Methodist president challenges nation, Church to be people-centred

The president of one of Jamaica's longest-serving Christian denominations has challenged the country's national leaders in politics, the Church and business, to be more people-centred in how they conduct their affairs and policy implementation.

Reverend Everald Galbraith, president of the Jamaica District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, implored national and private-sector leaders to take an introspective look at their modus operandi and to reorient their attitudes towards nation building and people development.

Speaking recently at the official conference service of the 195th District Meeting (Synod) and the 15th annual conference of the Jamaica Methodist District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean, and the Americas (MCCA), at the Coke Memorial Chapel, East Parade, Kingston, Galbraith made an impassioned appeal for private businesses to be "reasonable" in their commercial affairs.

UNREASONABLE BANK CHARGES

He cited the example of banks, which he said had instituted unreasonable transaction charges, big commercial businesses which exact unfair and unjustified markups, and service and utility companies which exhibit no mercy in dealing with captive customers who are helpless in eliciting just treatment from these large monopolistic bodies.

Addressing these private entities, Galbraith issued a strong plea for a reversal of their "policies of exploitation", and warned that without change, ultimately people will say "enough is enough", and move to effect a reversal.

Focusing his attention on the current plight of the Jamaican people, he adopted the theme, 'Operation People Project', using the Old Testament book of Nehemiah as the scriptural background for his sermon. He noted Nehemiah's concern and positive response to the reports of the dilapidated infrastructure of his homeland, and the sufferings of his people, following Israel's and Judah's banishment into captivity. This drove Nehemiah to tears, prayer and fasting, in which he sought divine intervention and instruction regarding what he could do to relieve this dismal situation.

Using this biblical event as a point of departure, Galbraith pointed to the nexus between the woes of Judah and Jerusalem then, and the plight of the people of Jamaica today. He pointed to the current sufferings of the poor of the nation, the dire needs of thousands of children in our rural and inner-city communities, the imbalances in our justice system and the scant respect for truth, transparency, and integrity at all levels of our society.

He said the urgency with which Nehemiah moved to rebuild the gates and walls of Jerusalem was primarily rooted in the concern which he had for the people's welfare.

Against this background, Galbraith challenged the church, the leadership of the nation, and the private sector, to take an introspective look at their modus operandi in dealing with the people of Jamaica.

The Church was challenged to address seriously, the immorality that has crept into the lives of the Jamaican people, including within the ranks of some of its own members. He warned against secularism, disunity and inter-denominational rivalry, asserting that these behaviours are not of God. The Church, he said, should be God's example to the nation.

Pastors and preachers, he said, should feed the people well with the Word of God, including infusing in them the Christian duty to take care of and improve the environment. They should also endeavour to restore hope in the populace and inculcate in them "a mind to work".

Turning to the leaders of the nation, he bemoaned the fact that responsible leadership was proving to be such a great challenge. He cited flawed policy initiatives which he felt were having a negative impact on the nation.