Christian Council knocks concerns about new legislation

The Barbados Christian Council has deemed the objections raised by some faith-based organisations about the inclusion of the word ‘partner’ in The Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Act, 2020 and Remote Employment Act, 2020, a “distraction”, stressing that the Church should focus on repositioning itself to respond to the needs of a diverse society.

In a statement issued today, President Major Darrell Wilkinson signalled that the council was satisfied with Government’s rationale for the legislation described as “an act to protect persons from discrimination related to employment”.

Evangelical group, Family-Faith-Freedom (FFF) Barbados which represents more than 52 churches has publicly challenged the legislation, suggesting it opens the door to same-sex marriages and contradicts the country’s family and marriage laws.

“The Family-Faith-Freedom Barbados would like the Parliament of Barbados to do three things: remove the word ‘partner’ from the Remote Employment Bill, define the term ‘sexual orientation’ in the Employment Prevention of Discrimination Bill 2020, and remove the term ‘domestic partnership’ from the Employment Prevention Discrimination Bill 2020,” said attorney Corey Beckles, a member of the FFF’s board, at a press conference last Thursday.

But Major Wilkinson insisted that the term ‘partner’, as outlined in the two pieces of legislation, “does not run counter to our Marriage Act as no marital benefits can be derived from it and is only related to employment and not marriage”.

He added that the bills “uphold the intrinsic value of individuals, does not discriminate, infringe on the Church’s rights or religious freedoms, or advocate for same-sex marriage”.

The Christian Council pointed out that the Bible says little about sexual relations and even less about sexual orientation, and it stressed that while the Church advocates that marriage is between a male and a female, Christians must practice the great command, “love God and your neighbour as yourself”.

Major Wilkinson contended that “living in a pluralistic society where many different sorts of people from different races, sexual orientations, cultures, and religions exist, has implications for the way the Church must reposition itself and its service. Making sexual orientation more important when compared to factors such as allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ, becomes a distraction.

“The love of God and the grace of God must not be sidelined. The message of the Gospel must not only be preached, it must be demonstrated in all we do and say.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to love all people even as He does (Romans 13:8–10). We are to accept all people as precious in the sight of God as His unique creation,” he added.

Major Wilkinson noted that while the Church must be vigilant and share its view in a diverse society, this will require “hard work, a fertile imagination, a deliberate effort to know people of other cultures and sexual orientation”, and a firm passion to incorporate them into the body of Christ. (SD)