-STAND Slams Liberia Council of Curches Over Plan to Honor Speaker Koon
Monrovia – The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) is facing fierce condemnation from advocacy group STAND over its decision to honor House Speaker Richard Koon. “By Planning to Honor Richard Koon, the Liberia Council of Churches Has Sold Out the Altar for Power and Money!” STAND notes in its statement released late Thursday.
The group accused the LCC of “selling out the altar for power and money” by planning to recognize Koon—a figure linked to the 2023 Capitol unrest that left Liberia’s legislative building in flames. The group likened the move to “giving Satan a front-row seat among the saints,” calling it a “betrayal of sacred values.”
A Controversial Honor
Koon’s previous speakership was widely criticized for constitutional violations and accusations of election manipulation. STAND argues that honoring him tarnishes the legacy of revered religious leaders like the late Bishop George D. Brown and undermines the Church’s moral authority. “This is not just poor judgment—it’s a moral collapse,” the statement read. “What kind of church praises a man who trampled on justice and truth?”
STAND, chaired by Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., urged “God-fearing Christians” to reject the LCC’s decision, demanding that member churches pressure their leaders to rescind the honor. The group accused the LCC of prioritizing political connections over spiritual integrity, declaring: “These clerics have traded their anointing for envelopes. They are servants not of Christ but of their bellies.”
The statement invoked Biblical precedent, asking whether Jesus would have honored a leader accused of corruption. “Christ exposed hypocrites—He didn’t endorse them,” STAND asserted.
STAND warned that the LCC’s move could embolden corruption ahead of upcoming elections and referenced planned July protests as a response to what it called “clerical betrayal.” Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) is a Liberian advocacy group known for its campaigns against corruption and governance reform.
