Methodist preacher prays for Jamaica to stand firm on buggery, abortion
Published:Monday | January 22, 2024 | 12:09 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
When Jacinth Aarons went to the altar to take part in intercessory prayer during the Methodist Church’s District Conference Lord’s Day Worship Service yesterday, she made sure to stress at least one of her petitions to God: to not have changes made to Jamaica’s buggery law.
Aarons, a local preacher at Lyndhurst Circuit of Methodist Churches in Jamaica, was one of hundreds who turned out for the conference, marking the 235th year of Methodist Witness and Service in Jamaica, at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
For years, Christians from all denominations in Jamaica have struggled with the fear of government leaders bowing to superior powers in First World countries on which Jamaica depends heavily and making homosexual activity legal.
Aarons also mentioned Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and Opposition Leader Mark Golding in her prayer, given that she was praying for all leaders of Jamaica during her portion of the intercessory prayer.
“We pray Almighty God, that you endow them with wisdom, honesty, [and] compassion. That as they lead this nation, they may promote justice, freedom, and peace for all. That they be guided by you, Almighty God, in the constitutional reform process, in the laws that they seek, Mighty God, to enact, such as [amendments to] the buggery law. We pray that it will not be enacted. That witchcraft and sorcery and obeah shall not be a part of this nation. Neither shall abortion be legalised nor hate speech laws, Mighty God,” Aarons said.
“We pray for the local government process, Almighty God, and so Father, we pray that you help them not to rule in selfish ambitions or greed, but to think of the interests and well-being of the people of the nation of Jamaica. God of righteousness, truth, and holiness, hear the prayers of your people,” she said.
The Methodist Church’s District Conference Lord’s Day Worship Service was held under the theme for the triennium, ‘A Call to Righteousness, Truth and Holiness in Nation Building’.
Following her plea, after the service concluded, one individual who attended the session said, “The United States embassy proudly flies the rainbow flag during Pride Month at their location annually, and the Government cannot stop them because that is the powerful US soil on Jamaican soil. US that up at Liguanea! So suppose one day they feel prime and want us to get rid of our buggery law, our licky-licky Government can think of bowing, just as how they allow them to fly their rainbow flag here, so we have to pray away the enemy from now”.
Non-Christian behaviours
For her part, Bishop the Reverend Christine Gooden Benguche, president, Jamaica District, also touched on issues affecting the island while hitting back at church members who endorsed activities that are not Christ-like.
“Like the Christians in Pergamum, it’s easy to normalise the non-Christian behaviour of those around us and allow that behaviour to dilute our values, and I want us to hear that because sometimes that’s what we allow to happen in our spaces, in our homes when we ought to be standard-bearers for Jesus Christ,” Benguche said.
“We normalise non-Christian behaviours!” she said before making reference to 1 Corinthians 15:33 and Romans 12:2.
“This nation needs the example of godly living. This nation needs the example of love, of brotherhood, of sisterhood, of recognising that every child is mine, biologically or otherwise, and that we need to demonstrate a concern for what is happening around us. We cannot be in our glass houses and figure that all is well because we are safely tucked away,” she said.
She also reminded the gathering that Christians in Jamaica are called to be the guardians of the souls of men; the revelation of the faith; to lead in holiness, righteousness, and help usher people and the nation into a holy, righteous, and truthful set of people.
Ruth Carey-Lewis, chief executive officer, Centre for Social Transformation, and also a child-diversion consultant to the Government of Jamaica and a member of the Methodist faith, in her address, said that by investing in the positive transformation of young lives, Jamaica can break the cycles that lead to further negativity and foster a future generation that is capable of contributing positively to society.
“As Jamaicans, when we look around our communities, we cannot ignore the challenges that plague our society. Violence, trauma, family breakdowns, and a general sense of negativity. Our world needs healing and transformation. In times like these, the Church, as a unifying force, can become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change,” Carey-Lewis said.
“Let us acknowledge the harsh realities that we face. Violence pervades our streets leaving scars on the hearts of individuals and communities. Trauma, often hidden beneath the surface, silently erodes the well-being of countless souls,” she said.
Carey-Lewis has worked with the Ministry of Justice in creating two national policies - The Restorative Justice Policy in 2012 and the Child Diversion Policies - that were crafted to address the issues that burden communities in Jamaica.