LCC Gets Widespread Condemnations -Multiple Citizen Groups Angry for Its Decoration of Koon

MONROVIA – The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), or better say its leadership, are under strong, widespread verbal attacks from multiple sources for tendering an honor to current speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Koon, who they think is unworthy of recognition by a Christian group representing the voice of God on earth. They say Koon’s anti-rule of law posturings during the House crisis that rocked the Legislature and the Country for nearly eight month did not deserve a honor, more so, from the LCC.

Besides the civil society group, STAND, which strong statement is separately published in this edition of The Analyst, other sources have released statements not supportive and are very harsh on the Council. One is such statements comes from Liberia Restoration to Christian Heritage Committee, a Church group that called on the LCC to “to stop the misrepresentation of the church – no honor for Speaker Koon!”

The Church group strongly condemned the alleged plan by the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) to honor House Speaker Richard N. Koon as an “astute statesman for national development” at its 35th General Assembly scheduled for May 30, 2025, in Paynesville.

The group asked: “What has Speaker Koon done to merit such an honor? His rise to power followed the politically motivated removal of former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, a move based not on ethics, integrity, or rule of law, but on sheer political retaliation. The result? A seven-month legislative crisis that crippled the House, divided lawmakers, and further destroyed public trust in governance.”

Instead of wasting sacred platforms on political glorification, the congregation says the LCC should be addressing real national concerns, such as the unconstitutional bill promoting religious holidays that threatens Liberia’s secular foundation, the numerous foreign-friendly concessions that continue to impoverish Liberians, the IMF’s report placing Liberia in a multidimensionally impoverished status, and the the failure to enforce the Liberianization Policy, meant to protect 26 business sectors for Liberians.

The Restoration to Christian Heritage Committee also said the LCC should rather asked the Legislature to find remedy to the illegal occupation of Grand Gedeh County by Burkinabés since 2015, the deepening division in the Methodist Church over same-sex marriage, the unsafe state of the Roberts International Airport, now a regional embarrassment, and the LCC’s own internal leadership dispute marred by questions of legitimacy and accountability.

“We therefore call on the LCC to immediately halt this unproductive and misplaced honoring of Speaker Koon and return to its prophetic responsibility, to defend truth, justice, and the interests of the Liberian people,” the further asserted. “Let the Church be the voice of righteousness, not the megaphone of political reward.”

Olubanke King-Akerele Frowns on LCC

A prominent Liberian has also frowned on the decision by the LCC to honor the Speaker of the 55^th Legislature of Liberia Richard Nagbe Koon.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Olubanke King-Akerele was seen on in a video footage venting her anger and expressing serious disagreements over the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), for honoring Speaker Koon, as an “astute statesman for nation development”.

Methodist Monitor also Disagrees with LCC

Jefferson Knight of United Methodist Human Rights Monitor deferred with the LCC saying the honor of Koon represents a profound disgrace to the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and a betrayal of its foundational principles.

The Methodist Monitor asserts that the LCC, a once-respected voice of conscience and prophetic advocacy within Liberian society has been overshadowed and compromised by the current leadership of the LCC, who has, in effect, transformed the organization into a mere platform for personal agendas and political expediency.

“Such conduct undermines the integrity and moral authority of the LCC, which should serve as a beacon of truth, justice, and spiritual guidance for the nation. To preserve the dignity of this esteemed religious body and restore public trust, the current leadership must step down immediately,” the group further said. “Only through genuine renewal and committed leadership can the LCC reclaim its rightful role as a courageous voice for societal betterment and moral integrity.”

Concluding its statement, the Monitor intimated that the time for introspection and decisive action is now, adding, “The future of the LCC—and its vital mission within Liberia—depends on it.”