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.
By Konah L. Parker*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 4:45 AM
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