Liberia: Bishop Kortu K. Brown shares how churches can help promote actions against statelessness
Published: 9/Dec/2025
Source: World Council of Churches
Bishop Kortu K. Brown, from the Apostolic Pentecostal Church and Church Aid, Inc., in Liberia reflects below on why ending statelessness is the responsibility of churches, and some actions they can take in that direction. Through Church Aid, Inc., and its partners, Brown has led a drive against statelessness that has resulted in 20,000 children in Liberia obtaining birth certificates. Brown is the immediate past president of the Liberia Council of Churches, a position he held from 2017-2022. He is also a past president of the Interreligious Council of Liberia, and former head of the Action by Churches Together – ACT Liberia Chapter.
You are known for your great initiative and passion for ending statelessness. Why, from your perspective, is it the responsibility of churches to advocate for this important initiative?
Bishop Brown: My perspective is grounded in scriptures. And I believe that the churches have a biblical mandate. God told the children of Israel in Exodus 23:9, “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.” The responsibility of churches is to help take care of strangers, to provide for them, shelter them, and protect them. Hebrews 13:2 encourages the children of God: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” I believe that when people are hurting it is the responsibility of the churches to help bring them relief. Churches are a part of community life – wherever they are and whatever affects a community or country also affects the church.
Read further: https://www.oikoumene.org/news/bishop-kortu-k-brown-shares-how-churches-can-help-promote-actions-against-statelessness