Adventist elder being questioned for alleged sex with minor - Church condemns 'unlawful sexual behaviour'

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has issued a statement condemning "unlawful sexual behaviour", this, as an elder in one of its churches, up to press time, was being questioned in relation to an alleged case of sexual relations with a minor.

The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) confirmed last night that the elder was being questioned.

The statement by the church, over the signature of Nigel O. Coke, its communications director, said that the church learnt of the matter regarding "an elder/member of the Heywood Hall Adventist Church in St Mary", through the media.

"We condemn any act of unlawful sexual behaviour or abuse against minors," the statement quoted Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Jamaica, as saying. "We sympathise with the victims and their families who have been traumatised by abuse of any kind.

"While we await the outcome of the investigations, we admonish our workers and members to live up to the high moral and ethical code of conduct for which our church is known and to cooperate with the authorities in bringing to justice those who have violated the laws of the land."

Brown further said, "The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Jamaica is committed to upholding its high Christians values and will not shelter any worker or member who runs afoul of the law."