By Devon Dick

THE 2011 census claims there are approximately two million Jamaicans who identify with the Church (Garnett Roper, Analysing the Census, October 28, 2012) compared to half million in 1871; three-quarter million in 1921 and a little over one million in 1991. This means that in terms of aggregate number of adherents, the Jamaican Church, as a collective presence, continues to grow rapidly.

Some have concluded that because the adherents of the Church as a percentage of total population has declined it meant the Church is declining. A similar mistake was made about the general election of 2011. In that election, we had the largest turnout ever of voters, but many commentators concluded that it was the lowest turnout of voters because, as a percentage of the number of persons registered, there was a decline.

The Church should be congratulated on growing its adherents and being the largest single organisation, larger than trade unions, political parties and service clubs. Most of the commentaries have been concentrating on individual denominations declining or growing. Hence, we have lost sight of the bigger picture of a growing Jamaican Church. Since congregations and denominations decline and die for various reasons, it is better to concentrate on the overall growth and influence of the collective Church.

However, the worrying trend is that there is a growing bloc of persons who do not identify with the Church, and the methodology to engage those persons might not be our regular evangelistic crusades and worship services but might include apologetics. Furthermore, the number of adherents who could be converted to committed members is still lagging. If more adherents could become committed disciples, then this could enhance our worship, lead to more persons serving the communities, gathering more financial resources to engage in ministries and more persons to confront injustice and encourage righteousness.

No confidence

And finally, the Jamaican Church has the numbers but seems to lack the influence on governance and personal conduct based on systemic corruption, persistent poverty and sexual molestation of the young and women. When the vast majority of citizens identified with the Church in the 19th century, the Church engaged in economic empowerment, educational advancement and political activism and was also perceived as the voice of persons who were exploited and marginalised.

In economic empowerment, the Jamaican Church eight years after 1834 established 200 free villages on 100,000 acres of land. Through Church-sponsored building societies 70,000 mortgages were issued between the 1960s and 1990s. The early credit unions and many subsequent ones were church-based and they facilitated home ownership. Now, there are approximately 400,000 squatters in one hundred communities, which is a call to action. In the post-Emancipation era Baptist missionaries, such as William Knibb, advocated for equitable wages while the deacons of African origin led strikes during crop season. Now the championing of workers' rights has been relinquished to the trade unions and the Church has largely abandoned its role to challenge the systems and principalities that enslave us.

The Jamaican Church continues to make a significant contribution in education, primarily because of the investment of the past. The Church built 600 primary schools, 43 public high schools and most of the teachers' colleges but not many since Independence in 1962. There is still a need for classroom space at all levels in order to deliver quality education to males and females.

Thankfully, many congregations offer skills training programmes, homes for the aged and disadvantaged, dental clinics and medical clinics etc. However, there is much more to be done, including helping persons cope with the stress of life, to shun evil and embrace right living. These measures will help the Jamaican Church to make greater strides in church growth.

Rev Devon Dick, PhD, is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of The Cross and the Machete, and Rebellion to Riot. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com.