Prominent theologian Dr Collin Cowan, declaring that the world is facing a “crisis of integrity”, has lashed what he describes as the impotence of the United Nations and “the rise of authoritarianism and the threat to democracy” under United States President Donald Trump.

His comments came in a scathing critique of the global state of affairs delivered to the 175th General Assembly of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) over the weekend at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St James.

Cowan, drawing parallels between the “cut throat ambition” depicted in the 2024 movie The Apprentice and the current political and economic landscape, argued that the pursuit of power and wealth had eclipsed moral and ethical principles.

He outlined four critical areas of concern: “First, the impotence of the United Nations in the face of escalating conflicts and the trampling of the vulnerable by the powerful. Second, the rise of authoritarianism and the threat to democracy, exemplified by the resurgence of Donald Trump in American politics. Third, the integrity deficit within Jamaica’s own Integrity Commission, hampered by interference and intrusion from legislators.”

But Dr Cowan did not spare the Church, lamenting that “the complicity and compromises of the Church have rendered it incapable of fulfilling its call to do justice… The Church is often seen as a silent bystander rather than an advocate for justice and peace, remaining silent in the face of injustice, prioritising reputation over righteousness”.

He urged the Church to reclaim its prophetic voice and actively work towards social justice. The mission of the Church, Cowan said, “must not be neutral but a force for truth, accountability, and radical change… Instead, it may be said of us that we are mere chaplains to corrupt systems, compromising on principles …”

Dr Cowan’s lecture highlighted the disproportionate impact of this global integrity crisis on small developing states, particularly in the Caribbean. He cited Jamaica as a case study, illustrating how decisions by international powers can reverberate through local communities, affecting health, education, and economic stability.

Without naming the Trump Administration’s recent decision to withhold aid from foreign nations, he stressed the need for these nations to break free from dependency and cultivate self-reliance.

The theologian called on the Church to champion an ethic of solidarity and self-reliance, urging a return to “God’s economy of enough” and emphasising the importance of transparency and accountability, not only for political leaders but also within the Church itself.

Dr Cowan concluded his lecture with a message of hope, urging individuals to embrace courage in the face of injustice and to work towards a world in which integrity reigns.

The hard-hitting lecture ignited a conversation among the Baptists about the state of integrity in Jamaica and beyond, challenging individuals and institutions to confront their own complicity and strive for a more just and equitable world.

Convened under the theme ‘Keeping Faith with the Word in and Ever-changing World: Pursuing Integrity’, the 175th General Assembly brought together delegates and pastors from the JBU’s 341 churches in Jamaica and Haiti “to provide a space for spiritual renewal, theological reflection, and strategic decision-making for the denomination”.