The Port Huron District

The Detroit Annual Conference Support of Liberian United Methodist Pastors' Salaries Strengthen the Covenant & Extend our Ministries!

The Detroit Annual Conference and the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church desire to seek God's will together as we reach out to the world's people in both our countries and conferences. Remembering Jesus' words in Matthew 22:37-39, we agree to establish a partnership in Ministry between our tow conferences. The partnership in Ministry between the Liberia and Detroit Conferences is a mutually agreed upon relationship.

The Liberia Annual Conference is the oldest United Methodist presence on the continent of Africa. From a humble beginning in 1834, by action of the General Conference, the Liberia Conference has grown to over 150,000 members and 660 pastors, including lay pastors. Today, the United Methodist Church is the largest single Protestant denomination in Liberia. The Conference currently consists of 481 churches, 18 districts and 1 circuit It owns and operates about 106 United Methodist Schools, The West Africa Branch of Africa University, The Gbarnga School of Theology, the Judith Craig Orphanage, one United Methodist Hospital (the Ganta Hospital), and the oldest and largest leprosy control center in West Africa.

In spite of its numeric growth and spiritual vitality, the Liberia Annual Conference continues to be one of the poorest Annual Conferences on the continent, especially within the West African region and Central Conference.

In the midst of its material struggles, the spirit of the church continues to thrive and flourish. Evangelism, missional outreach and church growth continue to see phenomenal increase and explosion. Yet, the living conditions of the majority of pastors in the Liberia Annual Conference remain substandard and deplorable.

At present, the average Liberian United Methodist Pastor (over 90%) is paid $20.00 (US) per month, with no guaranteed housing, travel expense or significant retirement plan. Ministry is mostly sacrificial at the expense of the pastors' own well being and that of his or her family.

While it is a reality that the call to ministry involves personal sacrifice, the ministry is also a career and vocation, and the means by which the "called" are to provide for themselves and their families.

In the aftermath of the Liberian Civil War, and due to high unemployment and the struggling Liberian economy, most churches are unable to provide a living wage for their pastors. As a result of the Support Liberian Pastors' Salaries resolution, passed at the May, 2002 Detroit Annual Conference, we have become bearers of hope for pastors and the people called United Methodists in Liberia as we encourage them to carry out vital ministries in the name of Jesus Christ.

The goal of this effort is to encourage and challenge the pastors of the Detroit Annual Conference to give ½ of 1% or more, of their annual income toward salary support for pastors in Liberia. Congregations are encouraged and challenged to match or exceed their pastor's giving. You may give to this cause as the Spirit leads you.

Mail this Commitment Form to:

The Liberian Pastors Salary Support Initiative

Detroit Annual Conference Liberia Taskforce

1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., Suite 1

Flint, MI 48504

Commitment Form: (Each pledge/commitment is confidential and helpful to us in projecting total amount of support.)

I/we commit to support Liberian United Methodist Pastors at ½ of 1% or more of my/our annual income.

I/we will make my/our contribution ____ monthly ____ yearly, in the amount of: $____________________

Effective Date: _______________________

This is an ____ Individual/family Commitment ___ Congregational Commitment

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

City:_____________________________________ State:_____________ Zip:_______________

Phone:_____________________ Church: ___________________________________________

I am: ____ Clergy ____ Lay Person

Congregations are encouraged to match and/or exceed their pastor's contribution to this cause.
Thank you for your generous support!