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Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 23, 2018 (SKNIS): The relationship between the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and faith-based institutions has been strengthened over the past three years as part of the strategy to promote greater partnerships in national development.

 

“I do not believe that we only need the church when we have a crisis. I think we need the church and the association, cooperation and collaboration with the church to prevent crises,” Senior Minister and Minister responsible for Ecclesiastical Affairs, Honourable Vance Amory, said at a recent public forum.

 

He described the church as a “living organ” that has a responsibility, in part, to encourage people to lead lives in harmony with others.

 

Strategies on ways the church can take action are often discussed at meetings of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Committee, which has representation from the government, Christian and Evangelical Councils. Government’s role is more of a coordinating one while the other members take the lead.

 

A school chaplaincy is one initiative that resulted from the committee.

 

“We are formalizing the attachment of a spiritual leader to our schools,” Senior Minister Amory said. He referred to the growing list of complaints from adults that lament young people’s antisocial activities, absence from church functions, and a general lack of manners.

 

“We are therefore saying to our church leaders help us to help our children to help you. Because if they help the children to become more spiritually attuned then the churches will again be filled with people,” the senior government official stated.

 

Additional information will be shared about this initiative in a subsequent release.