Monrovia, Liberia – PresidentJoseph N. Boakai has challenged the leadership of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention to go the extra miles in solving some of the many problems in the country. President Boakai made the call when he graced the Liberia Baptist Minssionary and Educational Convention in Township of Virginia
Performing the induction, President Joseph Boakai, who is also the Chairman of the Church’ Elder Council, , said the Baptist Church has gone a long way in contributing to the nation building and it is still having more to do.
The William R. Tolbert University will require more than 50 million US dollars to build completely in order to operate with all the necessary infrastructures to fulfill international standards.
About 250 students are enrolled at the institution as of right now, according to Reverend Doctor Samuel Reeves, President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention.
During the program that marked the conclusion of the 109th conference of the church, held on Sunday, February18, 2024, at the Ricks Institute in the Township of Virginia, Reverend Doctor Reeves disclosed the information in an interview that followed his induction as president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary Educational Convention for a second term.
The following people were also elected: Gyers Windberry, Director of Sunday School; Moriah Wesseh, Director of Women’s Missionary; Martin Allen, Director of Men’s Missionary; and Reverend Alphanso Duncan, Senior Pastor of the Bridgeway Baptist Church at St. Paul Bridge, Vice President.
Members of the Providence Baptist Association interrupted Reverend Doctor Reeves’ opening session of the 109th annual conference on Wednesday, February14, 2024, the first day of the conference, claiming that he lacked authority because his lesson and certificate had been revoked.
Disagreements developed between Reverend Doctor Reeves and the Moderator of the Providence Baptist Association when his lesson was revoked on January 10, 2024, according to the PBA.
Based on information acquired by this station, it appears that the Baptist Convention became disorganized due to issues of power and money, as well as an attempt by Reverend Doctor Reeves to change the church’s constitution and institute some financial discipline.
Rumor had it that Reverend Doctor Reeves planned to change a section of the Baptist Constitution to harmonize the certification, accreditation, and licensing processes for pastors, deacons, and licentiates as well as to impose some fiscal restraint.
However, the PBA the organization with the power to accredit, license, and ordain Baptist Confab pastors opposed this attempt.
On Thursday, the second day of the annual conference, the Vice President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention was confirmed as the conference’s moderator by Reverend Quoigbaye Wamah of the Providence Baptist Association. However, he declined to go further.
The crisis forced a two-day conference, and some attendees and delegates expressed concern that it would embarrass not only the church but also President Joseph Boakai, an ordained Baptist deacon, since it has taken 43 years for a member of this church to hold the nation’s highest office.
The late Reverend Doctor William R. Tolbert was the first Black man to hold the position of President of the World Baptist Alliance and the last member of the Baptist clergy to hold the office.
Regrettable, President Tolbert was assassinated in a bloody military coup in 1980 by the People’s Redemption Council and so, when the wives of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia embarked on a wide cat protest created concern among not only the Liberian people but the Baptists in particular
According to information gathered with reliability, the PBA and Doctor Reeves worked out their differences in light of the Church Elder Council’s recommendations, which put the matter of the Baptist Constitution amendment on hold. Both parties also wrote letters of apologies.
In his capacity as Chairman of the Elder Council of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, President Joseph Boakai assisted in resolving the crisis between Reverend Doctor Reeves and the PBA during a meeting held at his house. Our source claimed that this decision was made on the eve of the intercessory service commemorating the inauguration of the new government.
According to sources, both parties were to apologize to each other, withdraw the suspension of each other and suspend the plan by the Baptist President to amend the church’s constitution.
Reverend Doctor Reeves addressed the problem, saying that although disagreements do occasionally arise because the state was established on the church, they are grateful that they have weathered the storm.
Since Reverend Doctor Reeves is currently the Vice President of the Inter Religious Council of Liberia and President of the Liberia Council of Churches, the news of the crisis last Friday sent shivers down the spines of many onlookers.
The news of the problem also shocked friends of the Providence Baptist Church in other regions of the world, the African Baptist Convention, the World Baptist Alliance, and the West Africa Council of Churches.
With the topic “Renewal and Revival: Seeking God’s Presence in Our Midst,” the conference included around 500 domestic attendees as well as guests from the US.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
