This pastor has been rude to Bryan Hunt

Jun 25, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

Grateful if you published the following letter in your letters column. Thank you. Rare is the occasion that I would publicly disagree with the opinions of letters to the press. This instance is one which perpetuates an injustice if foregone.
One of my more unremarkable discoveries, yet a true eye-opener, has been that the academic preparation of pastors and other so-called men of the cloth requires a course or two in psychology. This was so revealing because it explained why the religious order across religious denominations has become the home of resident evil, those so-called priests, pastors and other religious leaders who accomplish great evil under the guise of being God’s good shepherds.
Psychology involves the study of the workings of the mind to understand how individuals think in an attempt provide solutions for persons who have premised their conclusions about various matters of concern to them on inaccurate and illogical causal factors. Where things go wrong for some religious leaders is that these individuals turn psychology to serve their own ends, conning innocent people into all kinds of sexually abusive acts on one hand, and devising cunning marketing schemes for extracting as much money from the flock on the other.
Indeed, psychology facilitates all kinds of abuse and skullduggery by religious leaders intent on serving their own ends, and this brings us around to our present case. Among the great teachings, the origins of which I am unfamiliar, is that we should beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Here we seem to have found one in Pastor Wendell Jeffrey, who thinks it an opportune time to prostitute his religious authority in the press, promoting himself, it seems, as a mouthpiece for, and defender of, the current administration.
I can hardly claim to be amused, knowing Wendell Jeffrey. Yes, I remember Jeffrey quite well, the little he described of himself to me. I remember his story about selling ice-cream, and then moving on to qualifying himself as a pastor, and working with offenders, which I think he still does. I remember him preaching at his church and once playing an outrageous musical version of some gospel. I said to myself at the time, ‘here’s someone who’s had a disconnect with God.’
And this it seems, has manifested itself as no greater truth. Indeed, from hustling ice-creams, Jeffrey moved on to hustling God’s flock. In true business style, he has sought to broaden his revenue stream by, in addition to opening his new church business, Practical Christian Ministries, running as a candidate for councilor or representative of his, or some district in the recent local government elections. To all of which I have no objection, since a man has got to live.
I remember his last letter on his candidacy, whining about not attracting the necessary votes. Seeming to have been inspired by some prolific letter writers in the press, Jeffrey has now picked up his pen in an attempt to become a shaper of society’s opinions, slugging, it seems, for the government. Jeffrey knows, but yet seems unable to fully grasp what exactly it took to occasion the transition of the new government. Observing his ideas, it is clear he thinks that it was accomplished by any old hack. And that is understandable, since everyone is allowed his abilities.
Then to his letter in Kaieteur News’ June 22, 2016 issue, ‘The US Influence in Guyana,’ making rude remarks about Mr. Bryan Hunt, the outgoing US Chargé d’Affaires, apparently forgetting the guidance against speaking ill of high officials. It could of course be that such instruction is for the flock alone. What is an absolute surety is that Mr. Bryan Hunt has served both his country and Guyana in excellence. And there is nothing the Jeffrey has said, or will ever say, that can alter that fact.
Craig Sylvester

1 thoughts on “This pastor has been rude to Bryan Hunt”

Gtloyal June 25, 2016 at 9:13 am

“Here we seem to have found one in Pastor Wendell Jeffrey, who thinks it an opportune time to prostitute his religious authority in the press, promoting himself, it seems, as a mouthpiece for, and defender of, the current administration.”
Herein lies the main reason for this letter, not Mr Hunt, whom we undoubtedly should respect. Being a defender of the current administration is not approved by the author so Mr Craig Sylvester makes a personal attack …. Pathetic. What would come next? Believe what I believe or I will hit you?