After almost seven months of leadership feud and uncertainty in the local LCA/DFW organization, the issue was finally resolved on Saturday January 9, 2010 by a team of arbitrators comprising of local clergies, past LCA presidents and the parties involved.
Background: LCA/DFW elections were held in June of 2009 which elected Mrs. Lorena Travell as president. The past president Mr. James Coleman and his leadership challenged the elections and results of the elections based on constitution and bylaws irregularities. During the same period, a group of Liberians living in Dallas also broke away from the local LCA to form their own organization that would cater to the issues and welfare of Liberians living in Dallas thus creating three presidents or leadership teams in the area.
During these seven months, there has been a lot of communications and a growing tension in the community from both parties and the Election Commission as their supporters dug in for their respective teams. Thus the question was asked by the Zoe Bush website (www.zoebush.com), “Who is the real president for LCA/DFW?”
One of the recommendations on the Zoe Bush was for members to get involved and bring about a peaceful resolution to the situation.
Even though it took several months, the local clergies and past presidents came together on Saturday night and brought about a peaceful end to the leadership crisis thus putting a stop to the crisis and preventing disunity in the community.
Verdict: The verdict of the arbitrators was a compromised which both parties agreed to. Even though there were lots of constitution and bylaws irregularities and mistakes, the arbitrators appealed to the concerned parties for the results of the July elections to stand and moving forward, the Constitution and Bylaws of the community will be strictly followed
and enforced. The parties agreed for the results of the elections to stand thus making Mrs. Lorena Travell President of LCA/DFW.
How was the arbitration reached?
1. Local clergies and past presidents of LCA/DFW were contacted for intervention.
2. Rev. Kortu of New life fellowship church together with some concerned members worked tirelessly to organize the meeting.
3. Once the mediating team was formalized, each party was asked to summit their issues, concerns and grievances to the team through writing.
4. Once those grievances were received, an agenda for the meeting was sent out to the parties for the meeting.
5. Conditions for the meeting were set as followed:
6. Each party was allowed to make their case with supporting documents and questions and answers.
7. The arbitrators took all of these issues and came back with a recommendation/compromise for the parties concern.
8. The parties accepted the recommendations and signed a formal document making the agreement binding.
a. All parties must agree to the agenda
b. All parties must agree to the decisions and recommendations of the arbitrators
c. Only three members of each party will be allowed to speak
d. Even though members of the community will be allowed to attend the meeting they could not speak or make any comments during the meeting
e. The selected representatives of each team signed a document agreeing to these conditions before the meeting started.
Finally, the Zoebush online website wants to thank the arbitrators for their wisdom and timely intervention that resulted into a peaceful resolution of the leadership crisis in our LCA. This proves that the community is more then capable of resolving our disagreement without resulting to lawsuit and outside intervention which normally has the tendency of escalation. We hope that other communities in the Diaspora will follow the lead of LCA/DFW in resolving issues within their communities. All we did was to sit and listen to each other without being disrespectful to one another. We accepted the decisions of our spiritual leaders and past presidents.
Former President Mr. James Coleman and new president Mrs. Lorena Travell signed agreement
We also want to thank all parties and supporters for respecting the decision of the arbitrators. We look forward to total involvement in our LCA and greater progress in the community. Our local LCA will only be strong if we all participate and make our contributions.
The Zoebush will continue to monitor and report progress in our community and Diaspora.
The Zoebush formally extends her congratulations to Mrs. Lorena Travell on her election and inauguration as President of LCA/DFW. We wish you and your leadership team success. The Zoe Bush also extends thanks to Mr. Coleman and his leadership team for their contributions to the community.
