Welcome to Bahamas Local, Your Bahamas Online Search Engine

Neil Ellis for GG?

Tue, Oct 25th 2022, 05:15 AM
Nassau Guardian Stories

Dear Editor, On October 7, 2021, 21 days after the September 16 general election, The Nassau Guardian published a story regarding Bishop Neil C. Ellis' announcement that he will retire as head pastor of the prestigious Mount Tabor Church.

Ellis stated that he will step down in December 2022 after 35 years. This has led to widespread speculation among politically minded Bahamians that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is strongly considering appointing Ellis as the next governor general.
The timing of Ellis’ announcement was not a coincidence to these Bahamians.
With current Governor General Sir C.A. Smith’s strong ties to the official opposition Free National Movement, I cannot envisage the PLP retaining Smith during the entire duration of its five-year tenure in government.
Smith is the 11th person to hold the substantive post since 1973. He succeeded Dame Marguerite Pindling.
Dame Marguerite succeeded Sir Arthur Foulkes, A.D. Hanna, Paul Adderley, Dame Ivy Dumont, Sir Orville Turnquest, Sir Clifford Darling, Sir Henry Taylor, Sir Gerald Cash and Sir Milo B. Butler, all prominent Bahamians who have made an indelible mark on the fabric of this great Commonwealth.
With the exception of Dame Marguerite, all of the governors general had served in frontline politics.
In all likelihood, Dame Marguerite was given the post, due to her being the widow of Sir Lynden O. Pindling, the first prime minister of The Bahamas.
Her being considered the matriarch of the PLP may have also been a factor in her appointment.
I say all this not to bash Dame Marguerite, but to counter the viewpoint that Ellis— owing to his non-political résumé — can hardly be deemed qualified for the post of representative of the head of state.
The PLP established a precedent in 2014 when it appointed Dame Marguerite, who had never served in Parliament as either an MP or senator.
Ellis’ accomplishments are seminal. He pastors arguably the largest congregation in The Bahamas.
He heads the massive Global United Fellowship (GUF), a quasi-denomination that spans 40 countries and has in its membership 1,400 churches and parachurch organizations.
Before the formation of GUF, Ellis was a prominent member of Bishop Paul S. Morton’s Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.
Ellis has been a regular fixture on the African American Word Network and the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
He has also mingled with many prominent US-based televangelists from the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream.
In all things considered, Ellis’ influence is massive.
With Mount Tabor Church having thousands of members, it wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that Ellis has influenced tens of thousands of Bahamians, especially through his media outreach ministry.
The German reformer Martin Luther stated in his Romans commentary that the civil authority ministers to the outward man.
That would include all of our governors general from Sir Milo to Sir C.A. Smith; again, with the exception of Dame Marguerite.
Luther further stated that preachers, such as Ellis, serve the inward man. In a word, one cannot underestimate the contributions Ellis has made to The Bahamas.
I would even go out on a limb by stating that Ellis has accomplished far more than any of the governors general, at least ecclesiastically.
If the PLP appoints Ellis, the Bahamian church could use that appointment to its advantage.
Ellis would be in a position to offer sound spiritual advice to Prime Minister Philip Davis, as the Old Testament prophets did for the Kings of Israel and Judah.
Maybe his appointment would lead to the PLP repealing the web shop gaming and same-sex laws that are on the books.
Be that as it may, I honestly see nothing wrong with Ellis being governor general. If Dame Marguerite can be appointed to the post, then why not Ellis?
— Kevin Evans

Ellis stated that he will step down in December 2022 after 35 years. This has led to widespread speculation among politically minded Bahamians that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is strongly considering appointing Ellis as the next governor general.

The timing of Ellis’ announcement was not a coincidence to these Bahamians.

With current Governor General Sir C.A. Smith’s strong ties to the official opposition Free National Movement, I cannot envisage the PLP retaining Smith during the entire duration of its five-year tenure in government.

Smith is the 11th person to hold the substantive post since 1973. He succeeded Dame Marguerite Pindling.

Dame Marguerite succeeded Sir Arthur Foulkes, A.D. Hanna, Paul Adderley, Dame Ivy Dumont, Sir Orville Turnquest, Sir Clifford Darling, Sir Henry Taylor, Sir Gerald Cash and Sir Milo B. Butler, all prominent Bahamians who have made an indelible mark on the fabric of this great Commonwealth.

With the exception of Dame Marguerite, all of the governors general had served in frontline politics.

In all likelihood, Dame Marguerite was given the post, due to her being the widow of Sir Lynden O. Pindling, the first prime minister of The Bahamas.

Her being considered the matriarch of the PLP may have also been a factor in her appointment.

I say all this not to bash Dame Marguerite, but to counter the viewpoint that Ellis— owing to his non-political résumé — can hardly be deemed qualified for the post of representative of the head of state.

The PLP established a precedent in 2014 when it appointed Dame Marguerite, who had never served in Parliament as either an MP or senator.

Ellis’ accomplishments are seminal. He pastors arguably the largest congregation in The Bahamas.

He heads the massive Global United Fellowship (GUF), a quasi-denomination that spans 40 countries and has in its membership 1,400 churches and parachurch organizations.

Before the formation of GUF, Ellis was a prominent member of Bishop Paul S. Morton’s Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.

Ellis has been a regular fixture on the African American Word Network and the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

He has also mingled with many prominent US-based televangelists from the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream.

In all things considered, Ellis’ influence is massive.

With Mount Tabor Church having thousands of members, it wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that Ellis has influenced tens of thousands of Bahamians, especially through his media outreach ministry.

The German reformer Martin Luther stated in his Romans commentary that the civil authority ministers to the outward man.

That would include all of our governors general from Sir Milo to Sir C.A. Smith; again, with the exception of Dame Marguerite.

Luther further stated that preachers, such as Ellis, serve the inward man. In a word, one cannot underestimate the contributions Ellis has made to The Bahamas.

I would even go out on a limb by stating that Ellis has accomplished far more than any of the governors general, at least ecclesiastically.

If the PLP appoints Ellis, the Bahamian church could use that appointment to its advantage.

Ellis would be in a position to offer sound spiritual advice to Prime Minister Philip Davis, as the Old Testament prophets did for the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Maybe his appointment would lead to the PLP repealing the web shop gaming and same-sex laws that are on the books.

Be that as it may, I honestly see nothing wrong with Ellis being governor general. If Dame Marguerite can be appointed to the post, then why not Ellis?

— Kevin Evans

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads