242NewsBahamas - Does God Agree With Rape (Weekly Highlights)

Your Weekly News & Updates delivered by 242newsBahamas Get more news whenever you want, like us on Facebook. Dear Readers, Recently, in his role as former President of The Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, and current Senior, Pastor of Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, William Thompson, suggested that the government's marital rape bill was in open conflict to God's law and said his organization would not be giving sanction to it, in its current form. In the wake of that position, our Editorial team thought it necessary to address the issue via the following open letter, particularly as women in The Bahamas continue to advocate for equality and protection under the law.  Dear Pastor Thompson: As  young woman, a daughters, a sister, a friend and a survivor of sexual assault at the hands of a mate, I was generally appalled but hardly surprised by your decision to once again throw women under the proverbial bus for the sake of maintaining the patriarchal status quo. Now before I go much further into this letter, I'd like to say for the record, that I am a believer, and more recently, (in fact more than I have ever done so in my 30 something years) I have been attempting to pursue a closer relationship with God. It has led me to re-examine things that have been long held beliefs of mine, so please do not see this letter as an attack on you or the church. What this IS, however, is a PLEA on behalf of myself and countless other women who NEED and dare I say DEMAND that the church change its narrative on this issue because honestly, OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT. I, like most women, know the bible verses; Genesis 2:24 which says in Marriage man and woman become one flesh, and Mark 10:9 which says what God has put together let no man (for the sake of this letter, man, will also refer to the government) break apart. These passages of scripture are often used to justify the violence perpetrated against women by their HUSBANDS. These women who have chosen to do it "the right way", women who have gone before God and Man and pledged to love honour and obey, are being VIOLATED and BRUTALIZED by the men who according to the BIBLE are sworn to love and protect them and more often than not, there is no recourse for these victims. Why? Because their abusers are being sanctioned, protected and shielded from the law and by the church.  Statistics on rape and sexual assault bear out one reality, that women, including MARRIED WOMEN often never come forward, mostly out of fear. A fear of not being believed, a fear of being blamed for what happened and a fear of repercussions.  I do not in my heart of hearts feel that the church WANTS to absolve or protect abusive husbands, especially those who violently RAPE or sexually assault their spouses. However, in choosing not to call this kind of abuse - what it is...RAPE, the church enables and empowers these abusers and rapists. Not only is this extremely disrespectful and offensive to women who have experienced violence at the hands of their husbands but this position literally and figuratively TURNS ITS BACK ON ALL WOMEN.  And makes US, your mothers, your daughters, your sisters and your friends feel UNSAFE, UNLOVED and vulnerable.  We put to you Pastor Thompson, that the position of the Baptist church, and those who support it is actually DESTROYING the sanctity of marriage, which you seem so bent on protecting.    What is so often left out of this discussion, and biblical references are what I like to call, companion scriptures; 1 Corinthians 16:14 which tells us to do EVERYTHING in love, and 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 which extolls the virtues of LOVE (which I think we can all agree is the very foundation on which marriage is built). These companion scriptures tell me that LOVE should keep husband and wife to protect each other and preserve the sanctity of the institution. That RAPE, is not a demonstration of LOVE and is not a reflection of the love which God himself has shown to us or told us to extol to others. Sexually Assaulting your mate because of some misguided and warped interpretation of the two becoming one is NOT a reflection of the love of God. The marital rape bill SIMPLY seeks to protect women where their husbands, society and the CHURCH have FAILED! It seeks to hold men (or women) who by their very behaviour have stepped outside the laws of God and should, therefore, be made to face the consequences. No one is trying to, as you put it, "invalidate or undermine the benefits of marriage". When done right, marriage is a beautiful thing. Marriage is quite literally the foundation of family life and should be protected. Unfortunately, sir, you cannot in one breath claim to condone rape and sexual assault while failing to acknowledge its presence in the confines of married life. THAT is the definition of what the scripture in James 1:8 calls being DOUBLE MINDED and a double minded man is UNSTABLE in all his ways.  To be frank, it is that INSTABILITY in the thought process of the church that has contributed to the high levels of violence perpetrated against women both in and outside of marriage. That INSTABILITY says to the perpetrators that they can hide in plain sight, as long as they put a ring on it or claim religious sanctity. The time has come for the church to stand up for women and girls in a REAL way. Protect us, support us and the sanctity of marriage can be restored, reaffirmed and continue.  We reming him... of Ephesians 5:25"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Sincerely, The Women of 242newsbahamas #242Editor 1st Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference a Week Away As the launch of the first Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference is just over one week away, Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, on Monday encouraged Bahamians to get registered. Read More Bahamas Waste Honoured for Good Corporate Citizenship It is often said that it is better to give than to receive. It's a mantra that Bahamas Waste has adopted as part of its corporate citizenry, partnering with various community organizations including; Rotary International, All Saints Camp, Bahamas National Trust, The Bahamas Cancer Association, Bahamas Humane Society and most recently Voltar's World Community Club on projects ranging from community cleanups to youth development. Read More West End set to get economic boost with $2 billion Grand Bahama Bay Grand Bahama's much anticipated economic turnaround took a positive step with a major investment in West End expected to come on stream soon, pending the signing of a Heads of Agreement with the Government of The Bahamas.  Read More UB Recommissions Purpose-Built Student Hub Named After Beloved Administrato The newly refurbished Portia M. Smith Building at University of The Bahamas (UB) is the latest capital development project to be unveiled as UB grows to become a world-class University. Named in honour of a beloved former administrator, mentor and colleague whose dedication to the institution and the wellbeing of students inspired many to reach their heights of their own service excellence, the facility is a hub for services which support student success. On Thursday, 7th June, a recommissioning ceremony was held for the building following a $2 million renovation project. Read More Sterling Global Expert to Address GB Cryptocurrency Conference Sterling Global Financial's Brandon Caruana is the latest addition to the inaugural Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference line-up. Designed to attract investors, entrepreneurs, service providers and tech companies from across the globe, the three-day conference slated to run at the Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama from June 20-22 features an array of visionary local and international keynote and panel speakers. Read More Third Round of Delimitation of US-Bahamas Maritime Boundary Discussions Commence The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United States of America officially resumed the third round of discussions on the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries on Monday, 11th June 2018. These discussions follow previous rounds of official (face-to-face) discussions, the last of which took place in 2013 when a delegation comprised of senior technical Bahamian officials with expertise in the area of law of the sea and maritime affairs met with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. Read More Garvin Gaskin Sworn In as Country's First 'Constitutionally Appointed' Independent DPP The former Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Mr. Garvin E. Gaskin, was sworn in Monday (June 11, 2018) as the country's first Constitutionally Appointed Independent Director of Public Prosecutions. The ceremony was performed by Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, DCMG, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, at Government House, Mount FitzWilliam. Read More Get daily updates, like our page on Facebook. Sir Jack Hayward Soccer Camp Quickly Approaching With school coming to a close and summer in full swing, the Freeport Rugby Football Club invites youth from around the island to sign up for the Sir Jack Hayward Soccer Camp. The weeklong camp begins on Monday, June 25 and finishes on Friday, June 29. Each day begins at 9 a.m. and finishes at 3 p.m. During that time, participants will get the opportunity to work alongside international coaches, including several current college coaches from the United States. Read More Announcement of 32nd Annual Conchman Triathlon In November, Sponsored By The Grand Bahama Port Authority The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is delighted to be the title sponsor of the 2018 Conchman Triathlon event, for the third consecutive year. Since inception, the Conchman Triathlon always takes place on the first Saturday of November each year and is a successful and long-standing event on Grand Bahama Island. This year marks the 32nd Annual GBPA Conchman Triathlon, which will be held on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 at Taino Beach. Read More Grand Bahama Regatta is Set for July Environmentalists, NGOs, students and residents on Grand Bahama turned out in strong numbers to march for the protection of our oceans on Saturday. The event which took place on June 9th - just one day after the international observance of World Oceans Day was the result of an alliance formed between seven of the island's environmental partners and coincided with 'March for the Ocean' - a global awareness initiative. Read More New Restaurant Encourages 'Clean' Eating Keeping It Clean is the newest addition to the takeout restaurant experience in Grand Bahama. Located at #11 Millenium Mall, Downtown, its main purpose is to provide nutritious, tasty meals, at an affordable cost to everyone. Tarentee Laing, Owner and CEO of Cardio Blast Experience, has proven himself to be a viable entrepreneur within the community. Now, he has decided to expand his reach from fitness coach and trainer, to restaurant owner. Read More Sabor Wows Foodies With new Wednesday Waffle Event A new concept is delighting the palates of 'foodies' across Grand Bahama Island. The brainchild, of Sabor's Head Chef Emmanuel Smith, the concept combined the culinary duo of Wine and Waffles with a dining experience featuring the best that Sabor has to offer on a Wednesday. Created with the taste buds of his customers in mind, Chef Manny has found new and innovative ways to reinvent the classic flavour of a culinary staple: Waffles. Read More Click Below for this week's weather in The Bahamas: Upcoming Calendar New Providence June 16th, 2018  Men's Rugby:  Nassau Renegades v LSC Rattlesnakes 3:00pm at Winton Rugby Centre June 30th, 2018  Furniture Plus Art Competition: "Art from the Heart" 6:00pm  June 25th - July 13th, 2018  The NAGB Mixed Media Art Summer Camp  July 16th - August 3rd, 2018  The NAGB Mixed Media Art Summer Camp  Grand Bahama June 23rd - 24th , 2018 Bahamas Dance Theatre 22nd Annual Dance Performance 7:00pm  June 27th , 2018 Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Monthly Business Meeting 12:30pm at Delphine Room,Pelican Bay Hotel June 30th , 2018 Bahamian Farmers and Crafts Market at The Rand Nature Centre Family Islands June 15th, 2018 All Andros Crab Fest at Queen's Park, Fresh Creek June 22nd, 2018 42nd Annual Five Towns Regatta Time in Abaco at Green Turtle Cay June 22nd, 2018 "Bimini Regatta Bimini C Class Regatta" in Alice Town June 28th, 2018 All Eleuthera Regatta at Governor's Harbour, Central Eleuthera For More Abaco Events click the photo below Want to see your news or event listed, send to  242newsbahamas@gmail.com STAY CONNECTED:

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