Monrovia: The Liberia Council of Churches, along with the All African Conference of Churches, began a 2-day workshop aimed at empowering church leaders and keeping the peace in and around Liberia on September 16, 2021.
The 2-day workshop, held under the theme strengthening peace and consolidation of church leaders active in the COVID-19 response and recovery process, brings together over 30 church leaders from across Liberia and Africa.
Serving as guest speaker at the ceremony, former Vice President Joseph Boakai noted that Liberian peace remains fragile amidst the rampant corruption and culture impunity under the CDC-led government.
According to former Vice President Boakai, Liberia cannot achieve sustainable peace if church leaders and government cannot fight corruption and do away with culture impunity, stressing peace can be realize by formulating strategies and engaging citizens through dialogue and meetings.
Former VP disclosed “The role of a church in every society is to guide and protect the peace of that country where leaders run for advice and knowledge in running the day to day affairs of the country.”
Remarking at the same time, the President of the All African Conference of Churches, C. Arnold Temple stated, “Peace is very essential and it is of God a gift to mankind to remain wealthy in our time God intent is to give peace to the as such’ one must sustain the peace in every country.”
Bishop Temple stressed that peace is not only the absence of war and conflict in times like these. This is the time all Africans should ask themselves “are we in peace? Real peace comes with justice, and peace that is derived from justice is false peace, because real peace is defined from justice and it takes the train of true value, such as trust, freedom, love, and general well being of people .”
He concluded by saying peace is the foundation of christian faith, and as such, church leaders should stand their ground in maintaining the peace and help the government in building a just society.
For his part, Liberia Council of Churches President Bishop Kortu Brown said the workshop is in continuation of his role in negotiating for the peace of Liberia.
Bishop Brown used the medium to caution participants to use the 2-day gathering to bring an end to the Liberian problem, particularly in maintaining peace.
Written by: Elijah D. S. Pyne
