The Church in society

Esther Tyson, Contributor

In recent weeks, there has been much criticism concerning the role and work of the Church in Jamaica. This has come in response to church-related groups speaking out against the advocacy for a repeal of the anti-buggery law.

Critics of the Church have stated that Christians are still operating in the 15th century. They think that the Church needs to be relevant to this century. Some go as far as to say that we would be better off without the Church functioning in the Jamaican society in the way that it currently does.

First of all, I wish to point out a well known truth. The Church is not perfect. This is a result of it being made up of human beings. These are human beings who are followers of Jesus Christ, but who are still in the process of becoming like Him. Having acknowledged this, however, I want us to examine the Church's contribution to Jamaica.

Let's look at our history. Wasn't the Church involved in educating some of our forefathers when they were slaves? Wasn't it members of the Church, such as Sam Sharpe, who were involved in advocating for the end of slavery? What about the development of education in Jamaica?

Apart from the trust schools, weren't most of the schools which are now highly regarded as providing the best education at the secondary level started and owned by churches? What about the myriad preparatory and basic schools that are church-owned that provide education at the early-childhood level?

What other single group or entity, apart from the Government, has historically done as much to develop educational facilities and programmes in Jamaica as the Church? If the Church were now to pull out of providing education to our society, what effect would that have on our development?

Service to the poor

Let us reflect on the churches, or their members, who are involved in giving service to the poor and the needy. The Bible instructs followers of Jesus Christ that when you give to others, you should not publicise it. This limits the public relations thrust from the Church that would allow the general society to know about all the help that the Church provides to the poor and the needy.

There are, however, some church-based organisations that are well known in Jamaica. These include Father Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor, Father Ramkissoon and the Mustard Seed Communities, Ferdinand Mahfood and Food For the Poor, and the late Father Hugh Sherlock and Boys' Town.

Most churches have, as part of their programmes, provision for assistance to the poor among its members and also from surrounding communities. There are a number of children's homes and homes for the elderly that are built and run by churches. There are so many other initiatives that it would not be possible to enumerate them in this limited space.

Let us imagine taking out of Jamaica all of the efforts that the Church has put in to alleviate poverty in our nation. What would it look like?

We need to acknowledge the pastoral counselling that is provided to many Jamaicans. I know that we have stories of abuse of this responsibility. Such pastors bring the important role of counselling into disrepute. In spite of this, the contribution that genuine leaders of churches make to the spiritual and emotional well-being of their congregants cannot be devalued.

Many persons who are church members develop a work ethic and values based on the teachings of the Bible, which encourages us to not be "men pleasers" but to do your work with excellence in order to please God. Genuine Christians make the most dedicated workers.

Along with pastoral counselling, the Church is very involved in mediation in disputes in families and communities. Given the current Jamaican culture which sees being 'dissed' as a cause for violence against persons, and which is the root of many conflicts, the role of the Church in defusing conflict through mediation cannot be downplayed.

Furthermore, the Church is being accused of not being concerned about the abuse and violence being perpetrated by criminals in the society. Yet, I look at the work done by advocates such as pastors in Spanish Town who have made concerted efforts to galvanise church members in public outcries against crime in the Old Capital. I think of the initiatives undertaken by Pastor Henley Morgan in Trench Town.

Other crime-fighting initiatives

There are other initiatives in crime alleviation that are being spearheaded by the Church. We have had repeated accounts of criminals turning their lives around by committing their lives to Jesus Christ. There are prison ministries in some churches that seek to reach out to those who are incarcerated to help them to change their criminal mindset.

These are just a few areas in which the Church has functioned in society to assist in education, poverty alleviation and conflict management. An even greater area of impact that the Church has had in our society, however, is in the foundation of Jamaica as an independent nation.

Our motto, anthem and pledge are all developed by Jamaicans who were involved in the Church and who gave of themselves to establish a strong foundation based on a Judaeo-Christian world view. Therefore, our anthem is a prayer to our 'Eternal Father'; our pledge begins with 'Before God' and refers to 'under God'. In spite of the problems we are experiencing as a nation, we still have a sense that we are accountable to God.

Are those who are attacking the role of the Church in society proposing that we change the foundational principles of our nation, change our core values that are so integrally tied up with an acknowledgement of our commitment to God? To do so would undermine the work of such fathers of the nation such as Father Hugh Sherlock.

So what type of Jamaica would we have without the presence and influence of the Church? Each Jamaican needs to think about that for himself or herself.

Jesus Christ said that the Church is to be salt in the earth. I agree that the Church needs to improve its savour, but I believe if that if the salt is removed from our society, we will end up with an even greater stench and putrefaction.

Esther Tyson is an educator. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and esther.tyson@gmail.com.