Bermuda's AME Church is doubling its efforts to tackle gun and gang violence and strengthen the family.

During its Annual Conference Committee meeting earlier this month, church leaders resolved to galvanise their members to form neighbourhood watch groups, work with the schools and become active members in their parish councils.

Reverend Lorne Bean of Bright Temple AME Church explained the church had always been actively supporting the community over the years, but was growing more concerned in the current climate.

He said: "The AME Church has always popped up on issues in the media, but we haven't said a whole lot in the media about what we have been doing. What this is doing is actually giving some focus in a very public way.

"For us a lot of people turn a deaf ear because the church's position is against this and that but the church has always been hard and sharp on the importance of the family and how we need to encourage our children.

"What will happen when our families get out of control? Right about now it has happened and when people wonder what to do the churches can say this is what we can do. This is about the families. It's about getting the family unit into good standing. Healthy families make a healthy Bermuda."

The move comes after a turbulent seven months last year when 17 people were shot and four were killed between May and December. So far this year five people have been shot and one killed.

To tackle these concerns and the deteriorating family structure, the AME Church resolved that they would need to:

— create neighbourhood watch groups

— increase growth in the church with a programme that allows people to get involved.

— hold inter-denominational prayer vigils, like the prayer caravan organised by the National Day of Prayer Committee

— promote the Affinity programme with the Gibbons Group of Companies which encouraged the AME community to switch to Capital G for preferential rates and is expected to raise $300,000 to $500,000 for social programmes.

— engage with the general public in town hall meetings, rallies, marches, community events to assure the public they have the support of the church

— become active members of parish councils

— familiarise themselves with and use the Crimestoppers programme

— compile a realistic action plan in 30 days.

— assist the school system through prayer, volunteerism, programme support and recognising educators.

Rev. Malcolm Eve, presiding Elder of the AME Church, added that it was time for the church to bring the community back to its doors.

He said: "I think the church has a role to play. We endeavour to bring about a sense of reasoning and peace and understanding, forgiveness and love.

"Really I believe this generation, for whatever reason, don't see the need for church. They see it as a place to have weddings, baptisms and as the final resting place.

"It seems when disasters happen if natural or man-made they turn to the church but the most part of their life is not spent in church.

"I believe most of us in this country are God fearing, but if more of us were God-worshipping we would not see the crime and violence in this country.

"We are doing what we can to bring people back. It's us as part of the community and it's our calling really doing whatever we can to bring it about.

"It's effecting us and it's effecting the community. We cannot close our eyes on this."