Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and members of the Cathedral Girls Choir. On Sunday, December 11, the Cathedral of the Incarnation was privileged to have Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President-Elect of Liberia, worship with the congregation at the 9:30 a.m. mass. On November 8, 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf made headlines as the first democratically elected female Head of State in Africa. A Harvard-educated economist, she has held several high-level posts, such as Minister of Finance of her native Liberia and Assistant Secretary of the United Nations. But perhaps the role that this mother of four and grandmother of six is best known for internationally is that of being one of Africa's leading promoters of peace, justice and democratic rule. She has campaigned relentlessly for justice in Liberia, a campaign that has resulted in imprisonment and several threats on her life. She has also served on various international committees related to human rights. To quote Father Theodore Bean, Provost of the Cathedral, "We take our democracy for granted but the President-Elect is a living example of what democracy means in every sense of the word." The Cathedral congregation responded to her introduction with a standing ovation for her leadership, bravery and Christian values.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, her entourage and Secret Service agents as she leaves the Cathedral after the service.