By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander is calling for more communication with authorities so the church can make better informed decisions during the coronavirus pandemic.
His comments come after Mount Tabor Church immediately suspended in-person church gatherings after a surge in COVID-10 infections. While church officials say they have no information of church members testing positive for COVID-19, they explained in a press release that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution and care”.
The church’s administrative office will remain open throughout the week. Funerals and weddings will be facilitated in accordance with the government’s safety protocols.
Bishop Fernander told The Tribune the council realises the recent flattening of the curve has led to a lack of communication between the government and church leaders in recent weeks. He said churches should be informed if there is a community spread in a certain areas.
He said: “It is useless to tell us there are …(a number of) cases in Grand Bahama. We need to know where. We need to speak to those congregations. We need to speak to that jurisdiction, so that they can know we need to step up our protocols because particularly in these areas we have an uptick and we have people in quarantine.
“We knew that there would be opening and closing, but we’re just saying that we need the information so we could reduce or prevent. It cannot be just a government problem, it’s a society problem and the church is a major part of the society.”
Meanwhile, retired Anglican Archdeacon James Palacious said churches should continue the protocols currently being practised as he feels they have been working.
“Well the same things that we were doing before just be careful, exercise the protocol, limit the number of persons in church, limit the contact between members. Don’t forget now that has been working for you know 11 weeks or however many weeks,” he said.
“If there is one thing we agree on as a country it is that we open up prematurely and the opening up of the borders has caused the surge. Just about everybody has agreed on that one thing. So if we could just continue to do what we were doing and it should be okay. On the other hand, if there are people that are fearful that even with those protocols in place that you would want to curtail direct services then I could understand as well.”
As for Mount Tabor, Archdeacon Palacious said it was wise for the church to suspend services from the perspective that it is believed that social gatherings like church worship could be the source of a spread.
He added: “It doesn’t mean that others should necessarily follow suit if they do not share the same kind of fear of a surge because of church gatherings, but I could fully understand and appreciate why he thinks so. On the other hand, I could see why others would just say ‘well we are fine if we continue with our protocols then it shouldn’t be a problem.’”
Comments
joeblow 4 years, 4 months ago
To be honest you don't need any additional information. You have an airborne virus which will spread with gathering of persons who may not have symptoms. This is common knowledge at this stage. Close the churches and try to keep your congregants safe. Switch to online services. Try to be of use to your parishioners. Tithes will increase after people get jobs again!
My2Cents 4 years, 4 months ago
Churches need to be consulted for what reason? These religious leaders are delusional. There’s a deluge of information in the public forum regarding the virus. Do your part to stay informed and govern your organization accordingly.
moncurcool 4 years, 4 months ago
Amazing how the church wants to stay in the building and not leave the building to be of use to the community. Sorry so called "christian" council. Government does not need to consult you all on anything. Use common sense. Seems Mount Tabor did.
JackArawak 4 years, 4 months ago
the most dangerous group of people in The Bahamas. Long past due that the government stop listening to these greedy, corrupt and godless people. They worship money and they should have zero influence in public policy. Or they should run for parliament where one is expected to be self serving, corrupt and all for me baby.
sealice 4 years, 4 months ago
THE LAST THING THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS NEED IS THE CHURCHES TRYING TO FILL THEIR COLLECTION PLATES FROM THEIR CONGREGATIONS ALREADY DEPLETED POCKETS......da preachas dem ga have ta get out da chilrens bedroom and go fin 1 real job.....
bogart 4 years, 4 months ago
More Clarity........😷
Shocking the President second 3 year term elected unopposed jus weeks ago and bin President last 3 years an bin since worldwide pandemic Covid 19 and needin more clarity an don't read massive amounts of info in paperslast 6 months.........Appalling President of BCC organization wid cover over hundreds of thousands Bahamians seems confused.....again like legalizing previous illegal gambling number houses where business have to extract more money from communities than what it puts back for it to be profitable to handful of owners.....President still confused by regressive VAT taxes on flock and still permitted it again......
The President should be in the role of leadership of Christian population of the Bahamas and put a few dollars data on his phone and educate or learn himself or hav his team of Archdeacon in the know work longside dis terrible disaster entire Bahamas goin through.
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