Devon Dick
On Sunday, at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church, Constant Spring Road, the curtains on Gilbert Bowen's 46 years of pastoral service and 14 years as superintendent of the western St. Andrew Circuit came down.
In 1960, Bowen started his pastoral ministry in the Port Morant Circuit with seven congregations and he ended his pastoral service at Saxthorpe, which also has seven churches. Six of the seven congregations in Western St. Andrew are situated in rough, hilly terrain. The St. Thomas assignment was in marginally better terrain. As it was in the beginning so it was in the end.
As it was at the start of his pastoral ministry where he was appreciated for his service so the accolades flowed as he ended at Saxthorpe. At the Port Morant circuit he had responsibility for congregations over a vast area. My mother who is a lay preacher from Bath and my late father who was once Circuit Steward at Airy Castle, spoke highly of Gilbert Bowen, years after he left and even after having other outstanding pastors such as Colin Archer, Deryck Polack and John Anderson.
Lyrical Praises
The grateful congregants were lyrical in their praise of Bowen. The competent MC, Rev. Dr. Artnel Henry, former head of the Bureau of Standards, reminded the packed congregation that ministers of the gospel have their minutest fault magnified. However, no fault could be found with Bowen. One unnamed member said Bowen was a godly and quiet man who 'can't mash ants'.
Bowen, a native of Belize, served also in the Bay Islands and the Belize Circuit until 1975 when he was assigned to the Ocho Rios Circuit. His next posting was the Spanish Town Circuit in 1981. Methodist pastors in Jamaica serve on an average three years at one assignment, so Bowen was an anomaly.
Bowen served his denomination well as the longest-serving secretary of Synod, a job he had from 1981. He was a meticulous secretary who knew the constitution. His gift for administration, planning and organizing was well used in the office. District President, the Rev. Dr. Byron Chambers, described Bowen as a dependable servant.
He was a true Methodist and knew the hymns well. He might not have known all 6,500 hymns that Charles Wesley wrote but he was a dictionary on hymns of the church.
Bowen was an ecumenist. Pastor of Mamby Park Baptist, Sydney Hall, who brought greetings on behalf of the Meadhaven Ministers Fraternal, reminded the audience that Bowen was a founding father of the Ocho Rios Ministers Fraternal. He also serves as Treasurer of the MeadHaven Fraternal and he brought a higher level of accountability to that job.
His Reply
Bowen in his reply reminded his flock that he had challenges. For example, while in Honduras he had to walk miles to churches, travelled in small canoes and had his first horseback ride. He thanked his wife, Winifred, and three children for their support over the years; Mrs. Steele, widow of his first superintendent, George Steele, who was present; elder statesman, Rev Claude Cadogan who closed in prayer; his associate minister Rev. Dr. Garnet Brown and his church staff.
Circuit steward, Marie Miller, who read the citation, said, "His carefully prepared sermons, often soul-searching, provocative and incisive, and delivered with sincerity in his crisp diction, were always well received and often later discussed by members of his congregations." And Marcia Cohen of the Red Hills church, in making a presentation to Winifred Bowen, wished that Gilbert would publish his sermons. After 14 years at Western St. Andrew District, Gilbert Bowen hands over to the
dynamic and talented the Rev. Galbraith.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Church and author of "Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building.
