United Methodists in Liberia, Norway sign pact
Children participate in Holy Communion at Reeves Memorial
United Methodist Church in Liberia. The United Methodist Church of
Norway is partnering with the Liberia Annual Conference to promote
community-based projects in the West African country still rebuilding
after years of civil strife. A UMNS file photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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By Konah L. Parker*
Feb. 1, 2008 | MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS)
United Methodists in Norway and Liberia have signed a partnership
agreement to develop and promote community-based projects throughout
Liberia.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in mid-January, emphasizes
mutual cooperation and clarifies the authority and responsibility of the
Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and The United
Methodist Church of Norway.
Funding for the development program, based on a document prepared and
approved by both parties in March 2007, will come from the Norwegian
church and its donors.
The goal of the pact is to improve lives and create sustainable
communities, thereby improving the living condition for people in
communities with United Methodist congregations. A number of sustainable
local projects will be implemented and operated by the local
communities and local churches over a five-year period.
Activities will be limited to the training of people in local project
communities and churches; review and approval of local project
applications; supervision of local projects; and program planning and
reporting.
According to the Rev. Tove Odland, head of a five-member Norwegian
delegation to Liberia and a principal signatory to the agreement, The
United Methodist Church of Norway has prayed for the people of Liberia
for many years, especially during the years of Liberia’s civil crisis.
The memorandum of understanding is an indication of how much United
Methodists and the government and people of Norway want to assist in the
reconstruction and development of Liberia, she said.
“The signing of the agreement is an
historic occasion as it further concretizes the relationship between
United Methodists and the people of (Liberia and Norway).” – The Rev. Tove Odland
Odland said the point is not that the people of Liberia need the
Norwegians, but that all church members need each other to share in the
mission and ministry of God through Jesus Christ. "The signing of the
agreement is an historic occasion," she said, "as it further concretizes
the relationship between United Methodists and the people of the two
countries."
Speaking on behalf of the Liberian church, the Rev. Erlene P. Thompson,
senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Monrovia and
chairperson of the Episcopal management team, said the coming of "our
friends from Norway is an indication that God is alive in the hearts of
His people called United Methodists around the world, and has once again
demonstrated His love toward the people of Liberia through the
community development program being initiated by both parties in the
memorandum of understanding."
Joseph T. Theoway, director of connectional ministries for the Liberian
conference, praised the Norwegian delegation for its "timely program
aimed at restoring hope to the people of Liberia and bringing
development to communities that have lost faith and hope in God as a
result of the civil war."
He said the memorandum of understanding will ensure that thousands of
Liberians in local communities will begin to feel God’s presence through
whatever development programs they undertake and work to sustain within
the scope of the agreement.
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Besides Odland, members of the Norwegian delegation included Nils
Atle Kroneide, Bjorn Sivert Broback, Kyersti Kristiansen and the Rev.
Ola Westad.
Westad also signed a partnership agreement between his congregation,
Central United Methodist Church, and Garjay United Methodist Church of
the St. John River District in Liberia.
The signing ceremony took place in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, and was
witnessed by the St. John River district superintendent, the Rev. Nelly
W. Wright, along with Theoway and the pastor and officials of Garjay
church.
Westad, on his first visit to Liberia, said he is optimistic that this
partnership will go a long way in the life of the people of the two
churches. He lauded the efforts of Liberian Bishop John G. Innis to
establish partnership relations with all districts and churches of the
Liberia Annual Conference.
*Parker is a United Methodist communicator in Liberia.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Related articles
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Resources
The United Methodist Church in Northern Europe
United Methodist Board of Global Ministries
BBC Profile of Liberia
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