Friday, July 11, 2025
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Christian Council president Bishop Delton Fernander has condemned what he described as a culture of hypocrisy within the church, accusing many pastors of failing to live by the values they preach and only speaking out when it benefits their political affiliations.
Bishop Fernander said too many religious leaders selectively raise their voices, celebrating when their preferred political party is in power but remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing by that same party. He called on such leaders to step aside.
“I will be the first to admit there’s been some hypocrites in the church,” he said during his sermon at the Independence Ecumenical Service, held Wednesday night at
Bahamas Harvest Church. “Some people who shout when the FNM in, some people who can only shout when the PLP in. Can I get a church that will just shout for God no matter?”
He said Bahamians are increasingly recognising the growing political hypocrisy in some churches.
He also criticised the disparity between appearances and values among clergy, highlighting that many pastors don religious robes and drive luxury cars while failing to embody the Christian lifestyle.
“We don’t live the life that we preach about,” he said. “We don’t live the life that we declare from the pulpit.”
He urged pastors to walk sincerely with God and to embody the messages they deliver.
The service was attended by parliamentarians, members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and various government officials.
Bishop Fernander also addressed those in public service, urging them not to neglect their spiritual responsibilities while serving the nation.
He acknowledged the challenges of moral leadership, emphasising the importance of courage and faith.
“It’s not easy to speak up, because when you speak out, people put you under their tongues,” he said. “God is still looking for a few of us that will stand up.”
Comments
CaptainCoon says...
This man is on to something! If he did this more often this place wouldn't be run like a ghetto jungle!
Posted 11 July 2025, 10:36 a.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
... generally speaking, for Bahamians, their image is far more important than their character!
Posted 11 July 2025, 12:59 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
I surely hope for his sake and those under his jurisdiction, that the BCC President & his officers are practicing Godly living and do not stand accused before their fellowmen and their God.
The BCC has long been viewed as a boy's club of certain denominations. Just like the political parties and their "royal families".
Posted 11 July 2025, 2:40 p.m. Suggest removal
M0J0 says...
Mr. Grand Master in the lodge seeks to criticize others, WOW is all I can say he should say myself included.
Posted 11 July 2025, 2:53 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
I guess that the BCC President doesn't see that as hypocritical.
After all, many of the 242 clergy brothers across many denominations are in the Lodge.
The Lodge brothers are so conceited and so deep in the crevices of Hell that they don't see the wrong/hypocrisy of being in both the pulpit and in the upper room.
But our God reigns, not GAOTU
Posted 11 July 2025, 4:11 p.m. Suggest removal
LastManStanding says...
Tbf only Catholics have an express prohibition against being Freemasons asfaik and even then that doesn't stop some from being part of the lodge. Masonry in this country is much more of a cultural matter, and even traditional in a certain sense, than religious so a lot of people don't see anything wrong with it.
Posted 11 July 2025, 8:37 p.m. Suggest removal
M0J0 says...
Churches are becoming no better than the number houses, because they only seek the people's money to fuel their habits.
Posted 11 July 2025, 2:54 p.m. Suggest removal
ted4bz says...
Human beings are fickle by nature. They will defend their interests over morrows, no matter what. I don't see what God want with human beings, the creatures and the trees are consistently natural, and naturally consistent.
Posted 11 July 2025, 3:22 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
"Wait for some true hypocrisy:" -- Bein' I'm pretty sure, more than just few General Election' 'ficklel' players' of the race card hopefuls is goin' to turn to the two daily newspapers and social media platforms to claim they're related to the new Pope, --- now that the Vatican is about to confirmed that Pope Leo XIV 'is' of mixed Black ancestry. -- Some will claim it from their Sunday Day Pulpits'. -- I'm creative but not enough to just make dishonest hypocrisy, up. -- Yes?
Posted 11 July 2025, 3:47 p.m. Suggest removal
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