7 News Belize

Churches: Ever Watchful Of The NGP
posted (May 9, 2014)
On Wednesday we showed you the leaders of the Evangelical Association leaving a meeting with the Prime Minister - and we told you about their press release after. But just to make sure everyone got the message, today they held a press conference at the Central Assembly church in Belize City. They explained that while it's been a year since the Gender Police was launched, and basically nothing has happened other than lots of talking, they have been busy:

Pastor Howell Longsworth, Belize Evangelical Association
"While it may seem that nothing has been happening, there is consistent prayer for the last year consistently on these subjects and these issues because we are looking hopefully that government and the Prime Minister and those who are involved can seek wisdom in order to make right decisions."

Pastor Eugene Crawford, President - Belize Evangelical Association
"We stand to blame somehow because we have as I said 70% of our population and let's say the entire Belize knows about this and have been ready for some response and we haven't been given timely response or updates on what's taking place, but I can never sit here and say that there is an ill fate on governments part."

Pastor Scott Stirm, Belize Evangelical Association
"The biggest difficulty for us I think was maybe the silence after the church report was submitted and then the first thing that was heard was from this article which was sent to us which was it was alarming."

Pastor Eugene Crawford, President - Belize Evangelical Association
"We did not go to the meeting with the premise upon that statement itself whether it was or was not made, we presented from the link that we got such a source but I think that we heard otherwise that the person did not make that statement. But nevertheless we did not really hinge our discussions around that. We had bigger fishes to fry, we had to move on with the discussion of the gender policy."

Pastor Scott Stirm, Belize Evangelical Association
"Again we met together with his for two hours. I think the tone of the meeting was very warm and cordial and so we are very grateful for that, but we realize that where the rubber will meet the road is when we actually get into that committee and working out the details."

And while those meetings will be held in July - will the Belize Council of Churches be a part of it. There seems to be some divisions between the Evangelicals and the Mainstream churches - because we haven't seen the council of Churches at any of their meetings. Rev. Roosvelt Papouloute chairs that body and he wasn't at today's press conference, but he was discussed.

Pastor Eugene Crawford
"The council of churches have been updated and every step has been taken and they are in agreement with the process that we are taking and members of that body will also be around the table in the final analysis of this gender policy, so the church really is working together."

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"There are ads with Rev. Papouloute endorsing the gender policy when you the evangelical association did not support the women's march. There was Rev. Goff who was the former president of the evangelical association from the president of the Methodist Church. Are you concern that there are members within the Anglican Church, the Methodist Church who seems to be endorsing the gender policy while the Catholic Church and the evangelical association are out on a limb by itself?"

Pastor Eugene Crawford
"We notice that with the council of churches that there have been some difference there and if the president did say that thereafter that they would have sat down and work out the issues. I don't think that there is a division as such with them but just that they were individuals - they were convinced to do certain things."

Pastor Scott Stirm
"I spoke with the Catholic Church this morning on my way into Belize City and they ask for me to please speak on their behalf in this press conference that they did not authorize any involvement with the creation of that ad as part of the council of churches."

We spoke to Papouloute who told us he was busy with his duties today and would speak to us on Monday. And form Papouloute to Patrick Menzies. His organization BELIZECAN gave the government a 30 day deadline earlier this week to scrap the gender policy, or else. Today the Evangelical leaders said he is on his own:

Paster Eugene Crawford
"The alliance of churches or whatever that name really is and leadership under Patrick Menzies is not a part of the BAEC. We hope that we can get to all of those churches out there really and they will come under the umbrella of the BAEC, but the thoughts and actions of the alliance does not in any way reflect what BAEC really is doing or stands for. I am not saying however that they haven't done some good things. I remember the constitution march was well organize and they took this throughout the country and BAEC endorse those and was a part of it, but the shutdowns and the strike and ultimatums and the militaristic attitudes and so is not what the church really stands for."

And we also got the Pastors to comment on one more pressing subject. That's the decision yesterday by the Caribbean Court of Justice which ruled that it will hear a case brought by Jamaican Gay Rights Activist Maurice Tomlinson. He will be allowed to challenge the Immigration Laws of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago on the grounds that it violates the rights of LGBT persons living in the Caribbean to move freely throughout CARICOM.

Justice, Sir Charles Dennis Byron said that he will look at norms in the European Court of Human Rights, and the UN Human Rights Committee." That sounds decidedly pro LBGT, but today the Church leader were unfazed:

Pastor Scott Stirm
"I don't consider that to be a loss at all. I consider its going to go in the duke and out of the details which is right where we're at and so that's why we are saying we have to stand strong on our principles and values and why our laws the way they are."

Pastor Eugene Crawford
"We understand what's happening, but as I say we remain grounded that we will see a change and we believe that things will come favorable for Belize."

No hearing date for the CCJ has been set yet.

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