Antigua, August 18, 2006...The historic First Full Conference of the Wesleyan Holiness Church in
the Caribbean with 76 delegates from nine countries was launched
yesterday in the Hibiscus Conference Room at the Jolly Beach Resort.
Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer in delivering the feature address at
the opening ceremony noted that the church had a decisive and enviable
role to play in securing the nation’s future and building strong
nations. According to him the Wesleyan Holiness Church and by extension
the Christian Church in the Caribbean has demonstrated that through the
imparting of ideas and biblical values, the church is a valuable
partner in nation building.
“It is popularly recognised that the foundational materials used in
building a nation are not only bricks and mortar, not only a strong
treasury, or strong army, though they are important. To be a strong
nation, any society requires unity, an executive, a constitution,
common law, means of viable transport and communication. The Christian
Church that is involved in building a nation is deeply concerned by
these constituents but also the most foundational aspects – values and
respect. A nation is primarily built on sound principles. A nation is
built on righteousness or destroyed by its absence,” he said.
According to Mr. Spencer, the Christian vision and commitment must be
the building up of a participatory and sustainable nation with the
church focussing clearly on the fostering of moral and ethical values
such as kindness, integrity, love, patience, joy and reconciliation.
General Superintendent, Rev. Carlston Christie also speaking at the
opening ceremony noted the manner in which Caribbean societies seem to
be on a downward spiral with escalating crime and gang activity which
makes challenging the duty of ministers of the gospel. He called on his
fellow Christians to have a radical commitment for reaching their
communities since the Church seemed not to be doing as much as is
needed.
“We must not fiddle in Rome while the city burns. We must not be at
ease in Zion while Zion is crumbling. The Church’s basic function is to
influence communities that lifestyles change, that behaviours change,
that persons become more productive healthy citizens… we are called
upon to do this by God,” he stressed.
The Conference represented the First Full Conference since 1974 when
the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the Caribbean before the Caribbean
became a district unto itself and was attached to the District of the
Americas. Delegates attending the conference came from Antigua &
Barbuda, Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, St. Vincent, St. Kitts/Nevis, St.
Lucia, Trinidad and the Virgin Islands. The conference is slated to
last until 20 Aug., with the installation of newly elected officers
taking place during a service at the Ottos Wesleyan Holiness Church at
10 a.m.
Source: Antigua Sun
