THE rich diversity of Caribbean culture was shared among worshippers in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Jamaican Patois, and other regional dialects, during the recent official induction service for the new Connexional president of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA).

The Jamaica Methodist District, led by Bishop the Reverend Christine Gooden Benguche, was host for the regional conference between May 24-29, under the theme ‘Returning to our roots: A Methodist church of the Caribbean and the Americas – Loving- Serving Transforming.’

Representatives of the MCCA met for the 41st Connexional Conference, comprising delegates representing 27 territories of the Caribbean and Americas, and in Holland, Europe, as well as members of partner churches.

This was the first face-to-face meeting of the Connexion, since the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the modus operandi across the world.

During the Representative Session, Bishop the Reverend Juan Miguel Simpson Bennett was elected as the president of the MCCA, for the 2024-2027 triennium.

He replaces Bishop the Reverend Everald Galbraith, who is Jamaican, and had been leading the Methodist church in the region since May 2018, after completing his tenure as president of the Jamaica Methodist District.

Bishop Juan Simpson Bennett is a Panamanian of Jamaican heritage, who became an accredited preacher in the MCCA at the age of 17 years. He completed ministerial training at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) in Jamaica, and was ordained in 1996.

He has served in the Belize/Honduras District of the MCCA, including as district secretary; and the Panama/Costa Rica District. He is married to Panamanian Gina Rodriquez and they have four young adult children.

Delivering the charge during the official induction service, Bishop Simpson Bennett underscored the importance of being good neighbours caring for each other’s welfare. Using the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10 vs 30-35), he challenged the congregation at the Coke Memorial Methodist Chapel downtown Kingston, and those following via livestream throughout the region, to live to the true tenets of Christian neighbourliness.

“If we have a common destination, then we need to learn to work with each other in more grace-filled and consistent ways, loving all, favouring none, judging fairly and equitably, treating each other in all aspects of our common journey as if the other is as or more valuable than ourselves,” Bishop Simpson Bennett declared.

During the earlier representative conference meeting, Jamaican attorney-at-law Lilieth Deacon was elected as vice-president of the MCCA.

She hails from the rural district of John’s Hall in the hills of Clarendon (and the Frankfield Methodist Circuit) and a past student of the Edwin Allen High School, and the Excelsior High School — a Methodist educational institution, which she now serves as chairperson.

Miss Deacon studied law at the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica (where she now lectures).

She was called to the Jamaican Bar in 1986. She is an accredited Methodist local preacher of more than 30 years, chorister.

The Revered Jacqueline Liddell (British and naturalised Jamaican) was re-elected as Connexional secretary, and Muriel Peggy a native of Anguilla, as treasurer of Connexional funds.