Monrovia – The Chairman of Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), Mulbah K. Morlu, has issued a scathing condemnation of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), accusing it of betraying its spiritual mandate by deciding to honor House Speaker Richard Koon with the Bishop George D. Brown Hall of Fame Award.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
In a statement released Thursday, Morlu described the LCC’s decision as a “moral collapse” and “a disgrace to the Church’s moral authority,” calling on Liberians to reject what he termed a shameful alliance between political elites and compromised clergy.
The LCC Thursday announced it would bestow the honor on Speaker Koon at a special program scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2025. The Council said the award is in recognition of Speaker Koon’s “exemplary leadership” and “contributions to national development,” particularly highlighting his role in promoting peace, unity, and governance reforms during a tense period in the House of Representatives.
As part of the ceremony, the LCC also invited the House leadership to a Special Thanksgiving and Prayer Service to acknowledge the role of the Legislature in restoring calm during a leadership dispute late last year.
However, STAND Chairman Morlu rebuked the move, questioning the LCC’s moral compass and accusing the Council of aligning with corruption rather than truth.
“By planning to honor Richard Koon, the Liberia Council of Churches has sold out the altar for power and money,” Morlu said. “This is not just a lapse in judgment; it is an open alliance between corrupt politicians and compromised clergy. Honoring Speaker Koon under these circumstances is like giving Satan a front-row seat among the saints.”
He referenced Speaker Koon’s controversial rise to the speakership, which followed a power struggle in the House of Representatives and coincided with a devastating fire at the Capitol Building in December 2024 that destroyed the Joint Chambers.
“Speaker Koon’s elevation was tainted by fraud, political manipulation, and constitutional violations,” Morlu asserted. “To praise such a figure with an award bearing the name of Bishop George D. Brown is to defile the memory of one of Liberia’s most revered spiritual leaders.”
Morlu said the LCC’s decision to go forward with the honor damages the credibility of faith-based institutions and the Church’s role as a moral compass for the nation.
“These are not men of God,” he said of the religious leaders involved in organizing the award ceremony. “They are men of filthy gain—servants not of Christ, but of their bellies. They have exchanged their anointing for influence and their calling for power.”
He continued: “What kind of church venerates those who trample justice and truth underfoot? The LCC has abandoned the values it was founded upon. It no longer speaks for the Church of Jesus Christ.”
Morlu further emphasized that the award, in his view, not only undermines the legacy of Bishop George D. Brown but also represents a betrayal of the gospel and the conscience of the Christian community in Liberia.
“This so-called honor bestowed upon Richard Koon is not merely an error—it is a sacrilege. It insults the Cross, undermines the Church, and emboldens the forces of corruption that have crippled our nation for too long.”
Calling on faithful Liberian Christians to respond, Morlu urged, “Let the congregations served by these compromised individuals demand their resignation and call them to repentance for defiling their sacred office.”
He added, “The true Church must arise and declare that the Liberia Council of Churches does not speak for the Church of Jesus Christ. It does not represent Bible-believing Christians in Liberia. It does not carry the moral authority to define truth, justice, or righteousness.”
Morlu also reiterated STAND’s intention to lead a nationwide protest on July 17, describing the planned demonstration as a moral stand against the deepening alliance between religious institutions and political corruption.“This is no longer just about politics. This is about the soul of our nation. We must resist the normalization of corruption in both government and the church,” he declared. “The July 17 protest is not just necessary — it is inevitable.”
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