Inter-Faith Body Endorses Family Strengthening Confab in Liberia | News

The Inter-Religious Council of Liberia has endorsed the upcoming Strengthening Families Conference scheduled to open in Monrovia on June 19, assuring the public that the event, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not intended to promote the doctrine of any single faith.

In a joint statement issued by the interfaith coalition, which includes the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia and a programme for Christian–Muslim relations, the council said its review of the conference found no indication that the gathering is linked to religious or doctrinal instruction. 

Instead, it described the event as a platform for religious groups, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and government officials to explore ways of strengthening families as a foundation for national development.

“We recognize that strong families are the foundation of a stable and prosperous nation, and we remain committed to supporting efforts that strengthen family life across our country,” the council said.

The religious leaders noted that Liberia’s family structures have been shaped by civil conflict, economic hardship, migration, and social change, resulting in diverse arrangements including single-parent households, child-headed homes, and grandparent-led families. These realities, they said, “require compassion, understanding and support, rather than narrow definitions of what constitutes a family.”

The council linked discussions on family wellbeing to broader social challenges, including poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and limited access to healthcare and education. It called for open and respectful dialogue on issues affecting women, girls, young people, and other vulnerable groups, particularly access to education, security, accurate information, and essential services.

“Families cannot be separated from the health, safety, and dignity of the people who make up those families,” the statement added.

The council stressed that decisions concerning the future of Liberian families should emerge through broad-based consultation involving national institutions, community leaders, civil society organizations, women, and youth. It cautioned that issues relating to family, culture, health, and social development are too important to be advanced without the participation of trusted national institutions.

It further reiterated its support for programmes that serve the broader interests of society rather than the doctrinal objectives of any single group, while also pledging to work with organisations that promote ethical values consistent with scripture, particularly on issues affecting family life.

The council also noted that it had been invited to contribute educational content to the conference and commended the organisers for the opportunity.

The Strengthening Families Conference is an annual interfaith event sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 2026 edition will be the eighth in the series and follows previous conferences held in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone, with participation from government officials, religious leaders, and civil society actors.

Last year’s conference, held in Freetown and hosted by Sierra Leonean First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, focused on women’s empowerment and child protection.

The statement was read by Rev. Dr. Christopher Wleh Toe, General Secretary of the Liberia Council of Churches, and witnessed by Christian and Muslim clergy, including representatives of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia and the National Muslim Council of Liberia.