In highlighting the push to recognise obeah as a religion and the promotion of same-sex relations as the norm in schools, the newly elected president of the Association of Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM), Byron Buckley, has committed to continue the fight against these and other immoral agendas that threaten Jamaica’s Judeo-Christian values.
Buckley, a senior journalist and an elder at Elim Gospel Assembly, was elected uncontested to lead the Christian Association, which was launched three years ago. He takes over from veteran journalist and radio co-host Jenni Campbell, who is now the second vice-president. Bishop Basil Hanson was returned as first vice-president.
Buckley assured that he will be carrying out the organisation’s mission, which is the promotion and propagation of righteousness and morality founded on Biblical principles.
“You have a unique and prophetic role to play in shining the light of morality and righteousness in such a time as this when the Judeo-Christian structure of family and society is under attack,” he told members of the ACCM who attended the annual general meeting on Sunday, March 14.
“God has given you and me the tools and platforms to counter the harmful and unhealthy messages, and practices that seek to undermine healthy social and spiritual values,” he said.
Campbell noted that the Association had written to several of the nation’s leaders last year regarding some of the immoral agendas being pursued, but to date, they are yet to respond. These officials were asked to state their positions on the Caribbean Court of Justice, the National Identification System (NIDS), cashlessness, and the buggery law. The ACCM also wrote to the Minister of Education: Dr Dana Dixon to restate concerns regarding issues such as crime and violence in schools and the subtle efforts to diminish the role of the Christian church in education. Other concerns also mentioned were the proposals to end devotion in schools and the implementation of aspects of the Samoa Agreement, which the government signed in November 2024. The agreement demands that comprehensive reproductive health programmes and its offshoot (comprehensive sex education) be taught in schools.
“These programmes include issues of gender fluidity and abortion rights. These matters are still illegal under the Jamaican Constitution, and so our children should not be taught that these illegal choices are ready options,” said Campbell, who, like Buckley, is a former president of the Press Association of Jamaica.
While the government has not responded to concerns shared privately, the reception was much different for public advocacy on matters such as corporal punishment and the need to strengthen the family unit in the country.
A forum hosted before the general election last year attracted national attention and sparked discussions on voting trends in Jamaica and the impact of the nation’s Christian community on elections. Another forum was hosted following the passage of Hurricane Melissa to discuss how to manage stressful situations.
“The forum brought a deeper level of understanding and both spiritual and practical solutions towards the management of personal crises,” said Campbell.
The ACCM intends to continue partnering with other parachurch groups. Buckley commended the advocacy being done by the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society as well as the Love March Movement (LMM) along with the Friends for Life women’s support group.
“ACCM condemns the harassment of representatives of Love March Movement who have been demonstrating at an abortion clinic. The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the Jamaican Constitution. Love March Movement is entitled to that right like any other group,” he said.
Members of the LMM have faced verbal and physical attacks in recent weeks, as they mount a vigil along Ivy Green Crescent to protest abortion.
