Pressing issues for the Antilles Church

The Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) held their 69th Annual Plenary Meeting from May 11–16 in the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica. The Caribbean region’s first professor of Caribbean Theology and Ethics, Professor Anna Kasafi Perkins addressed the bishops on May 15 on several issues.

These days, I am an aficionado of (Barbados) PM Mia Mottley, who styles herself an “apostle of Bob (Marley)”, quoting him and other Caribbean artistes in her powerful speeches. Today, I join with her in sprinkling Bob’s words in this reflection.

It is Bob, who says, “so many things to say, got so many things to say…” among which are a continual critique of Christianity, usually represented by “the preacher man,” who, according to him, “tells us Heaven is under the Earth” but “can’t fool the people all the time”.

We shouldn’t fear Bob and his ilk but recognise them as prophets giving voice to the Divine. In the short time allotted, allow me to raise four issues, which I, as a laywoman and theologian, see as pressing, demanding of our collective attention and action, and for which responses are present in the rich evolving tradition of your pastoral letters and statements.

The first critical area requiring focused effort is the diminishing engagement of our youth and young adults. Here Bob Marley and the Wailers charge us with having miseducated the youth in their song ‘You can’t Blame the Youth’.

The future of our Church rests upon our ability to connect with and nurture the faith of the next generation. While precise statistical data for every territory within the Antilles Episcopal Conference may vary, a broader trend across the Caribbean signals a concerning decline in Catholic affiliation and active participation, particularly among younger demographics.

Reports indicate a rise in evangelicalism and a growing number of individuals identifying as unaffiliated, suggesting a shift in the religious landscape. This mirrors global trends, further emphasising the urgency of addressing this issue within our local context.

The Caribbean region boasts a significant youth population, with estimates suggesting that over 60 per cent of its inhabitants are under the age of 30. This demographic reality underscores the critical importance of effectively engaging this segment of our society.

Failure to do so not only risks a decline in the Church’s presence and influence but also represents a missed opportunity to nurture the spiritual growth of a substantial portion of our community.

Fortunately, the AEC has already acknowledged the vital role of youth and family in the Church’s mission. The AEC’s stated mission includes the goal “to ignite faith in our AEC youth and young adults to discern, live, and deepen their Christian vocation”.

Furthermore, the Synod Synthesis emerging from recent discussions reflects “expressions of enthusiasm for the faith, being articulate and passionate about the faith and commitment to the Church” from youth representatives themselves. This inherent enthusiasm provides a fertile ground for renewed engagement. Our pastoral emphasis on the family as the “school of catechesis and evangelisation” also lays a strong foundation for fostering faith from the earliest stages.

To revitalise our youth ministry, we must embrace new approaches that resonate with the lived experiences of young people today. Snippets from various sources suggest the need for more “authenticity, genuine fellowship, a redefinition of mission, holistic youth involvement and personal care”.

In an increasingly digital age, leveraging online platforms for outreach is no longer an option but a necessity, aligning with the spirit of our pastoral letter on A New Way of Being Church in the Digital Milieu.

We must actively foster youth leadership, providing meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the life and mission of the Church. Strengthening our catechesis programmes to be more engaging, interactive, and relevant to the daily realities faced by youth is also paramount.

Finally, embracing synodal processes that genuinely value the input and co-responsibility of young people will create a sense of belonging and ownership within the Church community.