PASTOR of the Church of God in Christ Jesus Apostolic in Lakes Pen, St Catherine, Overseer Cassel Dunkley, has been elected new chairman of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union Apostolic (JPUA).

Dunkley succeeds Devon Charles Brown, island bishop of the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), who had been serving in the post since March 2011. He was voted in during the Annual General Meeting of the Union last month.

Dunkley is supported by a full slate of officers, including the Reverend Dr Patricia Holness, who was voted vice chair; Company Secretary/General Secretary Elder Mark Harrison; Assistant General Secretary Minister Donavon Brown; Treasurer Minister Anthony Townsend; Assistant Treasurer Pastor Joseph Downer; Director of Public Relations Dr Elaine McCarthy; Assistant Director of Public Relations Pastor Clive Bailey; and seven directors in reverends Dr Frederick Thompson and Hernicia Pat Davidson; bishops Devon Brown, Frank Otto, and C Everton Thomas; and overseers Yvonne Dixon, and Norman Nunes.

The JPUA was founded in 1979 to foster a closer relationship among Pentecostal (Apostolic) Churches in Jamaica, and to provide a forum for consultation and information sharing. The union encourages the spiritual and social development of the Pentecostal community in general, while stimulating co-operative action among its churches. Through the union, national and international representation is provided for Pentecostal Apostolics across the island.