The 29th Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church Eastern West Indies Province convened on July 10th, 2009 at the Bird Rock Hotel St. Kitts. The theme guiding the Synod was “Blessed to Bless” which was highlighted during the Synod Retreat and throughout the daily sessions. Synod is a triennial event which sees the coming together of delegates and observers from Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago and the Virgin Islands.
There were several special events which gave further significance to the synodal experience. On Saturday, 11th July His Excellency, Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian, Governor General of St Kitts and Nevis, hosted a cocktail reception at Government House for delegates and observers.
On Sunday July 12th the Zion Moravian Church was the venue for the grand opening service of Synod. Distinguished guests included: the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Mr. Herbert, other Government Officials, representatives of the Christian Council and the Evangelical Association. The message was delivered by the Rev Dr Cortroy Jarvis, Chairman of Provincial Elders Conference (PEC) who spoke on the theme: “An Unchanging God in a Changing world.”
This synod was a special occasion for Reverends Vankys Juan Isaac and Winston Jones who were consecrated as Presbyters of the Moravian Church on July 16th, 2009 by Bishop Kingsley Lewis at the Bethesda Moravian Church.
The Synod re-affirmed its commitment to the essentials of the faith and the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the need for the Church to carry the message to the world. Great emphasis was placed on Ministry to males, youth, the marginalized and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Considering the progressive moral decline sweeping across our Caribbean islands, Synod reaffirmed its commitment to the ministry of presence in the community, the ministry of transformation and the need for calling all persons not only to come to church but to come to Christ.
Further, the Synod re-affirms that, as the church, we must love the sinner but stand in opposition to all sin and therefore we stand opposed to:
1. The ordination of known and / or practicing homosexuals;
2. The marriage of persons of the same sex
3. Acts of violence against homosexuals which include gay-bashing.
As is customary there was the election of members to the Provincial Elders Conference (PEC), the body that leads the Province during the inter-synodal period. The election results are as follows. Rev Dr Cortroy Jarvis, Antigua, was re-elected as the Chairman. Rev. Dr. Conrad Spencer, Virgin Island, and Rev. Ezra Parris, Barbados, as the two clergy members, Sis Beverly Job (Trinidad) and Bro Sidney Osborne ((St. Kitts) were elected as the two lay members.
The Synod ended on Friday July 17th 2009, with a Communion Service and Installation of the New PEC. This Synod was deemed one of the best by delegates and observers alike. Credit was given to the outgoing PEC, the St Kitts Planning Committee and the maturity of Clergy.
Resolutions made at this Synod were geared at moving the Church forward in its advancement of the Kingdom of God. Synodals left with the conviction that as a Church we are truly blessed and we remain committed to be a blessing to others.
