Tension Eases Over Rumour Rev. Reeves Would Have Amended Baptist Constitution
PHOTO: (L-R) Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves takes oath of office be sworn by President Joseph Boakai
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Over 50 million United States Dollars will be needed to fully construct the William R Tolbert University to get the institution running with all the basic infrastructures to meet international standard
The President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, Reverend Doctor Samuel Reeves said that the institution is currently opened with about 250 students.
Rev. made the disclosure in an interview shortly after he was inducted president for the second term of the Liberia Baptist Missionary Educational Convention at the program marking the close of the 109th conference of the church.
The program was held held at the Ricks Institute in the Township of Virginia outside Monrovia on Sunday, February 18, 2024.
Others elected were Reverend Alphanso Duncan, Senior Pastor of the Bridgeway Baptist Church in St. Paul Bridge, Vice President; Moriah Wesseh, Director of the Women Missionary , Martin Allen, Director of the Men and Gyers Windberry, Director, Sunday School.
Pres. Boakai inducts corps of church officials
Performing the induction, President Joseph Boakai, who is also the Chairman of the Church’ Elder Council, said the Baptist Church has gone a long way in contributing to the nation building and it is still having more to do.
President Boakai challenged the leadership of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention to go the extra miles in solving some of the many problems in the country.
On Wednesday, the first day of the annual conference, members of the Providence Baptist Association disrupted the opening session of the 109th annual conference that Reverend Doctor Reeves on ground that he lacks the authority after his lesson and certificate was revoked.
According to the PBA, the lesson of Reverend Doctor Reeves was revoked on January 10, 2024 ; as a result, disagreements erupted between him and Moderator of the Providence Baptist Association.
Information gathered by this station revealed that the confusion erupted in the Baptist Convention because of power, money and attempt by the Reverend Doctor Reeves amend the constitution of the church and introduce some financial discipline.
Rumour Rev. Reeves would have amended Baptist constitution
It was rumored that Rev. Dr. Reeves was intended to amend some portion of the Baptist Constitution so as to synchronize the accreditation, licensing and certification of pastors, deacons and licentiates and introduce some financial discipline as it regards funds
But, this attempt was resisted by the PBA, which is the institution clothed with the authority to accredit, license and ordain pastors of the Baptist Confab
On Thursday, day two of the annual conference, the Moderator of the Providence Baptist Association, Reverend Quoigbaye Wamah, confirmed that the Vice President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention was presiding over the conference but refused to speak further.
The crisis would brought the conference for two days and some some delegates and guests were as it will bring embarrassment not only to the church but President Joseph Boakai an ordained Baptist Deacon as it has taken been 43 years since the member of this church to surface to the highest office in the land.
The last Baptist cleric to serve as President was the late Reverend Doctor William R Tolbert, who was also the first black man to serve as President of the World Baptist Alliance.
Regrettable, President Tolbert was assassinated in a bloody military coup in 1980 by the People’s Redemption Council and so, when the wives of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia embarked on a wide cat protest created concern among not only the Liberian people but the Baptists in particular
It is reliably learnt that both the PBA and Doctor Reeves reconciled their difference based on the recommendations of Church Elder Council for the issue of the amendment of the Baptist Constitution placed on hold and both sides write either other letter of apology.
According a source, this was decision reached on the eve of the intercessory service marking the inauguration of the new government, then President-elect, Joseph Boakai, in his capacity as Chairman of the Elder Council of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, during a meeting helped resolve the crisis between Reverend Doctor Reeves and the PBA held at his house.
According to sources, both parties were to apologize to each other, withdraw the suspension of each other and suspend the plan by the Baptist President to amend the church’s constitution.
Commenting on the crisis, Reverend Doctor Reeves said the state was founded on the church and at sometimes differences emerge but thank God they have overcome the storm
Last Friday, when the news of the crisis broke out, the story sent shock waves in the spines of many observers because Reverend Doctor Reeves is currently the President of the Liberia Council of Churches and Vice President of the Inter Religious Council of Liberia.
To add salt to injury, the news of the crisis hit the West Africa Council of Churches, African Baptist Convention, the World Baptist Alliance and friends of the Providence Baptist Church in other parts of the world.
The conference, under the theme, “Renewal and Revival: Seeking God’s Presence in Our Midst,” brought together over 500 delegates from all over the country, and guest from the United States.