During the March 30 visitation of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb to Church of Our Savior, Palm Bay, the bishop read aloud a letter from the Rt. Rev. Dr. James B. Sellee of the Episcopal Church of Liberia attesting to the March 9 installation of the Rev. Canon Dr. Dee Wellington Bright Sr. as canon to Trinity Cathedral, Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Monrovia, Liberia.
Bright is originally from the Diocese of Liberia in the Anglican Province of West Africa. “I served 10 years as a priest in Liberia before escaping the civil unrest there,” he said. “The canon status at that cathedral means a lot to me. My baptism, confirmation and ordination to the diaconate and priesthood were at Trinity Cathedral.”
Bishop Holcomb tells a young confirmand what will happen during the service as Canon Bright looks on. | Photo courtesy of Church of Our Savior
Although Bright remains as the rector of Church of Our Savior, his installation as canon recognizes and honors him for his ministry in Liberia while living in the U.S., where he has continued working remotely with the Diocese of Liberia on vital programs and projects. He headed the Cuttington University (the Episcopal university in Liberia) Alumni Association in the Americas, making provisions for the university’s recovery from damages from the Liberian civil war. He was the national chairman of the Liberian Episcopal Community in the United States of America from 2018-2022. Cuttington University initiated an agriculture program and the Diocesan Investment Society for the diocese during his leadership. He served remotely on the agriculture company board for the first two years and remains on the executive board of the Liberian Episcopal Community in the USA.
“I’ve also coordinated support for development in the Bassa Archdeaconry, one of the four subdivisions of the diocese,” he explained. “I conduct occasional Zoom meetings with Bassa’s clergy and lay leadership on development programs. I represent LECUSA on the national board of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and I was selected to attend Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s investiture in November last year, representing UBE.”
However, Bright’s position as canon carries no direct administrative responsibilities. “Being canon requires me to be a resource person to the cathedral and the diocese,” he said. “It carries the expectation that I will continue to support the mission and ministry of the cathedral and diocese in ways possible through my connections and networking, and occasionally attend events at the cathedral,” he said. “I am passionate about the progress of the Bassa Archdeaconry. The canon status affords me a seat at the cathedral that I will occupy among other honorary canons whenever I attend a service.”
Holcomb prays in a reaffirmation of faith during his time at Church of Our Savior. | Photo courtesy of Church of Our Savior
Holcomb was elated to announce Bright’s installation as canon. “It was a joy to celebrate his installation publicly and to highlight Canon Bright as a bond between the Diocese of Central Florida and the Diocese of Liberia along with the wider Anglican Communion,” he said.
The Episcopal Church founded the Diocese of Liberia in 1836 through the missionary enterprise of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. “It has maintained a relationship with the American church, whose support for the Diocese of Liberia has been great,” Bright said. “In fact, Liberia has had a delegation with a seat and voice at the Triennium every year. The Liberian Civil War forced many Liberians, including clergy, to take refuge in the U.S. The bishops and the various dioceses of The Episcopal Church have supported the Liberian diaspora for years and offered us the ministries in the U.S. I am grateful to the American church and thankful to Bishop Sellee and the Diocese of Liberia, West Africa, for such an honor.”
During Holcomb’s visit to Church of Our Savior, there were two adult confirmations, two youth confirmations, 11 reaffirmations and more than 25 others who came forward for reaffirmations following the bishop’s invitation. “We’ve had our ministry struggles,” Bright said. “The bishop’s invitation to pray for the congregation and members could not be more timely, especially coming from one who is the chief shepherd. The response reflected it.”