25/04/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cartwright Hosts Capacity Building Workshop for Officers
BREWERVILLE, Liberia – April 25, 2026 – The Cartwright AME Zion Church on Saturday, April 25, 2026, conducted a one-day capacity building workshop for its officers at the church’s edifice in Brewerville. The training equipped department officers with foundational knowledge on the technical ex*****on of their roles, in alignment with the AME Zion Book of Discipline and the established chain of command.
Rev. Emmanuel D. Peaybar, Director of Protocol and Episcopal Affairs of the Liberia Annual Conference of the AME Zion Church, served as a lead presenter, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of the Steward and Trustee Boards. He stated that appointments to the Steward Board must prioritize trustworthiness, godly character, and fiduciary attributes. According to the Book of Discipline, the Steward Board is responsible for managing church finances and must consist of an odd number of members—either five, seven, or nine.
Each member, he noted, must possess holy thoughts, mind, and desire, as they are entrusted with overseeing all financial inflows and outflows. Rev. Peaybar emphasized that the Steward Board should include financial officers such as the Financial Secretary, Treasurer, and the Preacher Stewart, who serves as Chairperson and works alongside the pastor for financial approvals. The Board is also responsible for ensuring pastoral functions are supported, tending to distressed members, answering to quarterly conferences, and requiring two board officers and the pastor to sign all church checks.
Additionally, the Board must assist in raising the salary of the presiding elder. If the church doesn’t have a Steward Board, Rev. Peaybar noted that the Trustee Board would perform these duties. He further explained that funds collected through the Ministry of Kindness and Poor Offerings are intended to aid the sick, struggling, and those facing challenges. These funds, spearheaded by the Board, are to be collected, recorded, and kept by the Treasurer each Sunday and must not be used for salary.
As Chairperson of the Steward Board, the Preacher Stewart represents the pastor, who retains the right to appoint or remove the Preacher Stewart at his discretion.
Among other duties, the Preacher Stewart ensures the pastor receives the necessary support to carry out his functions. Rev. Peaybar also addressed the Stewardesses Board, which is tasked with ensuring the pastor’s well-being. This board must consist of five to seven female members, all of whom are expected to be givers. They are responsible for providing the pastor with periodic supplies of food and other items, which the pastor may also use to assist members in urgent need. Regarding the Trustee Board, Rev. Peaybar explained that its members must demonstrate commitment and a long-standing record in the church.
The Trustee Board has no jurisdiction over church finances but oversees properties, including buildings and land. The Board’s financial role arises only in coordination with the Steward Board, such as in purchasing or selling church property. He added that the church cannot take a loan without the knowledge of the Trustee Board. The Trustee Board is also expected to work closely with the Steward Board and conduct regular meetings. Rev. Peaybar additionally commented on the roles of deaconesses, communion, and seasonal interior design colors for the church.
In the later hours of the workshop, Rev. Solomon Johnson presented on the roles and relationship between the Laity and the Clergy. He stated that the laity needs the clergy, and the clergy needs the laity. He also described the laity as unordained members—foot soldiers—responsible for the church’s mission, governance, and evangelism. The laity’s roles include education and spiritual development, promoting understanding of the Book of Discipline and church history, and serving as good and faithful stewards.
Rev. Johnson noted the laity’s motto: “Come with us to church.” Following each presentation, an interactive session was held with church leaders. The Head Pastor of Cartwright AME Zion Church, Rev. Charles R. H. Johnson, addressed additional topics including the role of deaconesses, evangelism, and outreach.
Saturday’s workshop follows the general conference held in March of this year and the recent appointment of church officers. It also comes ahead of the induction ceremony scheduled for May 3, 2026. Rev. Charles R. H. Johnson has assured that he will continue to create opportunities in order to enable church officials to understand their roles fully, ensuring smooth ex*****on and cooperation.
About us
Founded in 1875, the Cartwright Memorial AME Zion Church in Brewerville, Liberia, is the mother church@
of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Africa. It commemorates Rev. Andrew Cartwright, the denomination’s pioneering First Missionary.
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Peaybar Emmanuel
Solomon Johnson
