THE faith community in Jamaica used the recent religious liberty summit to remind employers, educational institutions, politicians, and other stakeholders to respect and accommodate citizens’ spiritual beliefs in practise, not just in policy.

“Religious discrimination has no face, no class or colour, no race or ethnicity… We have to work with governments, international organisations, and other partners to encourage religious freedom and tackle related challenges,” Nigel Coke, director of public affairs and religious liberty at Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, said in his remarks at the January 30 summit at Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

The summit brought together representatives from various faiths, academia, corporations, government, and non-government organisations to discuss challenges people of faith face in various spheres.

Coke emphasised the challenges related to religious practices that some public and private sector employees and high school and college students face due to classes, exams, and course work scheduled on days of worship, and the restrictions on hairstyles linked to religious observance.

He stated that a collaborative approach to finding solutions is essential.

“Adventists believe in the freedom of all religions and denominations, including Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, and Roman Catholicism. The suppression of one religion’s freedom threatens the freedom of all. We believe everyone has the right to worship whomever, whenever, wherever, and however they wish,” said Coke, who has organised seminars and workshops for more than 14 years to educate church members and the public about religious liberty and how to promote and protect it.

He used the opportunity to thank successive Jamaican governments for upholding the tenets of the constitution regarding religious freedom.

“Without this freedom, churches in Jamaica could not operate various schools, hospitals, and clinics and carry out humanitarian work without freedom from fear,” he said.

Dr Nelu Burcea, associate director of public affairs and religious liberty at the Seventh-day Adventist World headquarters, praised the fact that a public discussion on religious freedom could be accommodated in Jamaica and include participation from the Government and NGOs.

“Jamaica is one of the few countries that deeply values this freedom and works to accommodate all faiths, based on respect for each other… Religious freedom is not just a theological issue but has profound societal implications. It affirms the dignity of every individual, creating a society where people are free to live according to their beliefs without fear of persecution,” he said.

Vice-president of National Religious Liberty Association Bishop Dr Alvin Bailey, who was representing president of the association Bishop Conrad Pitkin, concurred.

“A country that facilitates this kind of dialogue speaks to inclusivity, tolerance, and a recognition that there is a God that rules in the affairs of men,” he said.

Stacey Mitchell, a member of the Baha’i community and chair of Jamaica Council for Interfaith Fellowship, said some of the difficulties experienced by people of faith stem from misunderstandings.

“In a country that proclaims, ‘Out of many, one people’ it is incumbent that we keep this ideal of justice for all before us. This summit demonstrates the importance of open dialogue that bridges divides, dispels misconceptions, and encourages understanding. May we create a Jamaica where everyone feels that religious liberty is not just an ideal but a lived reality,” said Mitchell, who is also an attorney.

Also representing the faith community was Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches chairman, Apostle Dr Michael Smith.

“We have still not gotten it right with religious freedom,” said Smith. “We have still not reached the point where we respect the religious freedom of others. We are not where we want to be now but, thank God, we are not where we were — and this summit is an example of how we are moving forward.”

The summit, held under the theme ‘Fostering Unity: Respecting Beliefs’, was organised to promote policy advocacy, offer networking opportunities, and develop actionable strategies to combat religious discrimination and intolerance in Jamaica.