Avellon Williams
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – The Association of Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM) is calling for a halt to the Education Ministry’s restrictions on public school devotions.
This plea follows an incident that occurred during general devotion on Wednesday at Oberlin High School in the eastern parish of St Andrew.
Education Ministry officials have been investigating the incident in which several students collapsed and began “speaking in tongues”, while others appeared overwhelmed with emotion after they were prayed for by a female teacher.
Fayval Williams, Minister of Education, has since announced the ministry is working on school devotional protocols.
On Friday, the ACCM said protocols should not diminish the church’s role.
“The Ministry of Education must take into account the fact that the public-school system, for the most part, was established on moral and legal foundation, grounded in the Christian faith”.
“It is on this solid foundation that the majority of the traditional institutions of learning were built,” the group said, noting that Jamaica is now contending with a series of negative events.
As the ACCM pointed out, the “extraordinary levels of crime and violence in society are spilling into school compounds and making the nation a dangerous place.”
“Jamaica has had the advantage of watching other countries dismantle the moral and Christian floorboards and observing the negative impacts on children and families”.
The ACCM strongly believes that the role of the Church as a moral and spiritual guide, Godly presence, and peacekeeper must not be undermined, diminished, or dismissed.
“Despite our penchant for violence and disorder, Jamaicans are at their core God-fearing and peace-loving people, and the Church must be at the forefront of this battle for our country’s soul,” the group said.
According to the document, “devotions are a part of our cultural identity, which is supported by our law. Let’s take pride in it, defend it, argue for it, and let other nations eventually envy us for it”.
As part of the ACCM, which was launched earlier this month, professional communicators, who are Christians, work in secular media, religious media, social media, public and private agencies, and in the Judaeo-Christian Church.
The main goal of the ACCM is to support and expand the gospel of Jesus Christ through a variety of networks and engagements.
