Bishop John G. Innis elected president of the Liberian Council of Churches

By Konah L. Parker*

MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS)-United Methodist Bishop John G. Innis has been elected president of the Liberian Council of Churches.

Innis was elected during the council's 23rd General Assembly and Silver Jubilee program, held Aug. 2-4 at the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church and St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sinkor, Monrovia.

In his acceptance speech, Innis said the Liberian Council of Churches has God as its president. He described himself and the two vice presidents-elect as coaches on God's leadership team.

Innis praised the leadership of the outgoing president, Bishop Sumoward E. Harris of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, and he noted the role the council has played in fostering national unity and reconciliation in the West African nation following a long civil war.

Innis was elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 2000 and has led the church in Liberia since then. He has held a number of leadership positions in the Liberian Council of Churches.

The General Assembly and Silver Jubilee focused on the theme of "The Church and Gender-Based Violence." Keynote speaker Vabah Gayflor, Liberia's gender and development minister, said rape and other gender-based violence against girls and women has become an "alarming" problem, and she called on the Council of Churches to help the government in combating it.

*Parker is director of communications for The United Methodist Church's Liberia Annual (regional) Conference.