I don’t want to use the word “rogue elements”, but they are people on the extreme and on the fringe, people who don’t practice Christianity in its entirety. As Christianity does not and cannot condone this type of thing. It is not compatible in any way.
But we do have to be careful not to drive these people underground, so we must reach out and relate, and try to bring them on board by education and information. And where we do find abuses that are criminal we do have to get the police on board.
CT: So as the chairman of the largest denomination African-derived Pentecostal Churches in Britain, please clarify the Church’s position on this issue, and specifically on exorcisms, and the offerings of deliverance by these so called “churches”.Well I mentioned when I spoke, that the model for us must obviously be Jesus Christ. Yes he dealt with spiritual issues, and the kinds mentioned today, but he did so with authority, and the authority of his word and with prayer. So this must be the response to whatever we deem as spiritual issues.
CT: The government’s report on the issue was due to be released in February, but it still has not been known public. Why do you think this is? And why is it urgent that this report be released immediately?
Well I can’t tell you why it has not been released yet, the government would have to say that. But a lot of resources have been expended, and we are hoping the report will bring out a lot of information and shed some light, and point everyone in the right direction.
So it is critical, and it is just kind of hanging there, if it is not going to come then let’s know this, and let’s get on trying to solve the problem without it. But there is a limit as to how far you can go to tackling this when you know there is a government position that will ultimately effect everything.
CT: What action can the Church take to overcome this problem? What is the next step that must be taken?
Well some of the things that have been suggested today. Information and education, building relationships, cos it has happened amongst Africans and so it is the community that can expose it. So building relationships with the community. Getting the government to work with the right people, the people who actually represent these communities.
Then getting the African churches to become more accountable, using the accountability structures that already exist, the Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, large denomination groupings, and large fellowship groupings like the Congolese pastors have formed.
The symposium gathered a wide range of speakers that included: Angus Stickler, an investigative reporter from the BBC; Dennis Tongoi, African Regional Director of CMS; Pastor Jean Bosco Kanyemesha, Congolese Partnership; Constantia Pennie, Chair of Youth and Children’s Ministry at the African & Caribbean Evangelical Alliance; Rt Rev Peter Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden; Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society; Professor Paul Gifford, School of Oriental & African Studies; DC Jason Morgan; Marcia Da Costa, Independent Advisor, Metropolitan Police; David Pearson, CEO, Churches Child Protection Advisory Service.
