History of the Episcopal Church of Liberia Since 1980: A Sequel
This study is a sequel to A History of the Episcopal Church in Liberia 1821–1980 (1992). It is a narrative shaped by contexts—context of the Episcopal Church and its Christian witness through the episcopacies of Diocesan Bishops George Daniel Browne, Edward Wea Neufville II, and Jonathan B. B. Hart; the context of a modernizing Liberia plunged into unprecedented political violence by a military coup d’etat in 1980 and a devastating civil war that ensued and consumed the country for some 14 years; and the context of shifting external ties with the American Church, the Liberian Episcopal community in the United States, and the Church of the Anglican Province of West Africa. D. Elwood Dunn also examines what the church’s contemporary history uncovers about Liberia’s social history in its juxtaposition of national identity issues with religious syncretism (a mixture of African traditional religions, Islam, some elements of Christianity, and basic human secularism), while suggesting challenges for the Episcopal Church’s Christian witness going forward.
All of this is done in four concise chapters successively addressing the episcopate of Bishop Browne, a critical interregnum period between Browne and his successor, Bishop Neufville, the episcopate of Neufville, and initiating the episcopate of incumbent Bishop Hart. This is followed by a general conclusion and assessment of the church’s work. The study ends with an epilogue on the Episcopal Church that was, the Church that is, and the Church of the future.
1135302274
History of the Episcopal Church of Liberia Since 1980: A Sequel
This study is a sequel to A History of the Episcopal Church in Liberia 1821–1980 (1992). It is a narrative shaped by contexts—context of the Episcopal Church and its Christian witness through the episcopacies of Diocesan Bishops George Daniel Browne, Edward Wea Neufville II, and Jonathan B. B. Hart; the context of a modernizing Liberia plunged into unprecedented political violence by a military coup d’etat in 1980 and a devastating civil war that ensued and consumed the country for some 14 years; and the context of shifting external ties with the American Church, the Liberian Episcopal community in the United States, and the Church of the Anglican Province of West Africa. D. Elwood Dunn also examines what the church’s contemporary history uncovers about Liberia’s social history in its juxtaposition of national identity issues with religious syncretism (a mixture of African traditional religions, Islam, some elements of Christianity, and basic human secularism), while suggesting challenges for the Episcopal Church’s Christian witness going forward.
All of this is done in four concise chapters successively addressing the episcopate of Bishop Browne, a critical interregnum period between Browne and his successor, Bishop Neufville, the episcopate of Neufville, and initiating the episcopate of incumbent Bishop Hart. This is followed by a general conclusion and assessment of the church’s work. The study ends with an epilogue on the Episcopal Church that was, the Church that is, and the Church of the future.
41.5
In Stock
51
History of the Episcopal Church of Liberia Since 1980: A Sequel
This study is a sequel to A History of the Episcopal Church in Liberia 1821–1980 (1992). It is a narrative shaped by contexts—context of the Episcopal Church and its Christian witness through the episcopacies of Diocesan Bishops George Daniel Browne, Edward Wea Neufville II, and Jonathan B. B. Hart; the context of a modernizing Liberia plunged into unprecedented political violence by a military coup d’etat in 1980 and a devastating civil war that ensued and consumed the country for some 14 years; and the context of shifting external ties with the American Church, the Liberian Episcopal community in the United States, and the Church of the Anglican Province of West Africa. D. Elwood Dunn also examines what the church’s contemporary history uncovers about Liberia’s social history in its juxtaposition of national identity issues with religious syncretism (a mixture of African traditional religions, Islam, some elements of Christianity, and basic human secularism), while suggesting challenges for the Episcopal Church’s Christian witness going forward.
All of this is done in four concise chapters successively addressing the episcopate of Bishop Browne, a critical interregnum period between Browne and his successor, Bishop Neufville, the episcopate of Neufville, and initiating the episcopate of incumbent Bishop Hart. This is followed by a general conclusion and assessment of the church’s work. The study ends with an epilogue on the Episcopal Church that was, the Church that is, and the Church of the future.
D. Elwood Dunn is the Alfred Walter Negley professor of political science emeritus, Sewanee: The University of the South.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations and Tables
Foreword
Bishop Jonathan B. B. Hart
Prologue
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
One: Episcopate of Bishop George Daniel Browne (1970-1993)
A Measure of the Man, George Daniel Browne
Domestic and International Contexts of Browne’s Ministry
Stewardship and Self-Support
Evangelism
Education
Social Issues, Civil War, and the Church to 1993
Identity with Church of the Province of West Africa as Covenant Redefines Relations with American Church
Browne’s Ministry Assessed
Two: Interim Between Bishop Browne and Bishop Neufville (1993-1996)
Browne’s Health Condition and Ad Hoc Administrative Arrangements
State of the Church on Browne’s Sudden Death: Leadership Controversy
Church of the Province of West Africa Oversight Amid Uneasy Relations Between Neufville and Team Ministry
Election of Successor Diocesan Bishop
Assessing the Interim Period
Three: Episcopate of Bishop Edward Wea Neufville II (1996-2007)
Another Challenging Beginning
Journey to the Episcopacy
Vision and Thrust of Leadership
Stewardship Ministry
Evangelism Ministry
Education Ministry
External Ties: Church of the Province of West Africa and The Episcopal Church (USA)
Neufville’s Episcopacy Assessed
Four: Episcopate of Bishop Jonathan Bau-Bau Bonaparte Hart (2008–)
Election of Bishop Coadjutor
Events Leading to Consecration of Twelfth Diocesan Bishop
Highlights of First Twelve Years
Tentative Assessment
Conclusion
Epilogue: Church That Was, Church That Is, Church of the Future
Appendices 1-5
1. Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Liberia
2. Biographical Data of Episcopal Church of Liberia and Diaspora Clergy: Clergy of the Episcopal Church of Liberia Since 1980 and Liberian-Born Episcopal Clergy in the Diaspora (USA)
3. Chancellors of the Diocese Since 1976
4. Presidents of Cuttington College/University, 1949-2019
5. Brief Historical Sketch of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lower Buchanan, Grand Bassa County