The Editor, Sir:

The front page report in The Gleaner titled, 'Members padlock church over pastor's transfer', published Monday, February 26, raises three critical issues that seriously undermine the power of the witness of the church at a time when it is most needed.

The report essentially stated that members of the Balaclava New Testament Church of God, along with residents, staged a massive demonstration at the church to register their disapproval of the decision by the church hierarchy to transfer their pastor, Rev. Keith Dallas. It is said that the protest led to the suspension of the Sunday morning service as the angry protesters padlocked the gate and the doors to the church.

Misguided approach

If the facts are as reported, it is a poor reflection on the church's dispute-resolution mechanism and problem-solving skills.

We cannot afford such misguided approach by any church at a time when many persons look to our local churches for dispute resolution intervention in a nation of people drowning in blood, largely stemming from our inability to amicably resolve our disputes!

One of the protestors remarked that if they were to lose Pastor Dallas at this time, they would also lose much of the programmes and projects he initiated.

One way to address the matter of the sustainability of programmes and projects in the wake of a pastoral transfer, is for local congregations and pastors so inclined to move away from pastor-centric leadership where the programmes and projects of the church largely revolve around the pastor.

A team-approach to leadership increases the likelihood of an effective and sustained ministry by the local church where transfer is a feature of the ministerial responsibility.

Some denominations that make relatively short pastoral appointments may need to review the duration of such appointments based on the importance research places on pastoral longevity for church growth.

Too much like the world

Finally, the report itself has served to reinforce a negative image of 'the Church' that thinks and acts too much like the world.

What is sadder is that this is not an isolated case as, on the front page of another newspaper was a report in which evangelist Errol Rattray, chairman of HOPE 2007, offered sympathy and forgiveness to Mrs. Hyacinth Bennett for her 'tongue-lashing' regarding their beautification efforts.

Sure, the church is both divine and human. But, I am very concerned that representatives of the church seem to be taking over from political neophytes who have perfected the art of shooting themselves in the foot.

I am, etc.,

OMAR J. MORRISON (Rev)

2 St. John's Road

Spanish Town, St.Catherine