KINGSTON, Jamaica — Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, Garth Minott, has been elected President of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) for a two-year term beginning this month.

He replaces Bishop Christine Gooden-Benguche, who had served in the position for the last two years.

A statement from the JCC said a new cadre of officers was elected at its annual meeting held last month.

Bishop Minott is joined by the Rev’d Pauline DaCosta, Superintendent Minister, St John’s Methodist Church, Montego Bay who will serve as Vice-President (Cornwall); the Most Rev’d John Persuad, Bishop of Mandeville who will serve as Vice-President (Middlesex); and, Rev’d Karen Kirlew, pastor of the Greater Portmore Circuit of Baptist Churches as Vice-President (Surrey).

Apart from being Bishop of Kingston, Minott provides Episcopal oversight to the Cayman Islands along with the parishes of Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, St Mary, Clarendon and Portland.

Prior to his ordination and consecration on June 11, 2022, Minott served as Deputy President and lecturer at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI), Mona, St Andrew, Jamaica, a role he held since July, 2003. He was also coordinator of the Doctor of Ministry programme offered by Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, USA.

In his role as lecturer, Minot facilitated courses in practical theology, including Introduction to Ministry, Christian Ethics, and Christian Worship. Prior to his academic service, Bishop Minott served as Rector of the Browns Town Cure, having been ordained a deacon in 1992 and a priest in 1993. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) with a MPhil degree focusing on the Church, Social Justice and HIV and AIDS. He is also a graduate of McGill University with an MA in Theology.

Minott pursued additional professional development training in areas such as Instructional Design, Basic Research Skills and Clinical Supervision. Other areas of professional involvement included Consultant on Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in Curriculum, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) HIV/AIDS Provider, Master Trainer, former Member of the Ethics Committee, UWI Medical Faculty and National Bioethics Committee, and, member of the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, UWI.

Bishop Minott is married to Dr Denise Minott, and they have two sons – Mark and Stephen.