Introduction
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) is one of several Methodist denominations present in Barbados and the wider Caribbean. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) is a member of the World Methodist Council alongside the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas, the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the Caribbean and the Nazarene Church in the Caribbean.
The Freedom Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) was formed in 1796 when Africans who were enslaved and brought to the United States of America walked out of the John Street Methodist Church in New York, because of racial prejudice and discrimination. Such was their stance and support of the Underground Railroad that they would be known as the FREEDOM CHURCH. This name was given to the AME Zion Church because of the church’s total commitment to human liberation in all its forms. Today, that commitment is known as the ‘black church prophetic tradition’.
Prophetic Ministry
Prophetic Ministry is the Church’s articulation and demonstration of the gospel as a liberating message from sin and sin-filled systems and structures found in our societies.
John 8:32 states that, “the truth shall make you free.” The question therefore has to be asked, does this freedom extend to black lives (as disfigured by poverty, inequality and racism in the Caribbean)?
“The truth shall make you free” was a prophetic statement made by Jesus Christ, the Palestinian Jew. It was given in a context where 80% of the Jewish population was living in or near abject poverty, under the oppressive Roman imperial oppression. Prophetic Ministry says ‘something must be done’ when there are communities over-represented in prison and mental health institutions, unemployed, under-employed, and unemployable statistics. Prophetic ministry is pained by high incidence of life style diseases and inter-generational poverty. Prophetic ministry works to bring healing to communities that are pulled apart by gun and knife crime leading to unprecedented levels of murder in our beautiful islands.
Conclusion
Until the church engages the felt needs of the people in our churches and communities we are only involved in short-sighted religiosity.
What can the local church do in these times? We will look at this and other matters in coming months.
Your Pastor
Ronald Nathan
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