THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE in Barbados is in need of fresh blood.
Reverend John Rogers of St Luke’s Anglican Church said most of the current Anglican clergy were “vintage”; thus the need for young people to get involved.
He was giving the sermon during the annual diocesan service yesterday held in the gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael. His topic was: Witnessing To God’s People With Renewed Integrity.
“To chart its course in the future, it is necessary that young men and women offer themselves for the sacred ministry to complement those of us who are experienced or of a certain vintage.
The majority of us in the clergy are on the other side of that age at which life begins and rapidly changing dynamics of our world present challenges for us to keep up,” he said.
Rogers urged the church to make more use of technology which he said could open up new avenues to spread the Word of God, especially to those who could not venture to church for varying reasons.
“The technological age challenges us to engage our communities in different ways. Can the new technology reinforce our evangelistic approach while creating new opportunities for new ministry?
Of course. Is that an area we can pursue? Most certainly.
“But even at a basic level, new technology offers us the opportunity to enhance the ministry we already have. Perhaps the type of live streaming that is being done at St Thomas and Christ the King can indeed enhance visitation ministry . . . where the shut-in can sit or lie in their beds and experience the mass as it takes place,” he said.
However, he said the Anglican Church was far from stagnant as evidenced by the same service which included liturgical dance and steel pan music. He also mentioned the church taking the forward-thinking step of ordaining female priests.
Still, Rogers said Barbados was a different place than in years past which called for a renewed outlook.
“There’s still a call for stewardship and the great commission but now the question is, where we will focus?
In 1964, the challenge was to make our diocese financially viable but now it is time to look afresh: What must we revive? What is worth reviving? What must be reinforced and reaffirmed? Where do we need to look for fresh approaches?”
The cleric said there was one area where the church had become complacent – it had seemingly stepped back from the education of children.
“Yes we continue to produce very bright people in this country but are they as well rounded as they were in the past? What if we are educating a society in minds but not in morals? What if we are no longer moulding citizens but just individuals? I believe the church must play a critical role in education again.
“We must re-engage this country and this community or else we will sit back and preach about the decadence that now pervades our community but not recognise the finger may be pointing at us as well,” he said.
The well-attended service also featured music from the Barbados Defence Force band and guest soloists.
It was attended by a number of dignitaries including Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley, Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock, members of the Cabinet and the Opposition, among others.
(CA)