#BTEditorial- Protect the church even in COVID

It is understandable the fears of church leaders across Barbados that they are being ‘targeted’ and scapegoated as scrutiny and suspicion intensifies as COVID-19 infections balloon.

And as the viral illness numbers continue to mount, with a very strong probability that this new wave is being propelled by the highly infectious Delta variant, the activities of churches are being curtailed.

With more than 200 cases in three days, the island is on what appears to be a slippery slope. The death also on Sunday of a 44-year-old man, suggests that we are on the cusp of a phase that we have witnessed in many countries where health services become overwhelmed.

Harrison Point is being expanded, as it has reached capacity. New step-down facilities for infected people who do not immediately require intensive or primary care, are being stood up at the Blackman Gollop Primary School, Sun Bay Hotel and now the Daryll Jordan Secondary school in St Lucy, to respond to the escalating numbers.

If Government is not yet prepared to call the situation a crisis, the state surely appears to be preparing for one.

In the midst of all this, faith-based organisation leaders are becoming agitated by the tighter restrictions. In the most recent COVID-19 directives, church assemblies, apart from weddings and funerals, are limited to 25 persons.

It is an unfortunate set of circumstances that confront churches and religious groups.
‘Mega’ churches in the Barbados context, such as People’s Cathedral, Abundant Life Assembly, the Church of Nazarene in West Terrace and Collymore Rock, New Dimensions Ministries, Emmanuel Baptist Church, and Sanctuary Empowerment, are now in uncharted waters.

It is uncharitable to compare the work of the church to activity in the secular world but the church, as it is currently situated, requires money to continue to make an impact on lives.

Churches too require funding to support their spiritual and charitable outreach in communities. Structures have to be maintained, electricity and Internet bills have to be paid.

Churches such as the Nazarene Collymore Rock provides open Wi-Fi that passersby can utilize. Churches offer food and financial support for vulnerable members of their congregations and those in surrounding communities.

Much of this is dependent on the tithes and offerings of members. Church members, like many of us in the community, are also under financial stress and it is not far-fetched to suggest that churches are now operating on dwindling funds.

Despite the best efforts of faithful members who practice tithing, giving ten per cent of their earnings during the pandemic has become a distinct challenge.

We do not dispute our health authorities who have linked churches to the spread of COVID-19, but what is needed is greater engagement with religious bodies about how they can continue to protect their members.

Society is already fraying. Principles and traditional Barbadian values that kept us grounded and disciplined are disintegrating. We fear Barbados will pay a heavy price if it allows an unintended dismantling of churches across this country.
Religious leaders will tell you that even before Government-imposed restrictions, the number of people attending church fell significantly as fear of disease increased.

Yes, the church is not the four walls but comprises the body of believers. However, there has to be somewhere where those in need of spiritual healing can go.

A man or woman down on their luck and hungry has not money for Internet access to hear the Word, but they know where the church building can be found where they may find solace.

It has been more than a year that many children have not attended physical school on a consistent basis and the same applies to Sunday/Sabbath School – a vital aspect of the life of many children, even if their parents do not attend church.

A society so traumatized by the pandemic requires spiritual food and healing in ways we have not witnessed in recent memory.

We suspect that when this pandemic wanes, the damage inflicted on our society, particularly our youth, will be tremendous. Fewer children will be exposed to the word of God and spiritual guidance, as church doors close and their efforts constricted.

Apostle Stephen Holford of New Dimension Ministries puts it best as he was quoted in the media: “Church people don’t live in the church, they live in communities. They work and it is not necessarily a case where the cluster started in the church. It may have affected the church because people who contract the virus would have come to church not knowing because they may be asymptomatic.”

The church should not be sacrificed to the pandemic but protected.