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Church delegation to attend Liberian presidential inauguration

Jan. 9, 2006

NOTE: A photograph is available at http://umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert*

A delegation of United Methodist leaders from the United States will
attend the inauguration of Liberia's newly elected president in a show
of support for the first African woman head of state.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, an active member of First United Methodist Church
of Monrovia, will officially become president of Liberia in a Jan. 16
inauguration ceremony in Monrovia, the country's capital city.

"We celebrate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's election as president because she
represents great compassion, a commitment to justice, and she is a fine
disciple of Jesus Christ," said Bishop Peter Weaver, president of the
United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops.

Weaver will present Johnson-Sirleaf with a Bible signed by all the
denomination's bishops. Last year, the Council of Bishops presented
President George W. Bush, also a member of the United Methodist Church,
with a signed Bible.

"We are honoring both of these United Methodist presidents and praying
they will find strength and guidance in the Gospel for their particular
calling," Weaver said.

President Bush offered congratulatory words to Johnson-Sirleaf on her
election, according to a report in the Daily Observer in Monrovia. The
story quoted him as "offering renewed partnership in building a secured,
democratic new Liberia." The country is still recovering from a 14-year
civil war.

"Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's election marks a huge milestone on the road to
establishing peace and order in Liberia," said Jim Winkler, chief
executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and head
of the delegation, which will travel to Liberia Jan. 12-19.

"She will be the first African woman head of state, a long overdue
moment in African history. She brings a lot of experience to the job,
something critically needed for Liberia. She is a United Methodist, and
our denomination can be proud of that," he added. The board has actively
advocated for peace in Liberia for many years.

Liberia is a "country dear to the United Methodist Church," said the
Rev. R. Randy Day, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries, when Johnson-Sirleaf was elected. The denomination has been
active in ministry with Liberia since the country's founding in the
1840s, he added.

Bishop John Innis, leader of the church in Liberia, has been involved in
post-war reconciliation efforts, and he led the country's United
Methodists in mobilizing voters to turn out during last year's
elections. He also advocated for a fair, transparent election process.
The Africa Union monitored the vote and reported few irregularities.

Liberian United Methodists are developing ways to work with
Johnson-Sirleaf's administration as well as to be independent from it.
The Liberia Annual Conference has created the Liberian United Methodist
Empowerment Foundation to help the church's work in education, health
and agricultural development as well as to support clergy throughout the
country.

The fund is intended to help build the capacity of ordinary Liberians
through livelihood support projects and training, among other things.
The foundation is building an endowment fund, which receives support
through the denomination's Advance for Christ and His Church giving
program (Advance Special #14368T).

"The church has been playing its role as a loving and caring community
on behalf of God's people, who are in desperate need of food, clothing
and shelter," the bishop said in October.

United Methodists throughout the country worked hard in the months
leading up to the election to educate people in the most remote parts of
the country on how to vote. The human rights department of the United
Methodist Church held trainings and workshops on issues such as women's
participation in the political process and the importance of voting.

On Dec. 13, Innis sent a statement to his fellow Liberians calling for
peace and a show of support for the new president.

"It is time that every Liberian submits to the will of God by rallying
around Madam Sirleaf so that finding a safe place for our children will
no longer be a dream, and our young people will have a right to free
academic, vocational and technical education throughout our land," he
said.

In addition to developing congregations, the United Methodist Church in
Liberia has contributed to education, health services, and, since the
civil war ended two years ago, demobilization and reconciliation. United
Methodists continue ministries to Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone. The
United Methodist Committee on Relief is responsible for a major
demobilization and job placement program in a post-war resettlement
camp.

"I am honored to have been invited by the government to be there for the
inauguration," Weaver said. "We look forward to keeping President
Sirleaf in our prayers as well as being in partnership with the Liberia
government in the many ways in which the United Methodist Church is
reaching out in that community. Bishop Innis has done an outstanding job
of leading our strong United Methodist conference in that country."

Liberia has about 600 United Methodist churches, with a membership of
about 170,000.

In addition to Weaver and Winkler, other members of the Jan. 12-19
delegation include:
"	The Rev. Vance Summers of West Ohio, member of the Board of
Church and Society;
"	Mark Harrison, director of the Peace with Justice program, Board
of Church and Society;
"	Kathy Gilbert, news writer for United Methodist News Service,
United Methodist Communications.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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