The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

TRAINING in the Anglican faith will be provided by a special institute expected to be implemented by the Anglican Diocese in short order.
The institute will prepare the way forward for the Anglican Diocese in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. The institute will help individuals receive instruction on the bible, and youth work.

Additionally individuals will learn about the long presence of the Anglican church.
The establishment of an Anglican Institute was put forward to the Anglican Synod almost four years ago by Rev Laish Boyd, Bishop of the Diocese of the Bahamas and he Turks & Caicos Islands. He said the institute is expected to come on stream in the near future. The institute is primarily designed for Anglicans, but other persons are welcome to participate in the training.
“When the institute comes on stream it will utilise the facilities of Anglican churches in the Bahamas,” Bishop Boyd said.

“The plan is for it not to be an institute that is set-up in a building, but rather, it is an entity that moves around using various church facilities for training,” said Bishop Boyd.
The establishment of the institute is expected to promote the growth and expansion of the Anglican Church. Bishop Boyd hopes the initiative strengthens the clergy to provide continued leadership within the Diocese and encourage the involvement of lay persons in lay training. This can also boost the involvement in the church’s ministries and continue to produce persons who can serve in the ordained ministry, he said.

“Our church has a glorious heritage and we occupy a very prominent position in society. I would like to continue to see us doing that by being a good strong wholesome example and being the kind of force and influence that people rely on us to be,” he said.
Last year the diocese celebrated 150 years, but the Anglican Church has been present in the islands for more than 360 years. “The church has always been an entity that promoted unity,” he said.
Bishop Boyd noted that the Church was at the forefront of the abolition of slavery and also provided schools so that the newly freed slaves could be educated.

“The church has always been about bringing people together and making people’s lives better. That is our whole effort and emphasis. We continue to do that just by being the church and being present among people and pointing them to Christ,” he said.
Like some in the Bahamas, the Anglican church has always placed a strong emphasis on young people.
Bishop Boyd pointed out that the Parish Youth Ministry is strong, and the Diocesan youth department offers a number of programmes, such as youth training, prayer retreats and sports events to get young people involved and excited about Anglicanism.
He said the aim is to also deepen the faith of the young people.

The bishop’s vision for the Anglican Church is that, “It continues to be the strong and powerful entity that it has been in this part of the world for centuries.”