Reading Received History of the Episcopal Church of Liberia:
Lessons for Today

This research will review received histories of the Episcopal Church’s mission to Liberia in order to identify lessons for today. Particular focus will be given to key leaders and how mission through evangelism and education establish the Church of Liberia. These key leaders were Bishops John S. Payne (1815-1874), Samuel David Ferguson (1842-1916), Bravid Washington Harris (1898-1965),George Daniel Browne (1933-1993) and Edward Wea Neufville, II (1937-2007). I will argue that White mission leaders, in distinction to Black and indigenous leaders, failed to thoroughly enculturate their mission and raise up contextually competent leaders. Consequently, the church was ill-prepared for a rushed transition that saw American support being withdrawn. The key lesson for today is that the mission of the church is best served when it is shift by contextual witness and inclusive of all its members. This thesis puffers recommendations to meet this inclusiveness and enculturation that will enhance church growth.

Woart, Harris W.

2024

Copyright, Harris W. Woart

PDF File

English

Project Thesis