Bishop Harold Daniel with wife, Judith.
THERE ARE many persons who will not attend Anglican church services, arguing that they are boring and monotonous, in particular in their musical offerings.
Consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Mandeville on February 11, Harold Daniel, is confident his church, which is experiencing exciting times, has enough features to attract both the youth and the "young at heart". The main one being the existing level of spiritual maturity.
Originally from Montserrat, Bishop Daniel has not been home on a regular basis (once a year) since the mid-1980s, and that was for the funeral of his parents. He is married, for 34 years, to Judith A (nee Barzey), who was born in St. Kitts. Among the first group of women to be ordained to the Holy Order of Deacons in the Anglican Church, Judith has been a stalwart behind her Harold.
Bishop Daniel says his wife, now a priest," has always been a church worker, so she has always been a partner from the beginning". Their children, Shane, Richard and Helen Charisse, have been supportive and actively involved in the church, even serving in the music ministry. The key ingredient to their successful family life is their commitment to each other coupled with their commitment to Christ.
Evangelistic work
Since the 1960s, Bishop Daniel has been actively involved in the church ministry in Jamaica. He has served in social and evangelistic work (1960-69), and was director of youth work for the Diocese of Jamaica from 1969-78. He was ordained to the Holy Orders of Deacons and Priests, in 1977 and 1978. He has been Rector of the Cure for St. Ann's Bay between 1978-90, and Kingston in 1990.
The Bishop, whose ministry has taken him all across the island had this to say about his adopted home. "I have loved every where I have lived and I love the work... so I don't have favourites".
Come July, the Bishop and his family will relocate to Mandeville.
Bishop Daniel has ventured into evangelising overseas on mission conferences in the United States, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and the Eastern Caribbean, serving too in the diocese of Antigua. His travels have taken him as far as Singapore.
Memories of a peaceful Jamaica in the early 1960s, are still fresh in the Bishop's mind. Then he remembers, "you could walk about in Kingston without fear".
Impact of the Church
In reflecting on the impact of the Church in the 1960s, he says, "there was a time when the major influence (in the society) was the church and the school - the competition now has changed because of the development of institutions. Now you have 101 violent movie channels. A youngster used to come to church... now he has cable".
So is the membership of the Anglican church dying? Bishop Daniel replies, "We have to look at the (church's) recent celebrations...Yes... we have lost some ground in the past 2 or 3 decades ... the Anglican church does not have the kind of position in the society as... in the 1960s..... but contrary to popular belief, the fact of the matter is at present there are signs of a resurgence in terms of life in the numerous church communities. The Anglican youth movement is quite as strong as it has ever been".
On the note of the music style, he said, "You have to come to terms with the rich liturgical heritage. A lot of persons are not sensitised... I have noticed that a lot of other churches are adopting a bit of liturgy."
The man who says his philosophy is, "Having nothing yet possessing ALL things, as poor yet making many rich" is described by one of his parishioners as "dynamic and resilient, always cheerful and a constant source of strength to his flock". He has been strengthened and pruned by his middle son, a 28-year-old who is mentally retarded. Bishop Daniel says he has contributed a great deal to his character formation.
What has been most rewarding for this man of God? "There are so many rewarding things. To see the transformation that has taken place as a result of one's own ministry has been very rewarding."
Bishop Daniel says he would like to see the Anglican Church more actively involved in evangelical and social outreach. "The message we preach is for the whole person."
The trained social worker, says his mandate for ministry is found in Luke 4 and Isaiah 61, "to liberate the captives."
Quick facts
Academic training
1993 - Doctor of Ministry, Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia
1983 - Master of Education, Boston College, Massachusetts
1978 - Bachelor of Arts (Theology), United Theological College of the West Indies
1974 - - Bachelor of Science (Social Work) UWI, Mona
1960 - Graduate of Church Army College of Evangelism, London
Early Education at St. John's Government School, and the Montserrat Secondary School to Cambridge School Certificate Level
HOBBIES:
Reading cooking, watching sports esp cricket
