During the 160th anniversary celebrations of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU), at the General Assembly held for the first time in Ocho Rios, a citation was read in honour of the Reverend Dr Vivian Panton, who recently retired as a minister of the JBU and late last year as chaplain of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Vivian was nurtured in the Wallingford Baptist Church deep in the hills of St Mary near to its border with St Catherine. On leaving the Police Training Academy, he was assigned to May Pen and then to Lionel Town. A turning point in his life was when two schoolgirls fought over him in the streets of Lionel Town. A passion for ministry was reignited in this young man and soon Constable Vivian Panton applied to the JBU to become a minister and in 1968 he graduated. He has served for 40 years as a minister of the gospel of Christ.

Educational centre is named in his honour

He served, until 1981, at the Salter's Hill/Lottery Circuit of Baptist churches, where an educational centre is named in his honour. He went to communities to comfort the dying and help the poor. He built human lives by tutoring youngsters to pass their JSC and their GCE exams.

Those were the days when Montego Bay and its environs trembled even at the mention of the 'Jack McBean' Gang. This policeman turned pastor invited other pastors to join in an effort to have dialogue with the don, McBean. The end result was that after a series of negotiations, not unlike recent efforts by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), 'Sir P' or 'Daddy P' as he came to be called, was able to secure the agreement of the 'Tribe McBean' to cease their way of life and to cause peace to reign in the communities.

Vivian also served the Oracabessa circuit, St Mary (1981-90) where he established a counselling and care centre - the first of its kind in that region of Jamaica. Not to be left out was his passion for equipping young people and so a skills training centre was established through which numerous St Mary residents were able to obtain employment in the hotel and tourist industries. He also refurbished the chapels in the Salter's Hill/Lottery and the Oracabessa circuits.

Dr Panton pursued studies at the graduate level and in time was awarded the Master of Arts and then the Doctor of Ministry from the Princeton Seminary, USA. That study along with some experiences gained through the course of his ministry would energise him to become concerned about the plight of persons living in common-law unions and who had desires to become part of the church family. From this, he wrote a book entitled The church and common-law unions that was to create shock waves within the Christian community in Jamaica. The then president of the JBU asked him to 'cool it.'

International recognition

Dr Panton, while serving as a vice-president of the JBU, was seconded to the then ministry of national security as its first full-time chaplain and counsellor. He brought great blessings to the lives of countless policemen, women and their families. He established the chaplaincy as a full unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and his work received international recognition as he won the prestigious John A. Pryce award from the International Conference of Police Chaplains while also serving as a vice-president of the worldwide movement of police chaplains. He also travelled widely to conduct seminars on behalf of the international body.

Vivian has been married for 40 years to Norma, who has served this nation as an educator and presently as chair-person of the board of governors of the George Headley Primary school.

Vivian Panton's life is the outstanding story of one who moved from constable to become chaplain of the JCF through the route of being a pastor.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of Rebellion to riot: the church in nation building. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.