Cedric Moss
11-21-03, - 09:11 PM
http://www.bahamasissues.com/images/ads/kingdom_view_small.jpg
Wise Words worth Heeding – Part 1
by
Apostle Cedric Moss
In his Charge at the recent 103rd session of the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, Archbishop Drexel Gomez spoke timely and accurate words about certain national issues. They are wise words worth heeding. Today, I begin part one of a two-part commentary on the foremost aspect of the Archbishop’s words: the call for public debate on the type of country we wish to build.
I hope to address other aspects in future columns.
A Divine Echo
As I listened to and read excerpts of Archbishop Gomez’s Charge in our local news media, I got the distinct sense that there was a divine echo in his words that spoke beyond the Anglican Synod to our nation. Yes, behind the Archbishop’s voice, I heard the Lord’s voice so I obtained and read the Archbishop’s Charge. They are wise words we should read and heed, and I recommend them to all who have an interest in the well being of our nation.
A Sober Charge
Archbishop Gomez introduced his Charge with these words: “Sociologists tell us that four things are required of any organization (including a church) for it to succeed – an agreed agenda, competent leadership, enabling structures and client sensitivity. I accept these established criteria, and I invite public reflection on the progress we have made as a sovereign state in each of these four important areas.
Members of Synod will recall that I have, on several occasions, issued the challenge for public debate on the type of country we wish to build. We cannot achieve an agreed agenda for The Bahamas until we form a consensus on the national identity issue, that is, what kind of country do we wish to build in The Bahamas? The input of all the stakeholders in the country is required and the climate has to be created in which space is provided for all the stakeholders to enjoy meaningful participation.”
Indifferent Hearers?
Archbishop Gomez indicated that in addition to his current call, he had on several occasions issued the challenge for public debate on the type of country we wish to build. Foremost among the hearers, for obvious reasons, would be the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet, past and present.
In light of the Archbishop’s challenge, I have two questions. First, why have past hearers not heeded his wise words? Seemingly, they were indifferent about the kind of country we build. It would appear that they were content for us to drift as a nation without agreed upon national values to serve as a rudder to steer our ship of state away from the reefs of national disaster.
My second question, which is more important than the first, is this: Will the present hearers heed Archbishop Gomez’s wise words? To not heed them, they would agree with and align themselves with the past indifferent hearers and affirm our course of national drifting. To not heed them, they will prove unfaithful stewards for future generations of Bahamians by allowing our nation to continue to exist without a nationally agreed upon agenda. Thereby, we will lack the objective basis by which we can accurately evaluate multinational visions like the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Government Must Lead
Archbishop Gomez spoke plainly and left virtually no room to be misunderstood. He said: “There is, in my opinion, an urgent need for a national awareness building drive to raise the bar in all areas of national life. It is also my considered opinion that the Government must lead in this process of awareness building by demonstrating in word and action a commitment to the raising of standards and the improvement in the quality of life for all Bahamians. It is also my view that the Government would benefit immensely from an in depth appraisal of the four criteria mentioned above.”
These are wise words indeed…they are worth heeding.
Click Here for Part 2 (http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?p=3876#post3876)
Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Comments and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org (apostle@kingdom-life.org).
Wise Words worth Heeding – Part 1
by
Apostle Cedric Moss
In his Charge at the recent 103rd session of the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, Archbishop Drexel Gomez spoke timely and accurate words about certain national issues. They are wise words worth heeding. Today, I begin part one of a two-part commentary on the foremost aspect of the Archbishop’s words: the call for public debate on the type of country we wish to build.
I hope to address other aspects in future columns.
A Divine Echo
As I listened to and read excerpts of Archbishop Gomez’s Charge in our local news media, I got the distinct sense that there was a divine echo in his words that spoke beyond the Anglican Synod to our nation. Yes, behind the Archbishop’s voice, I heard the Lord’s voice so I obtained and read the Archbishop’s Charge. They are wise words we should read and heed, and I recommend them to all who have an interest in the well being of our nation.
A Sober Charge
Archbishop Gomez introduced his Charge with these words: “Sociologists tell us that four things are required of any organization (including a church) for it to succeed – an agreed agenda, competent leadership, enabling structures and client sensitivity. I accept these established criteria, and I invite public reflection on the progress we have made as a sovereign state in each of these four important areas.
Members of Synod will recall that I have, on several occasions, issued the challenge for public debate on the type of country we wish to build. We cannot achieve an agreed agenda for The Bahamas until we form a consensus on the national identity issue, that is, what kind of country do we wish to build in The Bahamas? The input of all the stakeholders in the country is required and the climate has to be created in which space is provided for all the stakeholders to enjoy meaningful participation.”
Indifferent Hearers?
Archbishop Gomez indicated that in addition to his current call, he had on several occasions issued the challenge for public debate on the type of country we wish to build. Foremost among the hearers, for obvious reasons, would be the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet, past and present.
In light of the Archbishop’s challenge, I have two questions. First, why have past hearers not heeded his wise words? Seemingly, they were indifferent about the kind of country we build. It would appear that they were content for us to drift as a nation without agreed upon national values to serve as a rudder to steer our ship of state away from the reefs of national disaster.
My second question, which is more important than the first, is this: Will the present hearers heed Archbishop Gomez’s wise words? To not heed them, they would agree with and align themselves with the past indifferent hearers and affirm our course of national drifting. To not heed them, they will prove unfaithful stewards for future generations of Bahamians by allowing our nation to continue to exist without a nationally agreed upon agenda. Thereby, we will lack the objective basis by which we can accurately evaluate multinational visions like the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Government Must Lead
Archbishop Gomez spoke plainly and left virtually no room to be misunderstood. He said: “There is, in my opinion, an urgent need for a national awareness building drive to raise the bar in all areas of national life. It is also my considered opinion that the Government must lead in this process of awareness building by demonstrating in word and action a commitment to the raising of standards and the improvement in the quality of life for all Bahamians. It is also my view that the Government would benefit immensely from an in depth appraisal of the four criteria mentioned above.”
These are wise words indeed…they are worth heeding.
Click Here for Part 2 (http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?p=3876#post3876)
Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Comments and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org (apostle@kingdom-life.org).