Region?s Methodists gather in Belize
They come from as far as the Bahamas in the north, Panama in the South and Guyana in the east…all converging on Belize. Patrick Jones reports.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Over the next four days, delegates of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas will enjoy fellowship and discuss the affairs of the organisation. President of the Connexional Conference Reverend George Mulrain says among the issues on the agenda is how to help those still suffering in the wake of natural disasters.
George Mulrain, President, Connexional Meeting
?We are a people hoping to rebuild, not only buildings, but helping people to rebuild their lives because after a natural disaster. Because it was not just hurricanes, but we understand there was flooding in Panama. People have been traumatised and they need the confidence to know that they can go forward and one thing as Methodists we are trying to see whereby we can help sisters and brothers in the different countries who have been affected by the recent natural disasters or how we can help them to pick up the pieces again.?
Mulrain says special emphasis is being placed on Grenada where ninety percent of the buildings, including churches and schools, were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. But the church has also been grappling with another evil that is affecting the congregation.
Rev. George Mulrain
?Over the last twelve months, we have been trying to address a number of issues, but let me highlight particular HIV/AIDS awareness. We realize that as a region we are feeling the effects of HIV/AIDS. There was a time when we would look at HIV/AIDS and say oh its something way over there in Africa, but we know if we are honest to ourselves its something that is seriously affecting our region. Many of our people whether they are from the church or not, are dying. Many persons are loosing their parents because of HIV/AIDS. And we see that now the church cannot be burying its head in the sand.?
And while the challenges that lie ahead for the eight districts will not get any easier, Mulrain says a new project the church is undertaking should make the burden a little easier to bear.
Rev. George Mulrain
?We will be looking interestingly on plans for bringing out a new hymn book. Now it might seem just an in-house thing, bringing out a hymn book, but there is a very important political message which is being attached to this. Namely, that as a people of the Caribbean and Americas region, whenever we worshipped, we have in the past emphasised the hymns of Europe and North America. The hymn book that we are bringing out will include hymns that have the rhythms of the Caribbean, the calypso, the reggae rhythm and hymns that also reflect the different languages of the region. We have at least one hymn in the Papiamento from the Dutch people who speak Papiamento in Curassow and Aruba and so on. There is I think, if I?m not mistaken, if there is not a Garifuna hymn, there must be a Garifuna rhythm. What I?m trying to say is that as we try and develop this hymn book, we have to make sure that our people know that they can worship god in the idioms that are indigenous, that belongs to us.?
And along that same line, Mulrain says the conference will seek to reinforce the Church?s position on Haiti, encouraging governments to help the country along, as isolating them now would subject millions of Caribbean nationals to suffer by themselves. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Outside of their meetings, delegates will also visit Altun Ha and Old Belize as well as enjoying a cultural presentation. The gathering will close with a service at Wesley Church on Sunday at five in the evening. All Methodists and friends are invited to attend.
