Herman Browne Releases four New Books

Herman Browne Releases four New Books

By Benoni Tarr Grimes

The Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia, the Very Rev. Dr. Herman Browne has released four books for Christian education and teaching purposes.

Speaking to our reporter recently In Monrovia, Dr. Browne said the publication of the books is part of an effort to ensure that the congregation he serves is an informed church in those days of adversities. He pointed out that an informed congregation or community will defend the mission of the Christian and will fearlessly reach out to win more souls for Christ. He said he is involved with research on other aspect of the church for the sound instruction of the church.

Among the books released are ‘Know What Not To Believe – Attractive Christian Heresies’, ‘Appreciating Pentecostalism’, ‘The Liturgy of the Eucharist’, and ‘African traditional Theology – A Political Critique.’ The books are all thought provoking, informative, interesting and easy read. They can be found on the book shelves of the newly opened gift shop at Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia.

According to Dean Browne, "Know What Not To Believe – Attractive Christian Heresies" presents the fundamental claims of Christianity from as early as the first four centuries of its existence. It is an excellent guide to understanding the Church Fathers and making them relevant today.

The book, "Appreciating Pentecostalism," is about been open to what the Spirit of God has to say to the ‘older’ ‘mainstream’ ‘historic’ Churches by offering a positive assessment of the worship and ministry of churches in the Pentecostal tradition.

"The Liturgy of the Eucharist" is a brief essay that introduces the rudiments of the Anglican/Episcopal worship. It explains what goes on the way Anglicans or Episcopalians do, saying, singing and doing things together in a particularly fixed sequence. This book goes beyond simply describing what we see and touch to articulating the sentiments that underlie the Anglican/Episcopalian insistence on doing it a certain way.

The "African traditional Theology" is a critique of the political effect of the African traditional Theology. Dr. Browne said in Liberia and many parts of Africa, poverty, disease, hardship, and limited economic opportunities to better the quality of one’s life keep many impoverished, and the object of societal ridicule, prejudice, and disregard.

The Very Rev. Dr. Herman Beseah Browne is the Dean of Trinity Cathedral on Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia.

The Dean, 45, has been twenty three years in Holy Orders. Herman Beseah Browne was born in 1965 the fourth unto the union of Mrs Clavender Railey Browne and the Late Archbishop George D. Browne. Having completed St. Patrick’s High School in 1982, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology (Cum Laude) from Cuttington University College in 1986, he was ordained Deacon the following year in the Episcopal Church of Liberia and served as Assistant Director for Christian Education, Chaplain to Bromley Mission and Curate of Grace Church, Clay Ashland.

He acquired a Bachelor of Divinity (Honours) Degree; and concurrently an Associate of Kings College in 1990 from the University of London. Unable to return to Liberia that year, he pocketed a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of London in 1994 at the relatively youthful age of 29, becoming the first clergyman from the Episcopal Church of Liberia to earn a terminal degree in Theology.

He lectured for four years at the Simon of Cyrene Theological Institute in London (1991-94), and served simultaneously as Curate of the North Lambeth Parish, Kennington in South London. Fr. Browne then became the Dean of the Institute (1994) where he served for another two years, until he was appointed a Research Fellow of Yale University (USA) in 1996. He did not take up this academic post, but chose to accept the Archbishop of Canterbury’s offer for him to serve instead on his personal staff as his Advisor for Ecumenical and Anglican Communion Affairs. He was Chairman of the Liberian Community Organization in the United Kingdom (1995-6). In June 1997, he was priested in Canterbury Cathedral. After five years, he was promoted to the Archbishop’s Senior Advisor on Anglican Communion Affairs; and made Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. The first African (or non-westerner) to hold a position of such significance in the British aristocracy, this preferment landed him a permanent entry in 2005 into the International Directory of Who’s Who.

He returned home in January 2005. As a civic man, he served as 2005 National Flag Day Orator; President of the A.G.S. Liberty Football Club, Virginia (2006-); a member of the Presidential Ad Hoc Commission on the Email Saga (2008); and Member of the Advisory Board on the Education Laws of Liberia. As an academic, he is an external doctoral research supervisor to the University of Wales, UK; a lecturer at Seth C Edwards Theological Institute (2005-), Dean of the College of Theology, Cuttington Graduate School (2005-8); Lecturer, Gbarnga School of Theology, UMU (2005-8); Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (2007-8); and Vice President for Academic Affairs, African Methodist Episcopal University (2008- 2010). As an Anglican cleric, he has served as curate of the Chapel of St. George (2005-2008); Vicar of Grace Church, Clayashland (2008-2010); and Director of Theological Education (2005-).