Seriously consider taking the vaccine and the booster.

This is the end-of-year message to their flocks of seven churches who jointly called for an attitude of hope by 2022, as they warned of “division” and suggested that the vaccination against Covid -19 becomes a tool of unity.

Yesterday, a joint statement from the main Christian denominations in Trinidad and Tobago also called on everyone to “take responsibility for all” in the fight against the pandemic.

The statement also mourned the loss of those who were defeated in their battle with the virus and offered commiseration with loved ones left behind.

The publication has been approved by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Anglican Church of Trinidad and Tobago, The Methodist Church of Trinidad and Tobago, The Moravian Church of Trinidad and Tobago, The Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago, the Roman Catholic Church of Trinidad and Tobago Tobago and the Council of Evangelical Churches of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Today we say goodbye to a year unlike any other in living memory. Our optimism at the dawn of 2021 has given way to realism and sometimes to despair. Now that we say goodbye to 2021, we, the Christian leaders of the churches in Trinidad and Tobago, pray that optimism gives way to hope in 2022. Optimism believes that things will improve ” , the churches said.

Modern science

The churches noted that the nation had suffered from division cancer for many decades now, and declared that “this must not happen among us.”

They continued:

“We have an obligation to protect each other and educate all for the service of the common good.

While you are free to choose the vaccine, we urge you to see what modern science has done to tackle so many diseases that haunted the world 50 years ago: polio, measles, tetanus, influenza, hepatitis B, mumps, chickenpox, malaria, etc. In the service of all, many have been vaccinated.

“Many citizens still struggle with the information surrounding the vaccination and this pandemic. We all have an obligation to make an informed moral choice that serves the common good. It has been repeatedly reported that 97% of deaths from Covid-19 are unvaccinated people. Amid the reluctance, we urge you to seriously consider taking the vaccine and the booster. “

They further stated, “As a source of unity, the church must not allow the societal divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated to become a wedge in the Body of Christ. We have to respect each other.

The churches added:

“This will require a reorganization of priorities at all levels of our company, as we keep in mind those on the fringes.

“It will also require dialogue and consultation with workers, economic actors, civil society, religious leaders and the government to find a meaningful way forward. “

Churches have recognized that as a result of the closures many families have lost their jobs, suffered from depression, anxiety, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and have shown compassion for the many families who have lost. loved ones.

“We call on all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to live with the highest degree of discipline during this time of Covid-19 in order to protect others, especially the most vulnerable by respecting health protocols: wash your hands , wear your masks and be very disciplined and respectful of others in public spaces while maintaining the stipulated social distance, ”they pleaded.

They also reminded people that “if you have any flu-like symptoms, if you have reason to believe you have been exposed, or if there is any doubt, please choose to quarantine and not enter. in public places, so that we keep everyone as safe as possible. ”.

Stay the course,

practice hope

Churches acknowledged, “We are all suffering from Covid-19 protocol fatigue,” but said, “Now is no time to waver. “

They said their thoughts are with “the children who have not had the opportunity to socialize, play or gather at school in the past 21 months”, adding: “For their sake, let’s find a way to build a better and safer Trinidad and Tobago in 2022.

But protocol must be followed, including to protect vulnerable people, and for in-person worship to be maintained, churches have said:

“We have to protect each other. We all want to maintain worship in person.

It will require a high degree of personal responsibility on the part of ministers, choirs and congregations to keep masks on at all times, or to have proper protection to eliminate the likelihood of any kind of spread, they added.

“We all need to keep the protocols we have put in place in our churches and be vigilant in applying those protocols. We want our churches to welcome everyone. This means we need to make them safer than a “safe area”, ”the churches said.

The statement reiterated the importance of maintaining the faith:

“Hope believes that even as things get worse, we know the One we trust and we believe that he is with us and that he will lead us, guide us and protect us from whatever comes our way. We ask you, as we move into 2022, to become a person of hope. “

They added that citizens will be living with Covid-19 for some time to come “and that” we have learned a lot in the last 21 months “, but added” we still have so much to learn, if we are going to live with Covid -19 as responsible citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and disciples of Jesus Christ ”.