ST MARY, Jamaica — The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica today admonished its members to embrace the morals and ethics of the church following media reports that one of its elders was arrested on allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Up to the time of this publication, the constabulary’s Corporate Communications Unit was unable to confirm the arrest but said they were still making checks.

However, it has been reported that the elder, who is said to be a member of the Heywood Hall Adventist Church in St Mary, was arrested Tuesday night by the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) for questioning on allegations of unlawful sexual behaviour involving a minor.

Pastor Everett Brown, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, in a statement today, said the church “condemn(s) any act of unlawful sexual behaviour or abuse against minors”.

“While we await the outcome of the investigations, we admonish our workers and members to live up to the high moral and ethical code of conduct for which our church is known and to cooperate with the authorities in bringing to justice those who have violated the laws of the land.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica is committed to upholding its high Christians values and will not shelter any worker or member who runs afoul of the law,” Brown added.

News of the arrest comes in the midst of a number of sexual allegations against prominent church figures.

Three Moravian Church leaders are currently before the courts on charged of sexual misconduct involving a minor.  Meanwhile, a Pentecostal pastor was recently convicted for the offence.