Open letter to Bishop C Leopold Friday

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Dear Bishop Friday,

I read your response to the question of extreme misbehaviour in the Georgetown Anglican Church on July 19th at EG Lynch’s funeral. With all due respect to you, Your Holiness, I was very disappointed, amazed even, and actually re-read the entire article. I could not believe what I was reading!{{more}}

You may not want to be partisan, and appear to be picking sides, but we are not talking about something which occurred on the streets of our fair isle. The event under discussion actually took place in the House of God!

Bishop, I totally agree with you in saying that this type of public misbehaviour has been allowed to fester for far too long. Who could disagree with that? You are absolutely correct. Even Parnel Campbell weighed in, and called the barbaric behaviour for what it was, an illegal act. Pardon me, but I am of the opinion that God’s law supersedes man’s law.

Had such a comment as yours been made by the-man-on-the-street, it would have been somewhat understandable. However, you represent me as a lifelong practising Anglican. My parents and foreparents served in that church for decades, in various parishes. My father and yours were members of the Cathedral Men’s Fellowship together. I remember that. We all were overjoyed when you were elevated to the Bishopric. We have, and would like to continue looking-up to you as our spiritual leader, and we would like to think that you would not let us down.

I am not speaking for anyone else here, although I know that many others have similar sentiments. I speak on my own behalf, since my trust and confidence in the Anglican Church continues to be shaken. My belief and trust in God has not, and will not, be shaken. It will remain firmer than the Rock of Gibraltar!

In recent years, the Anglican Church has accepted openly gay priests to become bishops in the USA, and I am unable to understand that…. period! How could a bishop or priest who continually commits such “an abomination” be advising me on the conduct of my life?

In our homeland we saw Ulric Jones officiating at EG Lynch’s funeral service and not even attempting to quell the unruly mob inside the house of God! I have known Ulric Jones for many years; our families have been very close, and I am extremely and absolutely disappointed in him. I am saying publicly that “I am not worshipping man, I am worshipping God.” From this day forth, if Ulric Jones is ever involved in any church service in future, I will not attend. And if it comes as a surprise to me…I will walk out of the church! This will continue until Ulric Jones apologizes for his awful and ridiculous lapse in judgement.

I believe you are in a senior position to Ulric Jones, and we expect some type of corrective and disciplinary action to be taken against him. I know that Mr Jones is not a child, but he is junior to you, and the Bible has instructed us to not “spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Bishop Friday, if you happened to be in that church while that funeral service was being conducted, would you have determined that this social/political situation has been festering for too long, and do nothing to quell the disruptive bunch?

What if you knew, Bishop, that rum and beer were being consumed inside the Church of God?

Bishop, are you aware that the unruly disruptive bunch actually defecated on the bathroom floors?

And Bishop, do you know that these persons used obscene language in your church as well?

How about ripping the fittings off the bathroom walls, and trashing anything they could find, Bishop?

Where was the reverence and respect for the deceased and family………Bishop?

Which man-of-the-cloth could stand up, see God’s house being desecrated, and do nothing about it?

Bishop Friday, what if God was standing next to you in that funeral? How do you think he would have felt? What do you think he would have done? What would YOU have done under those circumstances, knowing that God was observing and assessing you?

I believe that Vincentians in general, and faithful practising Anglicans expect a more in-depth response from you, Bishop.

Please do not disappoint us again, as we wait with bated breath.

Respectfully yours in Christ,

Cuthbert Williams