‘Open churches to at least 20 faithful’

As Barbados approaches its first Easter without public church services since the first place of worship was erected 392 years ago, a church leader has pleaded with Government to permit church doors to open to accommodate a maximum of 20 people on Sunday.

Senior Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury, head of the World Harvest Ministries International, located at Queen Street, Speightstown, is adamant that Easter Sunday which is celebrated by Christians as the resurrection day of Jesus Christ, is the most critical aspect of the church’s faith and ministry.

Apostle Scantlebury’s calls comes in the face of a national curfew and the closure of all “non-essential services” – including all churches, mosques, synagogues and temples – as health authorities try to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has so far resulted in 66 confirmed cases and three deaths.

The church leader is contending that Christians cannot afford to miss out on coming together at those places consecrated for the purpose of corporate worship in order to reflect and pray bearing in mind the significance of the Scripture which says that if Christ has not risen, preaching and faith are in vain.

He said his suggestion of 20 people should include a church’s “inner circle” of a technical team, musicians, heads of the various church ministries and the leaders and their assistants.

Apostle Scantlebury said: “I would basically say that the significance of having this at this time going into Sunday is that the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a very serious component to all Christianity.  It is something that in my opinion should be celebrated in some form by the church in Barbados.

“I would go straight to the Scriptures and let people know that if there be no resurrection then our preaching and our faith is in vain and as the Apostle Paul said then we can be found to be misrepresenting God.”

But he was quick to point out that his call for church doors to open is directed at those believers whose faith was particularly strong to confront the COVID-19 virus rather than run away from it.

He told Barbados TODAY: “If they [church members] wanted to do it that way [celebrate at home] then I don’t have a problem with them doing it that way. But I am suggesting that for those individuals who are advanced in their faith and understand the concept of agreeing and having the power of agreement and of celebration and belief Jesus was raised from the dead, then nothing is impossible with God in getting rid of this COVID-19 virus.”

Apostle Scantlebury also expressed disappointment at not seeing action being taken by the church at this challenging time to “cover our nation” with prayer. A national day of prayer was declared on March 22 at the urging of faith leaders around the nation.

He said: “Our voices should be heard in prayer, in declaration over Barbados. Ok, we can’t get together in churches, so why is it that pastors in St Lucy have not met at strategic points…at specific times we pray. That sends a message we are covering our nation with prayer. But we are not seeing action; yet we have faith but we are not seeing any activity with the fair.”

  The cleric suggested that the virus would go away when Christians of faith and action tell it to, arguing that instead, they were waiting for it to run its course.

Late last month, social activist and former cabinet minister Hamilton Lashley blasted churches for closing their doors in light of the virus. But he did not address the Government’s restrictions on social gathering in excess of 100 people at the time. The Anglican Church, which was the first to end public services, had said it was protecting the health of its members, the majority of whom are over age 65, and at greatest risk from a lethal bout with COVID-19.

Lashley had declared it was the devil’s work for churches to close their doors at a time when citizens are living in fear and uncertainty regarding the threat of the virus. He said the church cannot allow this.

Speaking in Parliament recently, Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley also questioned Government’s decision to close churches here at what he called a challenging time for residents.

Barbados religious observances go back to settlement by the English in February 1627. A formal place of worship was built in 1628, on the site of the first parish church, at St James. The Church of England remained the official church until disestablishment in 1969, but during slavery, several denominations began missionary and worship services, including Methodists and Moravians, later followed by several offshoots of the Pentecostal faith after Emancipation in 1834.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb