Evangelicals distance themselves from World Harvest Ministries

Heads of the main representative organisations for churches across Barbados have come out in strong condemnation against the actions of the leadership and members of the church blamed by health authorities for the COVID-19 cluster in the north.

The St Peter-based World Harvest Ministries International  (WHMI) led by its Senior Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury has been identified as being responsible for more than 20 COVID cases in the church cluster that is also linked to another cluster comprising at least 11 security guards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and three cases at a day nursery.

In a televised address to the nation Thursday evening, Prime Minister Mia Mottlley declared that the majority of recent positive cases are linked to the church.

“We feel therefore that we will continue to gradually open, recognising that those cases that we are still having for the most part, not all, but for the most part, are linked to behaviour that the Minister of Health has indicated. It is really unfortunate when we have persons in the society who are prepared to put at risk other members of the society, other families, other members of their community – in this particular instance it was a church – in circumstances to do so may in fact be putting persons’ lives at risk in a serious way,” Prime Minister Mottley declared.

And in a robust response Friday, President of the Barbados Evangelical Association (BEA) Rev Dr Nigel Taylor distanced the church in general from the conduct of the World Harvest Ministries International, stating that it did not represent the correct image portrayed by the St Peter religious organisation.

“I am conscious of the current situation that has placed the church, particularly with the church in the north…which has placed the church in general in a non-cooperative light. That is not a true position of the churches across Barbados.  You cannot use that situation because the Barbados Evangelical Association and the Barbados Christian Council for the most part, have advised their churches and the churches have responded very positively,” Dr Taylor told Barbados TODAY.

“That situation that has caused distress to the nation and to the churches also is not the norm where leaders are so abrasive in defying what we would consider sensible survival orders,” the BEA head said.

He added: “What has happened down there is sad. It is not what should have obtained. Even though it imputes a degree of negativity and a non-cooperation as it relates to churches as people see it, for the most part that is a stand-alone Since last year March and now we have not had any major outbreak of the virus in any church because of non-supportive church leadership or situations where the very governance of the church is very hostile to what is happening.”

Dr Taylor pointed out that even when the Government instituted restrictions for the churches to follow, the churches went further and introduced additional protocols of their own.

Newly-elected Chairperson of the Barbados Christian Council Rev Dr Cecily Athill-Horsford said the actions which led to the cluster at the World Harvest Ministries International have tarnished the reputation of the wider church body.

As a result, Dr Athill-Horsford has issued a strong call for all church leaders to be careful about what they say and do while at the same time urging them to respect the directions of the scientists and health experts whom God himself has granted wisdom.

“We are seeing what is happening and we are really cognizant of the fact that COVID is around. It is real and exposing people is not the nicest thing to do,” the BXC leader told Barbados TODAY.

She said member churches of the council have been expressing deep concern to her about the situation so much so that they have urged her to reach out to the leadership of the World Harvest Ministries International to see what counsel she can provide.

“They are disappointed at the situation and are wondering if I could seek out the pastor or the leaders of that church for me to say to them whenever there is another directive that we will do the right thing at all times…and for me the right thing is following the protocols,” Dr Athill-Horsford added.

Asked if she will therefore be reaching out to Apostle Scantlebury she said: “I am trying to find out where their affiliation would be, and if it is with BEA, yes I would be doing that. If it is not, I personally would want to reach out to whoever and help because some persons are going to feel betrayed, others are going to be angry that people are pointing fingers at them and others will still be in a state of shock because some of them who have tested positive will be there asking why me.”

The spokesperson for the council however said she was upset at the church membership in that somebody could have spoken up to at least try to stop the actions that led to the outbreak.  (emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb)