What’s next for Caribbean theology?

“What’s next?” This challenge was voiced by Bishop Neil Scantlebury of the Diocese of Bridgetown as he addressed a gathering at the closing ceremony of the biennial Conference of the Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today (CTCT).

The 23rd conference took place July 6-11 and was held for the first time as a partnership between the Catholic and Anglican dioceses of Barbados, under the auspices of Bishops Michael Maxwell of the Anglican Communion, and Bishop Scantlebury of the RC Communion.

Bishop Maxwell, who delivered the opening address to kick-start the conference, referred to its theme: Prophetic Responses to Contemporary Challenges to emphasise that God was concerned about the issues being discussed. It led presenters and participants to gather together to discern what ought to be the prophetic responses to the matters affecting the quality of life of many in the Caribbean today.

The opening and closing addresses of the two bishops framed discussions which centred on a variety of topics including the role of the emotions in offering prophetic witness, responses to trauma, the understanding of prophecy in the Spiritual Baptist faith, creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, sustainability, reparations, and articulating the hope of the Haitian people during a time of crisis.

Presenters were representative of various parts of the Caribbean and beyond—Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Curaçao, Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, the Bahamas, St Lucia, and the United States. Just over 50 participants took part in the Conference, some in-person, while others joined online.

Of note was the youth forum attended by two schools, St Leonard’s Boys’ and Ellerslie Secondary, where students discussed issues related to them. Among the topics explored was school violence—its causes and effects.

Students also shared their experiences of prayer, while asking for advice from Conference attendees on negotiating life.

Another forum held was the Idris Hamid forum, instituted in memory of the late Trinidadian Presbyterian theologian, Idris Hamid. This year the forum honoured Anglican Archbishop Emeritus John Holder for his contribution to advocacy, development, and transformation in the Bajan society and beyond. The lecture was delivered by Canon Dr John Rodgers.

The Founders’ lecture was delivered by Professor Dr Anna Perkins, who recently became the first professor of Theology and Ethics at The University of the West Indies (Mona).

Her presentation entitled ‘A Caribbean consideration of gender theologically’ challenged gender norms, while the Practitioners’ Forum saw various faith leaders including Bishop Clyde Harvey of St George’s-in-Grenada, and Fr Martin Sirju (Roman Catholic), Bishop Clifton Clarke (Pentecostal), Archdeacon the Venerable Dr Von Watson (Anglican) sharing on their experiences of connecting faith with action and transformation in Caribbean societies.

The Conference made an intentional shift to open up itself to more ecumenical participation. Persons from various denominations led the morning prayer sessions on the various days, hailing from the Moravian, Methodist, Wesleyan Holiness, and Seventh Day Adventist traditions.

Participants were left with some words of wisdom offered by Bishop Scantlebury during the closing ceremony, as he encouraged the gathering to make theology take on Caribbean flesh and not let it remain at the level of talk.

Bishop Scantlebury urged persons to become contemplatives in action taking theology to schools, hospitals, prisons, and fish-markets. Theology can be done over a glass of wine or a meal, the Bishop opined.

Secondly, Bishop Scantlebury encouraged forming communities especially in parishes as a means of furthering the ideals of the Conference. Finally, he encouraged persons to preach theology with courage and joy, speaking the truth, regardless of the consequences.

—CTCT Secretariat