| |
Caribbean Islands
Three of the twelve member churches of the Caribbean and North America Council for Mission (CANACOM) are located in Guyana. Although geographically Guyana is part of the South American continent, the history of colonization makes it part of the Caribbean region. The population is largely descended from persons imported as slaves from Africa or as indentured servants from India.
Members of the Guyana Presbyterian Church, founded by Canadian missionaries, are East Indian, while members of the Presbyterian Church of Guyana, founded by Scottish Presbyterians, are African Guyanese. The Guyana Congregational Union, founded by missionaries from England, is primarily African Guyanese.
With around 800,000 inhabitants, Guyana struggles with unemployment and lack of opportunities for young people, violence, HIV/AIDS, and the trafficking of women and children. Christian women of Guyana are in the forefront of these struggles. In materials prepared for the 2008 World Day of Prayer, they rejoice that “women in Guyana are the beneficiaries of our foremothers. Over the years, these women participated in slave rebellions — they struggled for freedom in their own way against colonialism and discrimination, recognizing that these struggles were bound up with their quest for the rights of women.”
Working together is not always easy for churches in a country where racial differences are manipulated by the powerful to maintain the status quo. “So it is with great thanksgiving,” writes Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, regional liaison for the Caribbean, “that the College for Ministry and Mission celebrates the graduation of its second class of theology students.” With the assistance of CANACOM, the Guyanese established this joint program of theological training in 2002. It meets a critical need for the three Reformed churches, which previously had to send students to other countries for theological education.
Partners/Ministries
Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago: the Rt. Rev. Elvis Elahie, moderator, Mr. Alvin Seereeram, general secretary
Presbyterian Church of Guyana: the Rt. Rev. Keith Haines, moderator • Presbyterian Church of Guyana: the Rt. Rev. Dr. Dale Bisnauth, moderator
Guyana Congregational Union: the Rev. Paulette Hannibal, general secretary
Member Churches of CANACOM
Guyana Congregational Union, Guyana Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of Guyana, Presbyterian Church in Grenada, United Protestant Church of Curaçao, United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago, United Church of Canada, and Dominican Evangelical Church
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Sandra Sanders, GAMC
Theresa Sanders, BOP
Compassionate One, we lift up the peoples of the Caribbean to you. We ache for them as they continue to live with the pain that endures from the dislocation and cruelty of slavery. We ache for them as they continue to live with their families separated by migration. Pour out your hope and power upon these sisters and brothers. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Ps. 123, 146 Ps. 30, 86
Jer. 36:27–37:2
1 Cor. 14:1–12; Matt. 10:16–23
|
|
