MONROVIA – Bishop Andrew Jagaye Karnley has condemned the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) for what he called the bestowal of honor on a “controversial political figure,” warning that internal discord and poor judgment are eroding the Council’s credibility and moral compass.
“It is deeply concerning by what I am reading and hearing in the media is going on in the Liberia Council of Churches,” wrote Bishop Karnley. “The internal wrangling and discord; and the bestowing of honor on a controversial political figure leave me wondering and asking if the LCC has lost its bearing.”
His public rebuke came as a Facebook comment under a post by theologian and activist Michael T. Biddle, who himself questioned the rationale behind the Council’s decision to honor House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon at its Bishop George D. Brown Hall of Fame ceremony.
In his post, Biddle detailed his private outreach to at least six senior LCC officials seeking justification for the award. According to him, none offered a convincing explanation. “If the LCC persisted, it risked further alienation and loss of credibility among the people,” Biddle warned. He also revealed that it was at his suggestion that former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa be included as an honoree if Koon was to be recognized—a proposal he believed would fail when Koffa inevitably declined. “As expected, he did,” Biddle confirmed.
Cllr. Koffa, the Grand Kru County Representative and former Speaker of the House, declined the Council’s invitation to receive the title “Advocate for Justice and the Rule of Law,” telling The Liberian Investigator, “I do not deem myself worthy of such an award,” without further elaborating.
Despite mounting criticism, the Council proceeded with honoring Speaker Koon with a “Statesmanship Award,” citing his role in peacebuilding and governance. Koon, currently on an official visit to Sierra Leone, was represented at the ceremony by Representatives James Kolleh and Johnson S.N. Williams, as designated by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah during Thursday’s House session. The plenary had formally acknowledged and endorsed the LCC’s invitation.
But Friday’s ceremony fell flat. The event was poorly attended, with several top officials and invited guests absent.
The Bishop George D. Brown Hall of Fame was established in 2023 to honor Liberians for distinguished service to church, state, and society. It was named after the Council’s founding president, a cleric remembered for his courageous stand during the military regime of Samuel Doe. In his post, Biddle recalled how Bishop Browne and the LCC once stood fearlessly against state power—a stark contrast to what he described as the Council’s “deafening silence” in recent decades.
This year’s 35th General Assembly, which includes the Hall of Fame ceremony, convened under the theme: “Reconciliation: Acknowledging the Past, Accepting the Present, and Adjusting for the Future with True Healing,” based on Ephesians 5:14–16. More than 250 delegates from across Liberia gathered for the four-day event to deliberate on national unity, post-war healing, and institutional reform.
Yet, instead of fostering reconciliation, the Council’s leadership now finds itself under scrutiny from both within and outside the church. Bishop Karnley’s remarks—delivered not in a formal press statement but as a sober warning on social media—have intensified calls for reform.
Meanwhile, the Council has scheduled a National Intercessory Prayer Service for Saturday, May 31, at the Seminary campus, inviting lawmakers and citizens to reflect on the country’s leadership challenges and spiritual direction.
“The Council counts on your continued support to the church and your understanding of the past, present, and future context of how Liberia can experience true healing,” the Council stated in its communication to the Legislature.
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