The Ecumenical Economic Policy committee (EEPC) of the Liberia Council of Churches presented its first report to the Leadership of the Council, yesterday during a special call church leaders meeting at the First Presbyterian Church on Broad Street in Monrovia.
Presenting the 66-page report to the President of LCC Dr. Rev. Kortu Brown, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Togba Nah Topeteh averred that poverty in Liberia is “longstanding and widespread dating back to the 1950s and will require serious efforts to eradicate”.
Dr. Tipoteh recalled how the country was once considered to have achieved growth without development, arguing that in recent years the economy has been challenged and worsening because the country experienced a negative growth rate.
Dr. Tipoteh flanked by his Co-chairman, Brother David K. Vinton and another member of the committee; Rev. Dr. Arnold Hill challenged the churches to raise and help address the serious economic challenges face by its members. “The church must be serious”, he added, suggesting the need to focus on developing local capacity to fight poverty.
Receiving the report, LCC President Rev. Dr. Kortu Brown, thanked the committee for excellent preliminary work and promised to reach out to the religious community to study the report before reaching out to the Government and other stakeholders in and out of the country.
“Awareness will be provided on the report during a special session at the 32nd General Assembly of the Liberia Council of Churches, the LCC President told the Committee.
Utilizing St. Matthew 25:31-40, Rev. Brown said nations will be held to account for the suffering of their people as God is concerned about the hungry, sick, naked, prisoners and assured the committee that their work will continue until poverty is addressed in the country, adding that the fight against poverty requires commitment on the part of all, both in the public and private sector.
The church leaders convened at First Presbyterian Church resolved to take the report to the general assembly of the Liberia Council of Churches for further discussion and a subsequent extraordinary assembly of religious leaders in the country, before engaging Government and other stakeholders in the process.
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