Adventist Church in Jamaica Calls for Stand Against Violence and Abuse

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica is calling on its more than 300,000 members, other church groups and the wider society to take a stand against violence and abuse of all kind especially against children and adolescents.

“The victims should be our priority. It cannot be about saving face—it’s about saving lives,” said Lorraine Vernal, family, women, child and adolescent director for the church in Jamaica as she addressed members of the press during the launch of the Year of Child and Adolescent at the church’s regional headquarters in Kingston on April 24, 2018.

“Let us be intentional as parents, teachers and authority figures about learning the difference between abuse and discipline,” said Vernal. “We must break the silence about all types of abuse and report them, even if the perpetrator is a relative, pastor or community leader.”

A Safe Place

Vernal stated that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is committed to making its church a safe place for children and adolescents. “We take our responsibility seriously to minimize the risk of child sexual abuse and violence against children in the congregational setting. As leaders, we must see attacks on our children as evil, and so we must live ethically and pay attention to making our churches and other institutions safe places for the young.”

Figures from the Office of the children Registry shows an upward trend in the number of cases reported for children (mainly female) who were sexually abused for the period 2007- 2015. Interestingly, the figures moved from 121 in 2007 to 3,806 in 2015, and according to police statistics, sexual abuse of children is now one of the fastest growing crimes in Jamaica.

As a proof of its commitment to child protection, the church hosted a child protection training seminar for dozens of administrators, pastors, teachers and guidance counselors from across its five conferences, churches and schools on the island.

Director of Children and Family Programs at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency Audrey Budhi, in her address to the media, commended the effort of the Adventist Church and pledged the agency’s support.

Budhi promised the agency’s unreserved support for the church’s initiative and said that it’s a daunting challenge but said who else would be able to carry out the noble task but the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. “We want to be able to go back to the days when the church was the main part of raising a child,” said Budhi.

“We need to go back and take back our communities and villages. We aim to help build Jamaica fit for children, and the church family and community is integral in this regard,” Budhi said.

Training for Leaders

A seminar titled “The Establishment of a Child Protection Policy” took center stage as the 52 church employees took part in the training event.

Re-known children’s advocate Betty-Ann Blaine and international development consultant Georgia Lewis-Scott featured topics such as Risk Factors of Children, Jamaica’s Child Care and Protection Act, What You Should Know About Child Sexual Abuse, Creating Your Church’s Child Protection Policy (CPP), Best Practices in Design and Implementation of the CPP, and Keys to Sustainable Prevention and Promotion Programs.

Blaine explained that it is necessary not only for Adventists but other religious groups to implement a CPP because “the church is an easy target for sexual predators because they believe church people are naïve. They know that church members are still saying it can’t happen in our churches and some are resistant to change and don’t believe churches should do background checks or even develop a CPP.”

Vernal further stated that a committee has already been established to put together a child protection policy manual, which should be completed at the end of the year and used in churches, schools, and institutions. “A critical element of the policy is the screening of volunteers and workers who are responsible for the care of our children.”

Activities to mark the Year of the Child and Adolescent in Jamaica include hosting a convention for children and adolescents, observance of EnditNow day, a children and adolescent week of prayer and a foster care and vulnerable children weekend, among other activities.

“Victims need to know and believe that they don’t deserve to be ill-treated,” Vernal reemphasized. “We say let’s end violence and abuse against our children and adolescents. We must end it now!”