Religious leaders across Liberia have been told to move beyond traditional Sunday sermons and become active agents of social transformation within their communities. The call was made during the second edition of a three-day leadership conference organized by the African Theology and Leadership Institute (ATLI) in collaboration with Princeton Theological Seminary and the Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies.
The conference, which began Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Providence Baptist Church, aims to strengthen leadership capacity among pastors and church leaders, while encouraging them to take a more practical role in addressing societal challenges.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Rev. E. Alfred Walker, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee of the African Theology and Leadership Institute (ATLI), stressed that churches must become centers of genuine community engagement, not merely spaces limited to weekly worship.
Rev. Walker said the pulpit provides a powerful platform for religious leaders to confront societal issues affecting ordinary citizens.
According to him, pastors and church leaders should use their influence to engage professionals and policymakers — including politicians, doctors, and other stakeholders — in conversations aimed at addressing challenges facing communities.
“The platform given to religious leaders should be used to confront the real issues affecting society,” Rev. Walker said. “But in many cases, pastors mount the pulpits, complete their regular services, and everything shuts down until the next Sunday or meeting time.”
He noted that such a pattern, if unchanged, does little to strengthen the Christian community or respond to the needs of ordinary people.
Rev. Walker also emphasized that religious leaders must become more accountable to their congregations by increasing their presence and engagement through regular visitation and meaningful interaction with members, rather than only meeting them during weekend services.
He expressed hope that the three-day leadership conference, running from Thursday to Saturday, will equip participants with practical leadership skills capable of bringing transformation to churches and rural communities across Liberia.
Also speaking at the event was Rev. Dr. David G. Latimore, Director of the Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies in the United States.
Rev. Dr. Latimore said the mission of his institution centers on responsible stewardship of resources, discipleship formation, and sustainable leadership within the church.
He explained that this mission inspired the collaboration between the Betsey Stockton Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the African Theology and Leadership Institute to help strengthen leadership within Liberia’s religious community.
“Our goal is to ensure that religious leaders have the leadership capacity that reflects positively in the lives of their congregations,” Rev. Dr. Latimore said.
He added that the impact of the church should be felt throughout communities and not only during scheduled church gatherings.
Rev. Dr. Latimore also called on Christian leaders across Liberia to participate in the conference at Providence Baptist Church, noting that the training was designed to inspire change not only within churches but across communities nationwide.
The leadership conference is expected to bring together pastors, church administrators, and other faith leaders who will receive training aimed at strengthening governance, stewardship, discipleship, and community engagement within Liberia’s religious institutions.
