Sean Major-Campbell | Enthronement of new Diocesan Bishop

THE SERVICE of Investiture and Enthronement of the Rt Rev Leon Golding, the 15th Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands is set for Sunday, September 28 at 3:30 p.m., in the St James’ Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega. The grand celebration is of tremendous significance in Jamaican history and that of the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI).

The Diocesan Bishop, as is any other bishop or wider members of clergy, is accountable to the Synod which is the highest decision-making body in the Diocese. This is because bishops in the Anglican Communion are not self-appointed. In other words, it is not ‘John Brown Ministries’.

After the election of Bishop Leon Golding at the elective assembly earlier this year, the Senior Bishop of the Province, The Rt Rev Philip Wright, Bishop of Belize was notified. He subsequently sought confirmation of the election by the House of Bishops within the Province. Since Leon Golding was already a bishop, authorisation was given for the Enthronement. Hence this upcoming event in which the Diocesan Bishop will be enthroned to the Episcopal Seat in this Diocese.

It is customary these days in some cases for a ‘non-denominational’ organisation to refer to itself as a cathedral. However, the word cathedral comes from the Latin ‘cathedra’ which means ‘chair’. The Cathedral houses the bishop’s seat or throne. There can be only one cathedral in a see. The See or Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, therefore can only have one cathedral. In Roman Catholic tradition in Jamaica, there are three sees, and hence three cathedrals.

This enthronement of a new bishop comes at a time when the Diocese also has an active interest in such conversations around a Jamaican republic, reparatory justice, and moving Jamaica’s final appellate authority from the UK Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice. It is also a time in the western world when the influence of the American religious right has a significant sway across the Caribbean and Latin America. Basic empathy and compassion are required for an effective ministry of social justice

We live in a time when it is increasingly common for some Christians to plead for compassion in relation to inhumane agents of cruelty, wickedness, and sheer evil, while remaining silent about the genocide upon powerless women, children, and elderly folks in already traumatised contexts.

Though marked by much pomp, a service re the enthronement of a bishop has liturgical resonance with the affirmation of the bishop’s ministry. At his consecration, Leon Golding received the cross as a sign of salvation; a ring as a reminder to be merciful in the exercise of authority and faithfulness to the bride of Christ; a mitre as a reminder of Pentecostal Fire and Helmet of Salvation; And a staff as a sign of his pastoral office.

Bishops as successors to the Apostles, carry a weighty responsibility. Leon will be greeted and welcomed in the name of Christ. He must, however, declare that he comes seeking the Grace of God and to humbly travel with the Church. He must declare his intention to proclaim the love of Christ and engage in worship with the body of Christ. He must declare that he comes only in the name of Jesus Christ and him crucified, and by so doing, humbly presents himself with fear and trembling.

The gates of righteousness having been opened to Leon, and the wonderful service completed, the church must continue its mission of prophetic witness in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. It will do so through the voices and actions of the various representatives across the Diocese. However, the Rt Rev Leon Golding steps out into a divided Jamaica where a message of unity, a service of truth, and the ongoing call for justice and peace ought of necessity to prevail.

The newly enthroned overseer will need to take always the inspired mandate of Jesus Christ’s reading and interpretation of the Prophet Isaiah. Luke 4 references Jesus’ reading as he declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

In the Cayman Islands, the population has rapidly doubled since Hurricane Ivan. However, a significant segment of that population is not a part of the democratic process due to the understandable inability of the many expatriates to vote. In Jamaica, our population is also seeing a challenge to the democratic process in terms of the many who though enumerated, do not vote.

The world continues to be a place where the most vulnerable poor are invisible. They may have jobs and wages and cell phones and wear clean clothes. But do not be fooled. There are happy-looking folks going about their daily lives with inadequate food. And there are children who are only able to have a patty at school because their parent/guardian goes without lunch.

The Diocesan Bishop and all those who seek to follow the way of Christ, will continue to be the voice of the voiceless, the heart of compassion, and most certainly light in the darkness and healing in a culture of bullying.

God bless The Rt Rev Leon Golding as he engages the mission of this season in our time.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com