PRESIDENT of the Adventist Church in Jamaica Pastor Everett Brown told three of his newly ordained ministers on Saturday that they are called by God and not the Government or the Church.

Ordained were: France Chambers, pastor of the Sandy Bay District of Churches; Vencot Dyer, pastor of the Sheffield District of Churches; and Aldin Mowatt, pastor of the Lacovia District of Churches.

Each pastor was presented with a copy of the Bible and a certificate of ordination.

Using 1 Peter 4:7-11 as his main scripture for meditation, Pastor Brown said: “We are setting you apart for ministry at a time when some in society are positing that, by 2041, Jamaica, like other society in the past, will cease to be regarded as a Christian community.

“You are called at a time when the ideals of the marriage institution that God established for the benefit of mankind are severely tested. This is a serious moment, but God has called you for this moment.”

Pastor Brown stated that the Government and interest groups may dare to relax or enact laws to dilute the word of God in order for it to fit into their own liking, but reiterated that “whether or not laws are enacted that run contrary to the revealed will of God, as espoused in His word, you must commit yourself to God and the preaching of the [Word] thus says the Lord irrespective of those laws”, in a reference to calls for the repeal of the buggery law.

“You much preach the word of God boldly, preach the word passionately, teach the word and do not be afraid even if laws are enacted to make your teaching of the word illegal,” Brown said. “You must teach the word of God, which reminds us that marriage is between a man and a woman. You are being ordained to teach the word and to obey God. You are called by God primarily, not by the Church. You are under oath from God to speak for God and to obey God rather than man. That’s why we are setting you aside this evening.”

Jamaica’s Supreme Court on June 25, 2013 postponed hearing, until October 4, on a controversial motion challenging the constitutionality of the buggery law. The claim was filed by United States-based advocacy group AIDS-Free World on behalf of confessed Jamaican homosexual Javed Jaghai.

The Church in Jamaica has, however, been very strident in it opposition of any softening or repealing of the buggery law.