Liberian religious leaders urged to move beyond pulpit to drive community change

Published: March 18, 2026

MONROVIA — Religious leaders across Liberia are being challenged to move beyond Sunday sermons and take a more active role in driving social change, as a national leadership conference calls for churches to become engines of community transformation.

The call came during the second edition of a three-day leadership conference organized by the African Theology and Leadership Institute (ATLI), in partnership with Princeton Theological Seminary and the Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies.

Held at Providence Baptist Church, the conference is aimed at strengthening leadership capacity among pastors while promoting practical engagement with the social and economic challenges facing communities.

Shift From Preaching to Practice

Speaking at the event, Rev. E. Alfred Walker, chair of the planning committee, said churches must evolve beyond traditional worship spaces into active centers of community engagement.

He stressed that the pulpit remains a powerful platform for addressing real-life issues, but warned that many churches limit their impact by confining engagement to weekly services.

“The platform given to religious leaders should be used to confront the real issues affecting society,” Walker said. “But in many cases, pastors mount the pulpits, complete their services, and everything shuts down until the next Sunday.”

Walker urged pastors to leverage their influence to engage a broader cross-section of society, including policymakers, health professionals and other stakeholders, in addressing community challenges.

Call for Accountability

He also emphasized the need for greater accountability and sustained interaction between church leaders and their congregations, noting that meaningful leadership requires consistent presence beyond the church building.

According to him, regular visitation and direct engagement with members are critical to building trust and responding to the everyday needs of citizens.

Training for Practical Leadership

Organizers say the conference is designed to equip participants with practical leadership tools that can translate into tangible impact in both urban and rural communities.

The event, which runs through Saturday, focuses on strengthening governance, stewardship and discipleship within Liberia’s religious institutions.

Global Collaboration

Rev. Dr. David G. Latimore, director of the Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies in the United States, said the initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen church leadership through global collaboration.

“Our goal is to ensure that religious leaders have the leadership capacity that reflects positively in the lives of their congregations,” Latimore said.

He emphasized that the church’s role must extend beyond scheduled services into everyday life, influencing social behavior, community cohesion and development outcomes.

Broader Impact Expected

The conference has drawn pastors, church administrators and faith leaders from across Liberia, all seeking to enhance their effectiveness in leadership and community engagement.

Organizers say the training is intended not only to strengthen church institutions but also to position religious leaders as key actors in national development.

As discussions continue, the central message remains clear: the future relevance of the church in Liberia will depend not just on what is preached on Sundays, but on how consistently leaders engage and transform the communities they serve.