Liberia: “Missionary Era Is Over”

Trinity Cathedral as known today was first called St. Paul’s parish under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Eli Stokes (1851-1852).

.... Rev. Wellington Bright tells Episcopalians to take ownership of their Church in Liberia and grow as they have elected a new Bishop Coadjutor

The Episcopal Church of Liberia has elected the successor to Bishop Jonathan B.B. Hart, but that is only the beginning of the new dispensation that the ECL hopes can help the church be more sustainable and impactful.

During his sermon at the close of the Special Convention, visiting Liberian-American prelate, Rev. Dr. Wellington Bright, has called on the Church in Liberia to tighten up its belt and grow without further dependence on support from its parent Episcopal Church in America.

According to Rev. Dr. Wellington Bright, the “missionary era is over,” and Liberian Episcopalians should put aside their differences and work in teams to achieve success for the Ministry of God.

Bright’s message came following the election of the Very Rev. Fr. James B. Sellee, Dean of the Trinity Cathedral of the Episcopal Church in Liberia, as Bishop Coadjutor to outgoing Bishop, the Most Rev. Fr. Jonathan B.B. Hart.

“To put it the Liberian way, through crab, crawfish drinks water but there comes a time when crab fish has to find water for its use due to the absence of crab,” he said using the popular Liberian aphorism. “It’s time we become self-sustaining. In many Dioceses we see growth. That growth needs to be seen here too and I believe we can make it. The missionary era is over,” Bright said as he delivered one of the imperatives in his sermon at the close of the Church’s convention.

He told the congregation gathered at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Parish in Paynesville that the missionaries came to the Liberian shores long ago and planted the church, using their own money and made lots of sacrifices that should not go down to the earth while the Liberian Episcopal community fails to take lead in ensuring the church grows and succeed.

Like many organizations, including corporate entities, the Church, too, is facing numerous challenges in Liberia, ranging from lack of enough money to run its programs and pay for services to moral issues and the Episcopal denomination is no exception.

Referencing on the Biblical story about Joseph who was sold to Egypt by his brothers but, with a forgiving heart and giving hands, overcame hate and malice and became a hero and a leader in the new land, Bright told his congregants that now is time to let go of any idea that is anti-growth of the church.

“The Episcopacy needs to recognize that the day of a missionary is gone and I believe it may never come back again. You should take ownership of the affairs of the Church in Liberia and move its activities forward. Do not sit and wait for Americans or other nationals to come and make any difference for you here,” Bright reemphasized.

On the second imperative, he called on the Episcopal congregation to restore the years lost in which the works of the Church were affected and could not be carried out effectively.

He outlined the outbreaks of Ebola in 2014 and the Coronavirus that has ravaged the world, even though there are multiple vaccines now available. 

“Rise and work hard to restore the fullness of the Church,” Bright said. “To be a part of the healing, we must realize that one finger can’t pick lice. We must work together as a unit, as a team to achieve our goals.”

According to him, there must be peace and unity and there must be teamwork to continue the partnership with people from other Dioceses in Africa and elsewhere.

He said there are great partners right in Africa that the Liberian Episcopal Congregation can work with before thinking about those across the Atlantic Ocean.

His call, a unique one, comes from the fact that Liberian organizations, including Churches, have become mostly dependent on external support to progress, ignoring the many potentials they have available at their disposal.

As the third and final imperative in his message, he admonished the Church to not condemn the foundation laid down by the pioneers and succeeding leaderships before present-day organizational structures.