STAND Chastise Liberia Council of Churches Decision to Honor Speaker Koon a Moral Collapse and Betrayal of Christianity

Monrovia, Liberia: The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) Chairman Mulbah Morlu has publicly condemned the Liberia Council of Churches’ recent decision to honor House Speaker Richard Koon, which he terms a moral collapse and a betrayal of the Gospels.

By: Abraham Sylvester Panto 

It can be recalled that on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Liberia Council of Churches announced its plan to honor House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon with the prestigious Bishop George D. Brown Hall of Fame Award for what the religious organization termed as exemplary leadership and contributions to national development.

The honoring ceremony, which was expected to take place on Friday, May 30, 2025, as LCC praised Speaker Koon's dedication to peace, unity, and governance reform. 

Additionally, the Council invited the House leadership to a Special Thanksgiving and Prayer Service on Saturday, May 31, 2025, to acknowledge the legislature’s role in restoring calm during a recent internal impasse.

According to Chairman Morlu, Representative Koon’s controversial speakership, marked by constitutional violations and political manipulation, contributed to the burning of the Capitol Building, a situation that renders the recognition a profound failure of spiritual leadership and a breach of the Church’s sacred responsibilities.

STAND's chairman attributed the LCC’s decision to a troubling alignment with corruption and injustice, stating that by attempting to bestow an accolade on Speaker Koon, the council has disregarded the principles of truth and accountability central to Christian doctrine. 

He further argued that LCC’s action desecrates the legacy of Bishop George D. Brown, a respected spiritual leader whose name should not be associated with political compromise or dishonor.

According to Morlu, the LCC’s endorsement signals an unholy alliance between compromised clergy and politicians whose conduct has been widely questioned, raising serious concerns about the council’s capacity to uphold the Christian’s morality. He described the move as a fundamental deviation from the Gospel’s mandate to champion justice and rebuke deception.

STAND emphasized that the LCC’s action does not represent the broader Christian community in Liberia, asserting that many faith leaders and congregants remain committed to upholding ethical standards independent of political influence.

Morlu noted that LCC’s endorsement is not a mere misjudgment but a profound moral failure that threatens to undermine public trust in religious institutions and compromise their role as guardians of national values. He urged other church leaders to demand accountability and to consider the broader implications for the Church’s reputation.