The 200th Anniversary of Methodism in Anguilla ended appropriately with a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life and witness of those servants of God, beginning with the Rev. John Hodge in 1813, who all kept the flame of Methodism alive in our homeland. It occurred to me that I was a Methodist for approximately one-third of those years, and as the events of this milestone year unfolded, I could not help but feel a great sense of pride in that wonderful heritage that is ours. It is a heritage sprung from the vision of a native Anguillian (a free man of colour) called by God 200 years ago to bring spiritual healing to an island that was heading down a path to inevitable destruction.
Bro. Kenn Banks’ presentation at the Service captured this marvelous story that showed the confluence between Methodism and the development of Anguillian society. It travels from slavery, emancipation, racism, the colonial experience, droughts and famine, insurrection and revolution to the present times. It was in essence a journey of faith — a strong faith to withstand all of the challenges of the period and continue its course with confidence. The question is — have we now arrived, or is the struggle over?
At the Anniversary Awards Banquet at the Anguilla Great House, the MCCA Connexional President, Rev. Otto Wade, in his message answered that question by warning us that: “God is not finished with Anguilla yet”. In other words, there is still more work to be done — more trails to blaze on this journey. The achievements of Methodism in Anguilla, over the period, included not only winning souls for Christ but also its contribution to social justice and education. The latter most evident in the pioneering work done in primary and preschool education as well as the recent establishment of the Eleos Centre in Sandy Ground. In this context, the theme of the celebrations, “Transforming the nation through Mission and Service”, is most appropriate. And the claim that Anguilla would have been a different place were it not for Methodism is a valid claim indeed.
But our heritage also includes the ministry of our founder Rev. John Hodge in the establishment of Methodism in the neighbouring islands of St. Maarten-St Martin and St. Barths. This kind of missionary service has become an aspect of the work of the Anguillian Methodist Ministers who came long after Rev. John Hodge — beginning with the late Rev. Charles Leonard Carty in Belize and followed by Rev. John A. Gumbs and Rev. Franklin A. Roberts in the Caribbean. The work of the Rev. John A. Gumbs in education stands out with the establishment of the Methodist Agogic Centre (the MAC) in St. Maarten and a number of other initiatives in the Netherland Antilles. It is obvious that the concept outlined by Rev. Cecil O. A. Weekes at the opening ceremony of the Eleos Centre, namely, “to think large”, has been a part of the ethos of our heritage as Methodists over our two hundred years of its existence.
Dr. Lindell Brooks’ moving poetic presentation on the history of Methodist witness in Anguilla brought a tear to many eyes at the Awards Banquet. Fortunately, it was not because of “pulling teeth”. On the contrary, in his usual unassuming style, he delivered a masterpiece that I expect will be a part of the milestone memorabilia for years to come. Undoubtedly, this will be another form of ministry not unlike the works of our founders, John and Charles Wesley, in the lyrics of their songs of praise that will contribute to the work of transforming our nation in the years ahead.
It was also an occasion to use what Methodists the world over have employed as a means of lifting the spirits of its people — the music ministry. This offering was the work of Choir Director Mrs. Lois Hazell-Carbon, whose animated style led the Circuit Choir and Musicians through a breathtaking delivery of hymns and anthems befitting the occasion. There are some privileged persons who would have experienced the kind of passion that Mrs. Hazell-Carbon brings to the task of preparing her choirs and musicians — it is obviously a passion steeped in a sense of duty to preserve this proud heritage. I am sure we all can recall a number of persons in our communities who have embraced this ministry in similar fashion over the years. It is their service that helped to keep the flame alive in the hearts of our people over periods of challenge in our island.
Rev. Franklyn Manners, the President of the Leeward Islands District Council, was on hand to deliver the sermon. He did so with a great sense of moment using as his text the words of the Psalmist as he declared: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord”. There was indeed an atmosphere of gladness in the place as the “bevy” of Ministers in attendance and performance led the congregation through a series of prayers and intercessions accentuating gratitude for our years of Methodist witness. And the message of encouragement to carry on the work for another 100 years, even in this period of challenge, was a great inspiration to the congregation.
Unfortunately, even in the Lord’s house things can be misunderstood. I believe that the Chief Minister, a professed Methodist, missed the message in the motto of the Church: “The Love of Christ Constraineth Us”. In his greetings he made two very unfortunate remarks. Firstly, he said that he felt no love from the congregation when he attended Church. And, secondly, he suggested that as Christians we should take example from the Muslims who are prepared to kill for their religion.
In his first remark it is obvious that the Chief Minister seems to think that it is all about him. I have noticed this attitude, when he mentioned at Maranatha earlier this year, at a service for the shooting victims, that he knew that things were going wrong in Anguilla when he realized that Ministers of Religion were not supporting him. Once again, Mr. Hughes does not realize that the only love for him that is certain is the love of God. On the other hand, he is commanded to love his neighbour as much as he loves himself — unconditionally. As Christians we are commanded to do so even if our neighbours despise us. For him to make judgment and complain that his neighbours do not love him is to be vain and narcissistic. It is not about him — it is about the love of Christ and his love for his neighbour.
In his second remark the Chief Minister makes general assumptions about the Muslim religion. Having established these assumptions in his mind, to be the case, he then goes on to compare their approach to their faith to that of the Christian Church. If indeed he believes that the Muslims encourage their followers to kill for their religion – for him to suggest that we should follow that example is to defy the teachings of Christ and the Christian Church. There was indeed a shudder through the entire Church when he made those comments because, on the contrary, we have been taught to die for our conviction rather than kill for our beliefs. The dark moments in the history of the Church – when heinous acts of violence and death were committed in the name of Christianity – cast a dark cloud over us that demand our shame. It is the kind of extreme comparisons that Mr. Hughes continues to use to make self-serving points.
As Rev. Wade, Rev. Manners, Dr. Brooks and Bro. Kenn have suggested in their various presentations, this is just the beginning of the work required of us Methodists, and all Christians, to transform our nation, and even the region and the world. But despite the challenges we face as a nation, and as a people, we must continue to keep this mission and witness alive in keeping with the theme of the Anthem at the Thanksgiving Service bolstered “by faith and not by sight”.
