London calls on Baptists to unite

MEMBERS of the Spiritual Baptist flock in Tobago have been strongly urged to come together in a unified approach that could only further the advancement of the Church and impact positively on the island community. The spirited appeal came from Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA)/ Secretary of Education, Orville London, when he addressed the installation ceremony of the Board of Management of the Tobago branch of the Herman Parris Spiritual Baptist Southland School of Theology (HPSBSST) at Scarborough Secondary School last Saturday evening. He advised the Baptist community that, just like the followers of the faith in an earlier era, they too must send the signal today that “Christianity and spirituality goes way beyond the Bible into the communities and into the lives of real people.”

London added: “And I will also hope — I don’t know if it is happening, but I’ll also hope that among the Spiritual Baptists there will continue to be, or if there isn’t, there would be unity of vision, unity of mission, and unity of resources; and maybe that is one good reason why you have this school. Because what the school will do is to bring unity of vision, and hopefully, of mission.” “That you will get together and discuss, and out of that discussion you will be able to resolve the little differences in doctrine, and you would be able to face the world with a common understanding and a common approach. And in doing that, you will also be able to unite your resources in ensuring that that common vision and that common approach would be able to impact on people,” London stressed.

He however observed that if the Spiritual Baptist brotherhood and sisterhood were like the other organisations in the world, there would of course be “opportunities for division and divisiveness. And I therefore want to urge you to utilise the school, utilise the teachings coming out of the school to unite the brethren, to unite the sistren, in a way that would ensure that you face this very daunting and mammoth struggle as one united force.” The Southland School of Theology, which falls under the purview of the West Indian United Spiritual Baptist Sacred Order Incorporated, was founded by Bishop Herman Parris and began operations in 1981. Then, classes were held at the various church halls within the diocese in south Trinidad. In 1993 the school’s classes were moved into its own building at Chinese Village, La Brea, which was then under construction.

Two years later, in July 1995, the building housing the Herman Parris Spiritual Baptist Southland School of Theology was completed and consecrated. The first class of the Tobago branch of the school was held in January this year, according to Principal, Rev Hazel Ann Gibbs De Peza. Classes are held at the Scarborough Secondary School on weekends and will continue there until HPSBSST Tobago erects a school building of its own. The Tobago Board of Management, which was installed by Bishop Peter Daniel, of Mt Paran Spiritual Baptist Church at Bethel, Tobago, is headed by Pastor John Carrington (president). Other members include, Andrew Phillip, first vice-president; Joseph David, second vice-president; Mother Rev Stephanie Washington-John, secretary; Bernice “Sister B” Cooper, assistant secretary; Camilla Johnson-Millington, treasurer; Laura Trotman, assistant treasurer; Kennetta Bobb and Garnet Dash, public relations officers (PROs); Herbert Morrison and Yvonne Pereira, trustees; and Gloria Moore-Carrington, Inniss Edwards, Marion Thomas, Louisa Gordon — all ordinary Board members (without portfolio).