Introduction
I came across a quote the other day reputed to have been said by the ex-wife of Errol Flynn (the actor) Patrice Wymore, “Only tourists think of the Caribbean as a ‘paradise”. A few years ago I went into a Port of Spain bank to open a bank account. The bank teller looked at me in absolute horror when I said to him that I wanted to open an account as I had just returned to Trinidad from the United Kingdom where I had been living… he said to me without any hesitation ‘why the hell would you want to do that?’
The Freedom Church
As the pastor of an AME Zion Church in the Caribbean I have to make sense of my ministry which includes the pastoral care of people who come to the islands anticipating paradise and those who have been domicile in the islands whose lives are a hellish existence.
So as I read the bible speaking of ‘who the Son of Man sets free they are free indeed”. My question even before I close the bible is “Free to be” what?
How do I walk alongside the average Barbadian who can ill afford to buy the basic requirements for a staple diet and preach and teach unless I am also willing to enter into their struggle for freedom in this the 12th most expensive nation in the world. I have to assist my church members and local communities to freedom
* Freedom from social injustices.
* Freedom to elevate ourselves from the quick sands of institutional and structural racism locally, regionally and internationally.
* Freedom to eat a balanced meal or to choose to fast.
* Freedom to maintain our self-worth and dignity and to be proud of their kinky hair, broad nose and lovely lips.
* Freedom to reject certain ideologies that deny our Black, African and Caribbean humanity.
Conclusion
Well I first have to be willing to hear some salient truths about how the church has failed so many for so long. Then I have to be prepared to accept the fact that my own church, the Freedom Church has not always lived up to its legacy of being good news to the poor. Then I must humbly apologise to the people and the nation of Barbados for our sins of omission. When we should of stood up we sat down in the face of injustice. When we should of spoken up we remained silent. When we should of lifted hands in praise and in protest we hid inside of our church walls. When we should of clearly given leadership we used prayer as an excuse to do nothing.
Forgive us people of Barbados and the Caribbean. Forgive us Lord for our trespasses.
Your Pastor
Ronald Nathan
Comments