THE EDITOR, Sir:AS A part of the Baptist community in Jamaica, I am petrified at the silence of the church on national issues, crime, violence and the social aberrations in the Jamaican society of today, and in particular on the silence of the Jamaica Baptist Union.
When I think of the Baptist involvement in Emancipation, creating free villages in re-humanising newly-freed slaves, compared to its present silence in the face of all that is happening in our society today, I scarcely want to open my mouth to tell the unsaved about accepting Christ as saviour. One of the first comments one gets from some unsaved is "What is the church doing about all that is happening in the country?" "Why is the church so silent?"
AT THE FOREFRONT
The Jamaica history will show that the traditional churches were not always up front in speaking out on special issues. The Roman Catholic and Salvation Army work among the poor, many operate schools for the education of the masses, but the Baptists in the past worked both behind the scene and on the frontline.
Today, only the Evangelicals seem to be coming out from time to time to act. Is it because of ecumenism? Is it because all the denominations in the JCC need to get the approval of the respective church leaders on issues before a united front is presented and by the time that approval of unity is obtained, incidents are weeks, if not months passed?
If that is so, I am challenging the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) to consider seriously if it should not withdraw from the JCC. Those of us Baptists, who know a little about our history and are following what is happening in our country now are very concerned.
I want to hear the Baptist community in Jamaica speaking out on national issues.
I am, etc.,
LOIS BRYCE
Falmouth P.O
Trelawny
