The Rt. Rev'd. Dr. Alfred Reid (left), new Anglican Lord Bishop of Jamaica, yesterday accepts the pastoral staff from former Lord Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Neville deSouza, at an enthronement ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Jago De La Vega in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. - Winston SillWITH LIGHT afternoon showers pattering on the roof of the Anglican cathedral, the Rt Rev'd. Dr. Alfred Reid was yesterday consecrated the 13th Lord Bishop of the Jamaican Anglican Diocese, and he promised to be a servant while counting on the support of the clergy and laity.
Hundreds of Jamaicans, headed by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, and Major General John Simmonds, Chief-of-Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, packed the Cathedral of St. Jago de la Vega, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, to take part in the ceremony.
They looked on with interest as the successor to the recently-retired Lord Bishop, the Rt Rev. Dr. Neville deSouza, pledged to fulfil the responsibilities and obligations of the office "to be a faithful shepherd to the flock of Christ."
Bishop Reid, 63, was elected at a special synod and elective assembly of the church in December. He had over the years served as a priest in Montego Bay, in Vere, Clarendon, and in Stony Hill, St. Andrew. He is a former chaplain to the Jamaica Defence Force, and was Bishop Suffragan of Montego Bay for 20 years.
In his 35-minute sermon, which evoked intermittent laughter from the congregation, Bishop Reid, using Isaiah 42:1-4 as his text, said it was sacred when God chooses someone to lead, as that person like the Apostle Paul was expected to suffer and make sacrifices.
Titling his message "Values, Leadership and Authority in a World of Radical Change", he told the congregation he planned to stand for what was right, even if he stood alone.
"A leader must speak truth and defend the right even if he is unpopular," he said. "A leader seeks to expose the lie that there's no alternative."
Bishop Reid said he aimed to reach out to as many people as possible in his ministry, but he warned the Anglican Diocese he would not be forcing its members to support him.
"What I do not intend to do is to beg or bargain for co-operation. I want to assure everyone they can depend on my support for the furtherance of the gospel," he said.
Noting that it was not easy to share life with difficult people, he said a leader should not separate himself from the community and lead in a vacuum. He also pledged to work with different denominations for the growth of the Church in Jamaica and within the region.
The hour-long investiture ceremony was coloured by sporadic renditions including the singing of Psalm 23 and 150, by the Glenmuir High School Choir.
Assisting in the ceremony were the Rt. Rev'd Herman Spence, Bishop of Kingston; the Rt. Rev'd Harold B. Daniel, Bishop of Mandeville; Archdeacon Alvin Stone, the Rev'd Canon George Thomas, and Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese.
Reacting to Bishop Reid's sermon, several persons at the enthronement said they liked its manifesto-like tone, which exposed them to the leadership style of the new Anglican Bishop.
"I think it was a good occasion," said Father Alwyn Hall of the Clarks Town Anglican Church, Trelawny. "I think the whole highlight of the ceremony sort of charts a course for the way forward, especially his message."
Denis Goldson, 74, Auditor to the Diocese, said he welcomed the investiture of Bishop Reid, whom he described as pragmatic and friendly. "The ceremony signifies the unity of the Anglican community," he said. "I never forget, after the election at St. Luke's, persons were elated when it was announced that Bishop Reid had been elected."
