Barbados Christian Council elects a new Chairman

The Rev’d Dr. Cicely Athill-Horsford is the new Chairman of the Barbados Christian Council. Dr. Athill-Horsford was elected at the Annual General Meeting held earlier this week in the Conference Centre of the St. Paul’s Church on Bay Street.

This Meeting had first to be validated, since according to its constitution, the AGM must be held in the second quarter of each year. It however had to be deferred, because of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic at that time.

Dr. Athill Horsford formerly held the post of 1st Vice Chairman and succeeds Major Darrell Wilkinson of the Salvation Army. Mr. Wilkinson, in his report, gave highlights of the period under review, which included his participation in a PANCAP sponsored training in assisting clergy in Media and Faith based matters, especially as it related to dealing with HIV and AIDS. He made mention of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which included an initial Prayer Breakfast. This was addressed by The Hon Cynthia Forde, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, who also holds responsibility for Ecclesiastical Affairs.

The former Chairman also noted that 2019 was a time when the Caribbean Region faced potential disaster during the hurricane season, when at the national level the Barbados Christian Council responded to the national call to help the people of the Bahamas, who were disaffected by the passage of Hurricane Dorian. He highlighted the global events that confronted the island and the appropriate faith response that was required. The main one being the novel coronavirus and its impact on lives of persons in a small economy such as Barbados.

The out-going Chairman made mention of the church’s response to the virus and the maintenance and celebration of faith even during the months of the national lockdown, as the church observed the central events of the Christian Religion. Again at the national level, Major Wilkinson heralded the Council’s participation on a number of national bodies and the potentially divisive issues that arose such as that of the perennial human sexuality matter. He maintained that in an age of polarization, the church must be the voice of unity, faith and sound reason. In his view the Church must continue to offer theological and spiritual insight on provocative issues without rancour and with charity and understanding.

The incoming Chairman meanwhile thanked Major Wilkinson for his stewardship and pledged to be a listening ear to all, while thanking all persons from across the denominations of the Barbados Christian Council,  for participating in the process.

The other persons elected to serve on the executive are: The Rev’d Adrian Odle, (Methodist) 1st Vice Chairman; The Rev’d Erma Ambrose (Anglican) 2nd Vice Chairman; Kes Amha Selassie Yaicob (Ethiopian Orthodox) Hon. Secretary and The Rev’d Ruth Phillips (African Methodist Episcopal) Treasurer.