Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, has accused church leaders in Anguilla of plotting to pray against his Government, and there has been a strong and swift response from them, denying that charge.
The clergymen, representing the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association, called a press conference on Monday, February 23, during which they told reporters they were appalled by the Chief Minister’s accusation.
In a terse statement, read to the media by the Right Reverend L Errol Brooks, the church leaders stated in part: “We refuse to be drawn in any political game. We detest the practice of putting spins on the truth. Our role is to be the conscience of our island, to build up God’s people, to seek the common good, to work for justice, and assist God’s people in living peaceful and godly lives.
“Put mildly, we are appalled by the Chief Minister’s statement…” (At that point, the church leaders invited questions from the media representatives.)
The ministers at the press table, in addition to Bishop Brooks of the Anglican Church, were: Fr. Paul Czoch of St Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church; Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Chairman of the Christian Council and Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit; and from the Evangelical Association were Pastor Philip Gumbs of the Church of God (Prophecy); Pastor Lucien McDonna of Life Impact Centre; and Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church. (Pastor Gareth Hodge of Destiny Church, who arrived late, sat behind the reporters.)
A further, but similar, press statement, bearing the names of the church leaders, was issued to The Anguillian on Tuesday, February 24. It reads as follows:
“In a broadcast on Radio Anguilla on Thursday, February 19, 2015, the Honourable Chief Minister, Mr. Hubert Benjamin Hughes, stated that “some years ago…the Head of the Christian Council and the Evangelical Association, two members of the Christian community wanted to hold an Ecumenical Service praying against the Hubert Hughes’ government.” He further stated that Pastor Richardson of the Central Baptist Church told that group that the Bible did not ask us to pray against our leaders, but to pray for them. So he “stalled that conspiracy” on the part of the two leaders…
“That statement is not true. At no time was there any suggestion or plan to hold such a service. Truth be told, the member churches of the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association pray incessantly for the leaders of our island that God would give them wisdom and courage as they make decisions on our behalf.
“We cannot understand the Chief Minister’s motive for making his statement. Nevertheless, let it be pellucid or very clear that we, as a people of God, do not condone expediency.
“The Chief Minister’s statement re the Chairman of the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association seemingly is an attack on the credibility of the leaders of the church on our island. Such a statement attempts to divide not only our congregations but the people of our island on a whole. How does this foster unity – a state that our Chief Minister so often espouses? This behaviour harps back to the time in the 1970s when politicians in some of our neighbouring islands tried to muzzle the church leadership for standing up against wrongdoing. At that time, several ministers and clergy were deported. We do not know if this approach is possible in our context.
“We assure our Chief Minister and all persons who share in the leadership of our island, presently and in the future, of our prayers. Indeed, we pray for God’s mercy on and forgiveness of our Chief Minister. Also, we encourage the people of our island to let these words from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians be our guiding principles:
“…whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
“We, the undersigned, request that the Honourable Chief Minister publicly retract his statement about the leadership of the church on Anguilla.
“The Rt. Rev. L. Errol Brooks
Fr. Paul Czoch
The Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs
Pastor Phillips Gumbs
Pastor Lucien McDonna
Pastor Cecil Richardson
Pastor Gareth Hodge.”
