If Archdeacon Etienne Bowleg is to be believed in what he said to the National Cultural Development Commission, all denominations in The Bahamas, including the Anglicans, would fall into his definition of cults and sects.

Looking at the definition he gives of the apostolic structure of the church being bishop, priest, deacon and brethren, where does that place the position he occupies as archdeacon? Then too, why does the Anglican church have the office of suffragan bishop (Gilbert Thompson) if that is not in line with New Testament interpretation?

Is the archdeacon saying that a doctrinal error has occured in his church? And if so, who is to correct it? Does it go to the archbishop, who too, according to the archdeacon's interpretation is not an office of the apostolic church?

While denominations such as the Baptists, Methodists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists were singled out particularly, Archdeacon Bowleg owes an apology to all the Christian denominations in this country who he declared are not Christians and who he claimed are undermining the church by teaching doctrine based on their own understanding of what the Scripture says.

No doubt the archdeacon attained his position in the Anglican church because it was felt that he understood the teachings of Christ in The Bible and the doctrine of his denomination.

The archbishop of the diocese may need to take another look to be sure that they are all on the same page in what constitutes the church.