Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-02-20 00:44:22
The President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, Reverend Doctor Samuel Reeves, has recently stated that over 50 million United States Dollars are needed to fully construct the William R. Tolbert University and bring it up to international standards. This is necessary to ensure that the university is equipped with all the basic infrastructures required for a functioning educational institution.
Reverend Dr. Samuel Reeves made these remarks in an interview over the weekend after being inducted into office for a second term. The induction took place during a program marking the close of the 109th Convention of the church, which was held at Ricks Institute in the Township of Virginia, outside Monrovia on Sunday, 16 February. He also mentioned that the institution is currently open and has about 250 students.
The leaders elected at the 109th Convention include Reverend Alphanso Duncan, the Senior Pastor of the Bridgeway Baptist Church in St. Paul Bridge, who was elected Vice President. Moriah Wesseh was elected as the Director of the Women Missionary; Martin Allen as the Director of the Men; and Gyers Windberry as the Director of Sunday School, respectively.
During the induction ceremony, President Joseph Boakai, a Baptist and Chairman of the Elder Council, acknowledged the significant contributions that the Baptist Church has made to the nation’s development and urged the elected leadership to continue working towards solving the many problems that have engulfed the country.
However, there have been some controversies surrounding the leadership of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. During the annual conference, members of the Providence Baptist Association disrupted the opening session, presided over by Reverend Dr. Reeves, claiming that he lacked the authority to lead after his license and certificate were revoked.
The Providence Baptist Association stated that Reverend Reeves’ license was revoked on January 10, 2024, leading to disagreements between him and the moderator of the association. The confusion in the Baptist Convention arose due to conflicts related to power, money, and Reverend Dr. Reeves’ attempt to amend the church’s constitution and introduce financial discipline.
It was rumored that Reverend Reeves had sought to amend some portions of the Baptist Constitution to synchronize the accreditation, licensing, and certification of pastors, deacons, and licentiates. Additionally, he tried to introduce financial discipline, but this attempt was resisted by the Providence Baptist Association, which is the institution with the authority to accredit, license, and ordain pastors of the Baptist confab.
These developments indicate a turbulent time for the Baptist Convention, with internal conflicts and challenges to leadership. Despite these issues, the focus remains on the 109th Convention’s mandate, which is to contribute meaningfully towards the building and development of the nation. The challenges will undoubtedly need to be addressed carefully by the elected leadership in order to move forward and fulfill the mission of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
