THE Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is adamant that its advocacy for “flexibility” so its members can observe their Sabbath is not a bid for “preferential treatment”.

This as the 307,000-member strong organisation prepares to mount its January 30 summit which is designed to “highlight the disrespect for the religious rights and beliefs of individual and denominational organisations” and foster dialogue and understanding among different religious groups in Jamaica while emphasising the importance of respective diverse beliefs. The conference, to be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston and which feature presentations by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes and religious leaders, is also focused on raising awareness about the significance of religious liberty as a fundamental human right, encouraging collaboration between religious and community leaders; highlighting challenges faced by some workers in the private and public sector; and highlight student challenges in high and tertiary institutions regarding class, exams, coursework and hairstyles.

“As much as you believe that we want preferential treatment, as much as you believe that we might be unfair in wanting dialogue, wanting respect, I am saying that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we recognise essential services,” Nigel Coke, public affairs and religious liberty director for the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, told Observer editors and reporters Monday while addressing the weekly Monday Exchange forum of the newspaper at its Beechwood Avenue offices.

“The adventist is a doctor and a nurse and a police officer and a fireman and they come under that umbrella and we are flexible in that light because essential services means saving lives and property. If there is a natural disaster, earthquake, all hands are on deck. We are not this set of people who believe that this day is so holy that there is nothing,” Coke stated.

At the same time he said Seventh-day Adventists in maintaining their stance regarding sundown Fridays to sundown Saturdays as their Sabbath, “just want to follow the Bible”.

“The constitution [in recognising the right of individuals to religious liberty and worship] is consistent with what we believe and we believe that organisations, educational institutions should be respectful of that right and belief that we have. If others don’t take it as serious as we do, I am not sure we know why but it is very serious for us because it actually falls into the commandments of God,” Coke declared Monday.

Bishop Alvin Bailey, president of the Jamaica Evangelical Alliance which is among the groupings who will be taking part in the summit, said the organisation’s ask could only be seen as reasonable.

“By their sheer number and the significance of the day to their form of worship, you would expect them to want to be given that leverage without any hindrance. It would be similar to asking a Rastaman to eat pork. He just would not. I am not surprised. The intensity and the assertiveness in championing this cause is consistent with Seventh-day adventism. What I would have been more concerned about is, if there was intolerance in considering others of us who are not subjected to similar disenfranchisement,” Bailey stated.

According to the churchman, crafting further laws is not the solution, hence the summit.

“It is kind of obvious that legislation is not going to be the primary way to achieve the kind of harmony that is required with the diversity of religious organisations and the diversity of practices and observances, but there must be some level of sensitivity to the fact that persons have the right to worship and there must be some level of negotiation. The extent to which there is flexibility and recognition of individuals or individual groups is very important,” Bailey argued.

“A chief example is, the governor general is a Seventh-day Adventist and before him a whole heap of things used to happen on a Saturday that governors general used to take part in, but he has a way, and the Government would have facilitated a process, whereby these same things happen but they don’t violate his office. I think there is space for negotiation,” he pointed out.

Noting that employees and employers could also settle the issue at the onset of hiring negotiations, Bailey said, “maybe what you have to do at the beginning is make it clear in that if you require my services I have to get my day. As it relates to school it’s the same thing, clearly there has to be some amount of flexibility”.

Pastor Dr Omar Oliphant, public affairs and religious liberty director, East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in emphasising further, said the model utilised by The University of the West Indies to accommodate different faiths is another alternative.

“The University of the West Indies (UWI), recognising the importance of faith, has chaplains for different denominations and these chaplains serve their religious communities. What The UWI has done is put in place of framework whereby believers of different faiths, or no faiths, all can have their faith represented and nurtured while pursuing their dreams. I think that is a good model,” Oliphant said.

Coke, when asked what outcomes would make the talks a success, said, “if within the context of all our deliberations, presentations, discussions, we come to an understanding that persons’ beliefs must be respected, the outcome is achieved”.

“We are hoping that at the end of it we would have some networking opportunities to create a platform for stakeholders to connect, share experiences, collaborate, promote and respect religious beliefs. We also hope we can formulate actionable strategies to address challenges related to religious liberties,” he told editors and reporters.