TEN members of the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands will be ordained as ministers of the church in two separate services, the first of which is scheduled for today at 4:00 pm at the St James Cathedral in Spanish Town.

At this afternoon’s service, five of the Ordinands, who have been serving as assistant curates in churches across the island, will be ordained to the Holy Order of Priest in a rite to be performed by the Suffragan Bishop of Mandeville Dr Harold Daniel. They are Garfield Ricardo Campbell, from St Luke’s Church, Cross Roads; Basil Evan Jackson from St Thomas’ Church in Bluefields, Westmoreland; Basil Eccleston McLeod, from St Margaret’s Church, Liguanea; Marlon Andrew Simpson, from the Spanish Town Cathedral; and Michael Vandigard Solomon, from St Mary’s Church Marverley.

All five Ordinands hold the Bachelors Degree in Theology and the Diploma in Ministerial Studies from the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI), and have satisfied the examining chaplains of the Diocese – a body comprising both clergy and laity -as to their suitability for the priesthood. All priests serve as co-workers with the bishops, with specific responsibilities for administering the Sacraments of the Church, including baptism, the holy communion, the marriage ceremony and funeral rites, in addition to other pastoral duties.

The highlight of the colourful Ordination Service will be the laying-on of hands by the presiding bishop, the ceremonial robing of the new priests and the presentation of a Bible and communion vessels to each of them.

At the second Ordination Service, which will be held on July 5 at 4:00 pm at the St Andrew Parish Church in Half-Way-Tree, four women and one man will be consecrated as deacons. According to news release from the church, this reflects a recent trend in which there has been a steady influx of women in the leadership of the church’s ministry, with several having been ordained as priests and now serving as rectors in churches across the diocese.

The persons to be ordained as deacons are Muffett Emily Barry of the UTCWI and St Mary’s Church, Marverley; Cheryl Beverley Phillips also of the UTCWI and St Michael’s Church in Kingston; Zelphya Hyacinth McLaren of St Augustine’s Church in Coral Gardens, Montego Bay; Mrianda Ophelia Sutherland of the Church of the Reconciliation in Bridgeport, Portmore; and Cleverton Rohan Beckford of the UTCWI and All Souls’ Church in Brompton, St Elizabeth. Three of these candidates are currently pursuing studies in the Supplementary Ministry – a part-time training programme offered by the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Front Pew

Name: Reverend Joel Anderson

Church: Boulevard United Church

Location: 15-21 Appleton Avenue, Kingston 20

Membership: Over 200

Years as a pastor: 2 years

Marital status: Married to Sandra with two sons

Four things people would be surprised to know about you:

1. I can’t swim.

“I like to go to the sea, but I can’t swim. I can hold my breath under the water, but when it actually comes to the swimming, I can’t move. Sometimes I would paddle myself in the water and think I am moving, but when I actually check, I have not moved.”

2. I like to be well groomed.

“I spend time shining my shoes everyday. I do it sometimes from overnight and when I wake up in the morning, I use the brush again and then I use one of my wife’s old stocking to get the perfect sheen. It is just something in me, I like dressing well. People can tell a lot about you when you are properly groomed. The hair has to be in place, the clothes have to be in place. So I go to the barber like every Thursday, so sometimes when I tell some of my church members that I am going to the barber to trim, they remind me that it is just last week that I went.”

3. I have a weakness for saltfish fritters.

“One of my hobbies is cooking, especially saltfish fritters and soup. I just enjoy it; I like it especially when it is deep-fried. I like cooking it on Saturday mornings, when I am available. For me, my soup must be very spicy and have body. Most times on a Saturday I cook it.”

4. I love sports, but my most embarrassing day was playing cricket.

“I remember on this particular fun day, two churches were competing. I was the champion of the cricket team and I remember my past primary school principal was there and she stood up in the stands and she was there shouting, “that’s my boy, that’s my boy”. They threw the ball and for the first ball that I faced from the bowler, it was a clean bowl for duck; that was very embarrassing for me. My teacher still called me though and bought me a soda even though I did not score a bowler.”