The Bishop

A meeting for me to be introduced to the Bishop of Liberia, Jonathan B.B. Hart had been scheduled for after Dr. Tokpa returns from the United States. Bishop Hart who has been traveling in West Africa and attending his first Synod Meeting telephoned last week to say that he would like for me to come to Monrovia today, and arrived at the Diocesan Offices at Trinity Cathedral at 11:30AM accompanied by Cuttington's Acting President Mr. Bengaly Kamara, a Muslim. Mr. Kamara was the Bishops French instructor, and he asked that his "old French teacher come along". The Bishop was cordial and candid as he discussed the present division in The Church, the challenges that we face, and the need for promoting and preserving dialogue. We, (the Province of West Africa) need to recognize that hunger, poverty, and health crisis are the most important issues facing our people, and that must be the focus. He went on to acknowledge the importance and value of the long standing relationship shared by the Liberian and American people. "That will not and must not ever change." Our conversation continued, the Bishop, the Muslim, and the visitor from the Diocese of California. Three men from different cultural experience and tradition, in dialogue together. All sons of Abraham.

I brought with me an icon of The Last Supper, which was given to me by the English speaking and Arabic Speaking congregations at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem when I left. It hung in my apartment in San Francisco, and it was hanging in my house here. When I wanted a small gift for the Bishop, I took it down from the wall and wrapped it in paper. I gave it to him and extended the prayers of Bishop Marc Andrus and the Diocese of California. "It is an expression of our solidarity with the people of Liberia." From Palestine/Israel, to the United States, to Liberia, West Africa. For me, the small icon represents the infinite breadth and length of The Lord's Table.