Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I have delayed writing this first part of the letter until after the determinative first meeting of our Parliament held today under s.49(3) and s. 83 of the Cayman Constitution. This has at last at the end of the post-election week given the society certainty about who would form the Government and who would be in Opposition. After the MPs were sworn in and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were elected and appointed, the Premier was elected by the MPs, only Mr. Wayne Panton being nominated. This procedure was necessary because what had remained of the single existing political party (the “Progressives”) was a considerably smaller number than the array of elected independents, many of whom had formed the post-election “PACT” set up by Mr. Panton and some of his colleagues. It is not to be part of this letter to offer any political opinion, but we offer the new government our prayer support and encouragement, wish them well and pray that they may in their hearts affirm the constitutional intention of the people of the Cayman Islands to be “A God-fearing country based on traditional Christian values, tolerant of other religions and beliefs”. As has been the custom, the members of cabinet were sworn in by the Governor outside the parliament after the Premier’s election already mentioned. Their responsibilities are still to be determined for the most part, except that the deputy Premier, Chris Saunders MP, was named as such, as also were the deputy Governor and the Attorney-General named respectively as such, the two Governor-appointed Members of Parliament that are not part of the election process. 

May the Lord continue to guide and govern our beloved Cayman Islands.

The Collect for the Third Sunday after Easter is

Almighty God, who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Collect appears to me to encapsulate the primary concern of all the New Testament authors in their writings - as compared with what often appears to be the primary concern of today’s pastors and preachers to grow our congregations. The primary concern of the Apostles Peter, John, Paul and of the Evangelists was surely to keep those "baptised into the fellowship of Christ’s religion” faithful to and growing in the "light of the truth” into which they had been baptised. in contrast to such faithfulness there is always waiting around every corner the snares of “error” which, if not escaped from by the power of God’s grace, will pull us further and further away from “the way of righteousness”. The Collect is indeed a pertinent and deeply essential prayer for God’s particular granting of this grace continually to all of us.

For directions about the services this Sunday the 25th April, please see the website www.truthwithlanguage.com  .

In the most gracious and holy Name of the Lord Jesus,

Bishop Nicholas