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Claim: A local online news site, the Liberian TV Network, claimed, “LCC suspends its president, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr.”
Verdict: False! Rev. Dr Reeves was never suspended, LCC General Secretary Rev. Dr Christopher Wleh Toe, told DUBAWA.
Full Text
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, a local news outlet, Liberian TV Network, published a story on its official Facebook page claiming that the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) has suspended its President, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr.
According to the Liberian TV Network, Dr. Reeves was suspended because of his alleged criticism of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for buying what he described as a luxurious bulletproof vehicle for personal use.
This article on the entity’s page generated over 50 emojis, more than 30 comments, and 79 shares.
Two local dailies, Variety online newspaper and Women’s Voices Newspaper, also published the same claim.
What is the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC)?
The Liberia Council of Churches is a conglomeration of Churches of the mainline, Pentecostal, and related Organizations and Institutions that partner with national ecumenical bodies, including the All-African Council of Churches (AACC) and the World Council of Churches.
The council was established on July 22, 1982, as a result of the Coup d’état and overthrow of the True Whig Party and the subsequent assassination of former president Rev. Dr. William R. Tolbert, Jr., who was a Baptist prelate.
The late President Tolbert also served as the president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. On that basis, the foundation of the LCC began with the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, United Methodist, Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Lutheran Churches. The leader’s vision was to advocate against the ills of society and the tyranny of the governance system at that period in Liberia’s history.
Given the LCC’s rich history, it was surprising when news of Reeve’s suspension went viral.
Verification
DUBAWA chose to verify this claim because the news borders on the church’s integrity. The church has always been a moral voice within Liberian society and has criticised previous governments in cases where they went wrong.
The researcher first contacted Rev. Dr Samuel B. Reeves, the man at the centre of the suspension allegation, via WhatsApp. Dr. Reeves then shared a statement issued by the LCC regarding the matter.
The statement under the signature of the LCC general secretary, Rev. Dr. Christopher Wleh Toe, clarified that it is a complete lie and misinformation circulating on social media stating that the Liberia Council of Churches is troubled by the government of Liberia purchasing a US$ 400,000 vehicle for President Joseph Numah Boakai.
The LCC statement furthered, “The Council says that the publication is fake news, misleading, diabolical, and doesn’t in any way represent the official views of the council. The Council condemns those hooligans using the name of the Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr. as the signatory of the false statement to immediately cease or face the consequences that await them for spreading lies, as seen below.
Dr Reeves also shared another communication with the researcher. This communication, signed by the LCC media consultant Edwin Clarke, clarifies that Dr. Reeves’s suspension is fake.
“This is the work of detractors wanting to cause problems within the LCC. This is the second release in less than two days by these detractors to undermine the workings of the Council of Churches,” the communication said.
The communication said that the statement is coming from evildoers and not of the making of the LCC, adding that those behind such acts will be brought to book at the appropriate time.
However, the researcher again contacted the LCC’s general secretary, Rev. Dr. Christopher Wleh Toe, who dismissed the claim as false.
Dr Toe said, “The story is false. The Liberia Council of Churches never suspended Dr. Reeves.”
Conclusion
Based on all of the clarifications provided by the LCC and Rev. Dr Samuel B. Reeves, the claim that the LCC has suspended its President is false.
