Shuttleworth says truth will come out in church land dispute

Pastor Jeffrey Shuttleworth says the “truth” will come out in a legal battle between him and the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) over the ownership of the Tarrant Baptist Church (TBC) property in St Andrew.

“The matter will be manifestly aired in the court and then the truth will come out,” he said Monday on TBC’s radio station.

He was speaking as church members protested the purported decay in social and Christian values in Jamaica outside Emancipation Park in New Kingston.

The firebrand pastor, known for his radical and ultra-conservative preaching, triggered alarm with revelations in court documents that he intends to apply to the National Land Agency to have the property at 51 Molynes Road registered in his name.

“There are no proprietary rights in the JBU over the property,” he said in his affidavit.

He asserted that century-old Tarrant Baptist Church “was” a member of the JBU and that he “has been the pastor there and exercising all rights of ownership over the land and building”.

According to the Tax Administration Jamaica website, the one-acre lot has an undeveloped value of $50 million and is owned by the “Baptist Church”. Churches are exempt from property taxes.

On Monday, Shuttleworth, whom the JBU said was “assigned” to TBC, acknowledged public concerns about the matter.

“There are those who will say, ‘Pastor, you are accused of stealing church land’. It is very interesting,” he said. “That is an accusation. There is an affidavit, which was submitted, but what is the purpose of the affidavit? What is the story behind it? That’s the question.”

Shuttleworth said he will not be drawn into a public debate on the matter.

“I will not in any way, shape or form be getting into the details. Why? Because the court. Coming out of the court situation, the case will be tried and aired and the truth will be manifestly evident for all to see,” he said.

He urged listeners to remain prayerful, claiming, “There is more to that matter than meets the eye.”

“You will not hear much from me to defend myself because there is no need to defend myself. The Lord will defend me,” he declared, pointing to past controversies, such as the criticism he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was labelled an “anti-vaxxer”.

NOT ANGRY

Shuttleworth also said he is not upset about the issue.

“No, I’m not angry. Thanks be to God, I have peace. Because how could I fool myself in thinking that the kind of assignment that the Lord has given me to speak to the powers and to confront the powers that they will not retaliate using any means at their disposal and that God would allow?”

This latest dispute stems from Shuttleworth’s refusal in 2023 to allow the JBU to conduct a survey of the property, a crucial step in the process of obtaining a formal title.

The JBU filed a claim in the court in December 2024 to get orders affirming its ownership of the property and also for it to be able to conduct the survey. On January 23, the JBU obtained an injunction to block Shuttleworth’s attempt to register the property in his name until the claim filed the previous month is resolved. The pastor consented to the order.

The JBU, which represents over 300 churches across Jamaica, claims ownership of the property based on the 1969 Jamaica Baptist Union (Incorporation and Vesting) Act.

Shuttleworth, however, maintains that he has been exercising all rights of ownership over the property for nearly two decades, including conducting services, making improvements to the church building, and even receiving requests for use of the facilities from government entities and the JBU itself.

He has also accused the JBU of departing from its core Christian principles, claiming that the organisation has been “sympathetic” towards the LGBTQ community as an example. Shuttleworth has distanced himself from the JBU, claiming that their principles are “alien” to his own beliefs.

Meanwhile, Shuttleworth reaffirmed his stance against allowing dancehall artiste Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton to host empowerment sessions in schools. In an Instagram post on Sunday addressing the land dispute, Spice wrote, “Pastor fighting to own the church property before you go fight to save souls... mi tell unu seh God use mi to send a message to this pastor.”

Shuttleworth also addressed backlash on Monday’s programme.

“Where there are persons who live in ways that are contrary to the precepts and statutes of God and it is known, it is ostentatious ... . You have to ensure that the necessary guidelines are put in place that such persons do not get involved in mentoring, and handling and influencing the young, impressionable minds, certainly our children, our young people. So, I stand by that, will not change same,” he said.

editorial@gleanerjm.com