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Stirm Apology demand is rejected

By on March 30, 2016
NEAB press release

NEAB press release

San Ignacio, CAYO. Wednesday, March 30, 2016. The National Evangelical Association of Belize has come out in support of Pastor Scot Stirm, following accusations that he disrespected the Garifuna culture and people.

As we have reported previously, the National Garifuna Council (NGC) and thousands of Belizeans took issue with Pastor Stirm after a video was released on social media which shows the evangelical pastor talking candidly about Garifuna cultural practices and describing them as witchcraft, and referring to the Garifuna priest as a witch.

The NGC had sent a strong letter to Pastor Stirm chastising him for what he said and demanding an apology for his utterances.

Well today, that request for an apology was flatly rejected.

In a statement issued by the National Evangelical Association (NEAB), where Pastor Strim serves as vice president, the organization said that he spoke out of his religious convictions and therefore was well within his rights.

And what about that demand for an apology that was made by the National Garifuna Council?

Pastor Scot Stirm

Pastor Scot Stirm

Well, National Evangelical Association of Belize says the NGC’s demand for an apology from Pastor Stirm was “extremely inappropriate and misplaced in the context of religious freedom, as well as free speech” because Pastor Stirm as an evangelical leader who spoke out of his religious convictions in a church service.

NEAB believes that there is what it calls, “a blatant intentional attack with intent to discredit Pastor Scott Stirm.”

The Association goes on to explain, using a scripture text from the old testament book of Deuteronomy, that it is the strong belief of Evangelicals that “all practices, spiritism, ancestral worship, traditions etc. that contradict the Biblical teachings of Jesus Christ and Scripture, those practices and observances must be forsaken and surrendered at the foot of the Cross, in submission to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ.”

The NEAB statement concludes on the note that, “in a country that embraces religious freedom, any pastor or leader who speaks from their religious Biblical convictions has the full right to do so.”

The National Evangelical Association says that it welcomes “any forums for dialogue & discussion within the context of mutual respect and religious freedoms.”

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