'Stitchie' ... Ministerial codes of ethics hardly address the rampant infringement of the intellectual property rights of evangelists, and gospel artistes by bishops, pastors, etc. - File

Don McDowell, Contributor

The widely publicised contractual issue between Jamaica Youth for Christ and gospel artiste Rev. Cleve 'Stitchie' Laing in addition to raising intellectual property concerns as noted by Mr. James Moss-Solomon in one newspaper, also brings into focus the wider issue of ethics in the church.

A recent Sunday Gleaner entertainment page article highlighted the widespread illegal copying of gospel music among church brethren. Deemed dishonest, this practice has resulted in tremendous losses to the gospel artistes who already operate in a very narrow market segment, unlike their secular counterparts.

The notification 'Unauthorised Copying Prohibited by Law' is often breached with impunity by these Christians. At one youth convention in Spanish Town, of 11 performers using CDs, only one used a legal copy.

So, who is responsible for this mess. The churchgoer or the leaders? Yeshua the Christ stated that a student is not above his teacher. Shouldn't the pastors as teachers be held accountable?

Ministerial codes of ethics hardly address the rampant infringement of the intellectual property rights of evangelists, ex-convicts and gospel artistes by bishops, pastors, etc.

The common practice among evangelical churches is to record the presentations of visiting presenters. The church then sells the CDs, DVDs and tape recordings without the presenter's permission or without monetary compensation to them.

CDs, DVDs sold

For example, Bushaan ex-convict preacher received the typical honorarium after ministering at a local televangelist's church. He later learnt that CDs and DVDs of his presentations were being sold at the church for J$450 and J$750 each, without his permission. He was never given a cent of the proceeds. Fear of being black-listed prevented his confronting the bishop.

How appalling! Busha's message and testimony, his intellectual property has been illicitly exploited for thousands of dollars by a bishop, a 'man of God'. But as Rev. Anthony Francis, a pastor in Four Paths, Clarendon, affirms "Acts like these are immoral and should not happen in the church."

Then, there's scam and dishonesty in the collecting of 'love offerings' for visiting preachers. Here an unscrupulous pastor will prey on people's emotions, using guilt or promises of blessings to collect this special offering of which only a small portion if any reaches the visitor.

Phillipanother ex-convict now an international evangelist, at one local inner-city crusade held by a popular bishop, heard the organisers request a 'love offering' for him. He observed the people's enthusiastic giving.

According to Phillip, he only got the full offering of nearly J$50,000 because the assistant pastor intercepted elders attempting to withhold more than half of the 'love offering'.

Even the voluntarily offerings placed as gifts at the feet of a speaker might get captured by a covetous pastor or bishop. For instance, seminary trained lay preacher Marysaw people placing thousands of dollars at her feet while preaching at a convention. However, much to Mary's chagrin, the organisers took it all for themselves.

In another case, an evangelist only realised that tapes of his messages were being sold by a pastor when he saw a woman paying the pastor J$1,000 for 10 tapes. His request for a share only earned him the pastor's wrath and no further invitations.

Many view such behaviour as thievery on the part of these clerics engendered by desire for high profile and mega-ministries which usually become heavy financial burdens. "Questionable means to get the cash to spend," was the criticism of one pastor. Others dismiss such glaringly unethical practices as due to ignorance, or simply as "flawed men leading the church, preaching the gospel."

Rev. Wilton Wedderburn of Cumberland, in Portmore, believes propriety is important. "Host pastors," he says, "should obtain permission first to record, followed by agreement to share the proceeds of sale with the presenter."

When viewed against the changing dynamics of church growth as highlighted by Bishop Dr. Peter Morgan in Mind & Spirit, January 13, 2007, ignorance of ethical principles, contract law, and intellectual property issues is inexcusable. Various fora on these issues should be arranged with JACAP, JIPO and the Christian lawyers.

Arguably, more could be written on situations of pastors and artistes dishonouring contracts; advertising of artiste's image and likeness for church fund-raisers without the artiste's permission; rumblings of payola; not to mention lies, mani-pulation, and cover-ups in moral indiscretions of clergymen.

Corruption

Certainly, with the high-gearing of corruption in Jamaica, prayer breakfasts, vigils, and weeks of prayer islandwide are appropriate priestly representations of the nation to God. But?. Isn't it the effectual fervent prayer of righteous men that will avail much? (James 5:16-18) to stop the 'rain' of corruption, carnage, and criminality throughout Jamaica?.

Over 40 murders within the first 10 days of 2007? The question of this being possibly a supernatural message to us church leaders to first truly unite and repent in 'sackcloth and ashes' until released to 'Take back Jamrock' with divine authority, should not be ignored.

The public appeal of this article is that we the church, in the words of Bishop Delford Davis, all come 'clear, clean, and covered' in 2007 walking the talk. An attack on the prophets as prophesied by Davis might very well be God's judgment on us all (Jer 13:13-16).

Name changed.

Rev. Don McDowell is a freelance writer on religion and music business. He may be reached at donmcdgodson@yahoo.com. Send feedback on Mind&Spirit to mark.dawes@gleanerjm.com