An “outraged” Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has distanced itself from the cult killings that rocked Montego Bay over the weekend, arguing that the practices described at the Kevin Smith-led Pathways International Restoration Kingdom that led to the deaths of three people are ‘un-Christian’. 

Reverend Newton Dixon, president of the JCC, said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon (October 19) that, as ‘true Christians’, the Council’s members recognise the sacredness of human life. 

The group strongly denounced all forms of “religious practices [that] exploit and endanger persons and expose them to harm or distress”—even while being cognizant, however, that the ritualised killings place the Church as an institution under heavy scrutiny.

“We affirm that genuine expressions of faith are life-affirming and life-sustaining and supportive of the rule of law. True Christian faith unequivocally upholds the sanctity of life, based on the biblical understanding that all human beings are made in the ‘image and likeness of God’,” the council remarked.

See statement in full below: 

“The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is outraged at the loss of life and injury connected with the recently reported religious tragedy in Montego Bay, St James. The council offers comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones and associates, and prays for the recovery of those who have suffered injuries. 

The council commends the security forces for their alert and expeditious intervention, which appears to have averted further harm or loss of life, especially noting with relief reports of children were rescued and are now safe. We offer our encouragement and support as the fully investigate this tragic series of events.

The dreadful understandably turns the spotlight on the place and practice of religion and faith in the life of a nation and its people. The value of religion and religious belief systems, as part of the human experience, are well known and have been extensively studied and documented. More particularly, the expressions of faith within the Christian tradition have been the bedrock on which our nation has been built. Our National Heroes, for example, Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle, Rt. Excellent George William Gordon and Rt. Excellent Samuel Sharpe and several of our national symbols are all testaments to this tradition. 

We affirm that genuine expressions of faith and life-affirming and life-sustaining and supportive of the rule of law. True Christian faith unequivocally upholds the sanctity of life, based on the biblical understanding that all human beings were made in the “image and likeness of God” (Gen. 1:26). We further uphold the understanding that there is diversity in the Christian experience and hold as valid those expressions which adhere to the true teachings of the scriptures (1 Thess. 5:19-21; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13-14; Tit. 1:9). 

However, we denounced and condemn all forms of religious practices which exploit and endanger persons and expose them to harm or distress, as this is wholly inimical to the gospel of love whose Progenitor and Exemplar is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. 

The council calls on all Jamaicans to exercise critical discernment in all spheres of life, especially in spiritual and religious endeavours. We further rejoin all Christians to demonstrate the value of faith in God in their daily lives as they bear witness to God’s goodness, grace and transforming power.”

The JCC covers denominations of the Christian faith including the Jamaica Baptist Union, Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church, United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Moravian Church, Salvation Army, African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Society of Friends (Quakers), Church Women United, as well as non-profits Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).

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