” he said. “Maybe we should have waited for a while.”
According to Bishop Brown, the LCC has historically been seen as a stabilizing force and a neutral platform for mediation and peacebuilding during Liberia’s most turbulent times. He warned that honoring a controversial political figure without broader consultation or reflection could alienate citizens and erode the trust that the Council has painstakingly built over the decades.
“I think the real message is the extent to which the public holds the LCC, and all of us from the LCC should reflect on that and recommit ourselves to ensuring that we don’t let the public down and that we continue to play our role as a religious community in a way that the country continues to benefit,” he said.
While emphasizing that he was not against recognizing the efforts of public officials, Bishop Brown said it was critical for the Council to remain aware of the timing and context of such actions. “You can’t say that the Council should not recognize the President of Liberia; but maybe the way you do it matters. We can learn lessons from where we are,” he explained.
Amid the ongoing internal wrangling, Bishop Brown also revealed that reconciliation efforts were underway to address the disputes currently plaguing the Council. He said mediation efforts involving former leaders of the LCC, including himself, were making gradual progress and that parties involved in the crisis had so far shown signs of cooperation.
“We need the Council of Churches; it is a global platform and Liberia should benefit from it. We should do all we can to keep and protect it for the good of the country. The churches should always speak out and stand up for what is right. And that’s why we are trying to mediate whatever concerns the LCC. As church people, this is something that we should do so easily. The public should not lose faith in the LCC,” he urged.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Council to resolve its internal crisis, noting that the LCC, though a religious body, was not immune to challenges. “The LCC is a religious group, but every group can have challenges. I trust the capacity of the LCC to be able to resolve our internal crisis as religious leaders,” he added.
Bishop Brown’s comments reflect growing unease among Liberians about the direction of the Liberia Council of Churches at a time when many had hoped the institution would rise above politics and continue serving as a moral compass for the nation.
