A response to violence in Haiti

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have sent this letter of support to Bishop Jean-Lesly Dorcely of Eglise Methodiste d’Haiti as violence and unrest continue in Haiti.

Dear Bishop Jean-Lesly Dorcely,

‘Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Psalm 46:10-11, NRSV)

We write to you on behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain to express our deep concern for the increasingly precarious situation in Haiti. We weep with our Haitian brothers and sisters as they continue to suffer violence, injury, fatalities, aggressions, food insecurity, water shortages and insecurity, particularly in Port-au Prince.

We understand that the interim President, Ariel Henry, has now resigned. We pray that there will be a quick, peaceful and democratic transition of power. We pray that CARICOM, the UN and other international partners will accompany Haiti with wisdom and enable it to find Haitian solutions to respond to this time of civil violence. We pray that Haiti will become a nation that offers security and peace to its citizens in all its forms.

We understand also that the Eglise Methodiste d’Haiti has had to close many of its Methodist Schools that are a crucial part of its mission and witness in Haiti. We pray for all school children and the families they represent, teaching staff and other school workers. We pray that their online classes will still enable the children to keep learning and give them hope for their futures.

We have also been informed that very few Methodists are able to attend their local churches on a Sunday because of the violence and risk to life. We lament that our brothers and sisters are unable to worship God together in person as they normally do.

We mourn and weep with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti and the wider Haitian community over their current situation. But we also live in hope in Christ Jesus our Lord, that better days are yet to come. We offer the words of the scripture above as an encouragement to Haiti, that God is exalted in Haiti, and that the Lord of hosts is with you.

We are keeping Haiti and the Eglise Methodiste d’Haiti firmly in our prayers.

With every good wish,

The Revd Gill Newton
President of the Methodist Conference 2023/24

Deacon Kerry Scarlett
Vice-President of the Methodist Conference 2023/24



The following prayer has been written by Sandra Lopez, MCB Partnership Coordinator for the Americas, as a prayer of solidarity with the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas, Haiti District and the people of Haiti where on-going violence continues to affect the country.

Almighty God,

We weep with our Haitian brothers and sisters as they continue to suffer violence, injury, fatalities, aggressions, food insecurity, water shortages and insecurity across the country. We pray that your holy spirit would intervene and change the hearts of all those involved in perpetuating this violence.

We pray for wisdom for international partners who are supporting Haiti in seeking a peaceful, democratic transition following the resignation of Ariel Henry, the interim president.

We pray that Haiti will become a nation that offers security and peace to all its citizens.

We pray for Haitian children who attend Methodist Schools across Haiti. We pray that they would soon be able to return safely to their schools to continue their education. We pray for all teaching and school staff who are having to adapt their lessons to virtual classrooms.

We pray for the Methodist Church in Haiti, its Sunday services and other activities that have been affected by the violence that is stopping participants from gathering. May they find comfort in you during this time.

Lord, we pray that our Haitian brothers and sister will find hope in you, so that they may overcome this seemingly unsurmountable challenges. But we thank you that what is impossible for people, is possible for God (Luke 18:27).

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.