By Billy Hall, ContributorTHE TREMENDOUS potential of the historic, orthodox, Anglican church has been acknowledged (Mind & Spirit, July 1). The task that seems most logical and useful now is to suggest the way forward.
Of course, whatever is recommended is made with the qualification that the ideas presented are made by someone who is not an Anglican, and that the basis of reasoning is not the finding of scientific polling or empirical inquiry, but of observation, and abstracted, historical analysis.
Also, the recommendations that shall be made have no claimed prophetic status. They are intended mainly to 'stir up' pure minds to positive and productive enterprise within the Anglican church (The Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the Province of the West Indies).
Furthermore, and this is the most critical factor all recommendations made in this series for the reforming of the Anglican church in Jamaica rest on the premise that the leadership for change must come from the top, and must focus on evangelism. In effect, this means that the bishops must lead the charge for reform, and their emphasis must be 'decision' or verdict evangelism
SHINING EXAMPLE
The principal reason for adopting this analytic posture is that, historically, whenever the bishops of the Anglican church failed to grasp opportunity for significant change, that is where the greatest failure was recorded. Perhaps the most notable example of this occurred in the case of John Wesley in England.
History cannot be reversed, but it can be imagined, interestingly. Dare we imagine what would be the situation in the world today if the English bishops then had acted differently, in the case of John Wesley? My speculative projection is that England would have become a truly great and shining example of the power of the Gospel upon a nation, and so, upon an empire.
But, that was not to be so. However, Jamaica today begs for an Anglican church whose bishops would nurture dozens of Jamaican John Wesleys. The hierarchical structure of the Anglican church facilitates effective leadership through the bishops, particularly the highest-ranking prelate in the Diocese of Jamaica.
The current highest-ranking prelate in the Diocese of Jamaica is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Alfred Reid, 65 years old, who was enthroned on January 25, 2001. He is the 12th. Anglican Diocesan Bishop, succeeding the Rt. Rev. Dr. Neville DeSouza.
Bishop Reid brings to his office a wealth of experience. He was for 20 years the Assistant or Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay, and before that served as a priest in the parishes of St. James, Hanover, Clarendon, and St. Andrew.
His reforming acumen is acknowledged, certainly in regard to liturgy. For example, when he was Rector at St. Jude's in Stony Hill, he pioneered the use of reggae in the mass. The rendition was by the young people of St. Jude's and of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, both in the parish of St. Andrew.
This church perhaps best highlights the liturgical changes in Jamaica today. Since 1972, the Rev. Ernle P. Gordon has been initiating bold and creative changes at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. My information is that St. Mary's exhibits Jamaican art, young people are involved in sanctuary worship using the dance, reggae and mento music, original prayers and lyrics.
Of course, there are other Anglican churches where innovative musical and artistic features are increasingly evident. For example, at the St. Andrew Parish Church, with which I am more familiar, where Marcia Ashley is doing a marvellous job.
RHYTHMIC, HAUNTING, LIVELY SOUNDS
I have also heard about the rolling drums and rhythmic, haunting, lively sounds of the Caribbean 'pan' at the Church of the Ascension at Mona, and at St. John's in St. Andrew, as well as other churches in the Corporate Area and a few rural parishes. Nevertheless, it is a process yet to complete. However, while such efforts to 'de-colonise' or 'indigenise' the Anglican Church are from one perspective commendable even highly commendable another viewpoint is that in terms of what must be considered the primary need of the Anglican Church in Jamaica, there is a greater need the need of leadership that fosters evangelism.
In the four centuries of Anglican witness in Jamaica evangelism has never been a strong point. Until the last century, the Anglican church in Jamaica did little to reach the masses of people with the dynamic message of salvation through personal faith in Christ.
POLITICAL IDEOLOGY
Bishop Enos Nuttall, in the early years of the 20th century, contributed significantly to Anglican witness, through organisational and ecumenical vision and developments. For example, he was instrumental in the setting up of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Bishop Percival Gibson, in the mid-years of the 20th century advanced Anglican witness through education. Of course, his 'crown jewel' is Kingston College, which he conceived as a 'leadership institution'. He succeeded, for many KC graduates have excelled as national leaders.
Bishop Neville DeSouza, in the closing years of the last century, was confronted with a peculiar ideological mission. He struggled, therefore, with the challenge to make the Gospel socially relevant or 'contextual'. The political ideology that prevailed during his tenure somewhat forced the Church to re-examine foundational, philosophical thinking.
As he wrestled with the ideological concept of 'liberation', he perceived the theme to be broad enough to extend beyond politics and so to involve the spiritual and social dimensions of the human personality as well as community. His perceptive pronouncements were not always easily or readily understood. Nevertheless, his legacy is a theological wrestling that continues, the first of its kind in the Church in Jamaica.
However, none of those three outstanding Anglican bishops, and none before them, led the Church in Jamaica toward renewal through evangelism. Yet, evangelism is the supreme mission of the Church, for Jesus has mandated the Church to witness to lost humanity until He returns to declare the end of the mandate (Matt. 28: 16-20).
Of course, throughout the last century, particularly the latter half, there were a handful of Anglican clergy who made valiant effort to be evangelistic. The late Canon R.O.C. King, former rector of St. George's, an associate evangelist of Billy Graham in an England crusade, is an outstanding example of this kind of Anglican clergy.
