Dear Editor,

It is most fitting that at the 151st synod of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on April 19-22, a strong tone of advocacy permeated the resolutions tabled, discussed, and passed.

The Diocesan Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Rev Howard Gregory, the current archbishop, presented a charge which affirmed the struggles and quest of the nation for identity, autonomy, and healing.

Three resolutions illustrated in a powerful way an advocacy conversant with the journey of Jamaicans, even as we anticipate a change from headship of the British monarchy to republic status.

One resolution sought the synod’s acceptance and declaration of the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica’s final appellate jurisdiction. The other called for an empowerment of the nation via educating members of the diocese regarding the Caricom Reparations Commission’s 10-Point Plan on Reparatory Justice.

The diocese was not left out of self-examination as another resolution called for steps to be engaged around removing the colonial vestige of the term “lord bishop”, which really came from a time when bishops sat in the House of Lords as lords spiritual or were appointed as feudal bishops. The change would be applicable to succeeding bishops.

Many are not aware that as a disestablished church, our mandate is to serve the people of these islands — Jamaica and the Cayman Islands — in the best interest of the people in their various locations.

May the church across these nations move to another level of advocacy for justice and peace for all.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell

Anglican priest and advocate for human rights

seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com