EARLY MISSIONARY WORK OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH (DFMS) IN LIBERIA AND THEIR DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS 1821 - 1871

This book is a critical and evaluative research that describes the differential effects that the early missionary work of the Protestant Episcopal Church USA had among indigenous/natives and the settlers/colonists societies in Liberia, from 1821 to 1871. We have sought to uncover the strategies implemented and the results attained by the early American missionaries who struggled to plant the Protestant Episcopal Church among indigenous Africans and black American emigrants in early 19th century Liberia. The native peoples, black returnees from America and white missionaries, each, played a significant role during the early years of missionary activities in Liberia. While we applauded the missionary efforts of the DFMS to evangelize and establish the Episcopal Church in Liberia, we also scrutinize the approach and method used to institutionalize the Protestant Episcopal Church in Liberia, without much alteration or revision. Three groups of people and cultures, the American missionaries (who were mostly white), the black settlers/colonists (Africans who were repatriated from America) and the natives (indigenous tribal people who inhabited the land prior to the arrival of the settlers and missionaries) influenced the planting of Christianity and the establishment, growth and development of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Liberia. Racial, cultural, social, political and religious differences existed among these groups of people and their relationship was characterized by prejudices, falsehood, distorted assumptions, deep-rooted suspicions, misperceptions, constant misunderstandings, conflicts, etc. Upon their arrival in Africa, many of the black colonists made efforts to create a class system in Liberia, in which the natives were treated as second-class citizens and with disrespect. As a result, there were frequent tensions that often resulted into frictions and sometimes led to violent confrontations between the settlers and indigenous Liberians.