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UCJCI Synod Remit May 2022

The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
Vision Statement:
“Touching Lives, Nurturing Disciples, Seeking Transformation through Christ”

Synodical Theme:
Rooted, Resilient: Responding in HOPE (Health, Opportunity, Peace and Evangelism)

Remit To Regional Mission Councils
Synod Remit                                                                                       May 2022
Strategic Priorities
• Please see Appendix I attached.

Celebrations
• Clarendon College celebrated 80 years of existence on Founders’ Day, February 2, 2022. In the long-service award in that celebration, Rev. Hyacinth Edwards was recognized for 24 years of ministry to the school.
• Knox College celebrates 75 years under the theme Lasting Legacy Empowered for the Future. The opening worship for the celebration took place Sunday, February 20, 2022.
• Rev. Dr. Jane Kaluba successfully completed her Doctor of Ministry Programme and graduated in April 2022.

Regrets and prayers
• Rev. Alex Hayden, who lost his grandmother on February 1, 2022
• Rev. Laddia Young, whose step-mother was brutally murdered and her father and brother shot during a home invasion in April 2022.
• Rev. Rohan Kong, whose son Joel, continues to face health challenges.
• Lay Pastor Jermaine Simpson, whose mother, Mrs. Cara Simpson of Plowden United passed on March 18, 2022.
• Rev. J. Oliver Daley, whose brother-in-law Nathaniel Wynter, passed on March 30, 2022.
• Rev. Delroy Harris, who lost a niece in March 2022
• Rev. Kevin Calvert, who lost his aunt Ms. Maureen Austin, in April 2022.
• Ms. Derrica Ellis, Administrative Assistant NERMC, whose father Derrick Ellis died on April 10, 2022.
• Mr. Leslie Chung, who passed on April 11, 2022. At the time of his passing, he was serving as Board Chairman of Clarendon College.
• Rev. Dr. Henroy Samuels, who lost a niece in April 2022.
• Mr. Paul Miller, Vice-Chairman of the Education Commission, who transitioned this life on May 3, 2022.
• Wonhealia McKoy, daughter of Rev. Wendell and Mrs. McKoy, who was hospitalized recently.
• Rev. Rohan Kong, whose grandmother is not well.


Personnel and Congregational Life
CIRMC
The new Charges in the CIRMC became functional on March 1, 2022. By April 3, 2022, the Delinking, Linking and Induction of Minister Services were completed.
• North-East Charge (William Pouchie Memorial, East End United and Gun Bay United Congregations), March 6, 2022. The Rev. Rohan Forrester is the Minister of the Charge.
• The commissioning of Pastor Ormond Williams to the Charge is pending.
• Bodden Town-Savannah Charge (Webster Memorial and Savannah United Congregations), March 27, 2022. The Rev Euthman Wray is the Minister of the Charge.
• John Gray-South Sound Charge (John Gray Memorial and South Sound Congregations) April 3, 2022. The Rev. Donovan Myers is the Minister of the Charge.
• The Rev. L. Christopher Mason continues as the Minister of the Elmslie Memorial Church. He also provides supervision for the Robert Young Memorial Mission Station.
• Pastor John Macmillan serves as the Lay Pastor of the Robert Young Memorial.
SRMC
• The Ridgemount congregation celebrated 185 years of ministry on February 13, 2022.
• The Salem Charge hosted a service of celebration on April 28, 2022, to commemorate Rev. Hyacinth Edwards’ 40 years of ordained ministry and 26 years of service in that Charge.
• Mission Partners, Rev. Patrick Banda and Rev. Thomas Phiri from the United Church of Zambia, have completed their orientation programme into the UCJCI. With effect from May 15, 2022, Rev. Banda has been assigned to the Denbigh/Palmers Cross Charge. Rev. Phiri will join a new team ministry approach for the Ridgemount, New Broughton and Medina Charges with his primary responsibility being the New Broughton Charge, with time share in the Media Charge. Rev. Chung will remain minister for Ridgemount and Interim for Medina.
• Rev. Clifton Bailey, has been assigned as Interim Minister for the Whitfield Charge effective May 1, 2022.

WRMC
• An Introduction Service was held for Rev. Dr. Jane C. Kaluba to the Falmouth Charge on Sunday February 27, 2022.  
• A Service of Induction was held for Rev. Laddia D. Young to the Askenish Charge on Sunday, April 24, 2022.
• Revds. Tara Tyme and Walter Russell began serving the Hampden and Discovery Bay Charges respectively as Interim Ministers as of March 01, 2022.
• A Re-dedication Service for the Bellevue United Church Sanctuary was held on Sunday April 10, 2022.
NERMC
• Pretoria Road United Church celebrated its 100th Anniversary in a Service on February 20, 2022. 
• A Service of Induction of Rev. Alex Hayden to the Duke Street Charge was held on Sunday May 15, 2022.
• Rev. Dr. Collin Cowan has accepted a call to the Immanuel/Boscobel Charge effective May 1, 2022.
• Rev. Carlington Douglas assumed duties as Acting Minister on a part-time basis at Lincoln Kirk United Church on May 1, 2022.

Below is a list of the vacant Charges in each Region: (A vacant Charge is one without a Called & Inducted Minister)

Region Charges
North-Eastern Regional Mission Council
(NERMC)
Bethel*
Buff Bay
Carron Hall*
Castleton
Goshen*
Harbour View*
Hope Bay*
Hope United*
Lincoln Kirk*
North Street*
Rose Hill*
Salem*
St. Andrew Scots Kirk*
St. Paul’s Lockett Avenue*
St. Stephens*
Southern Regional Mission Council
(SRMC) Brixton Hill*
Four Paths*
Giddy Hall
James Hill*
Lowe River*
Medina
Plowden
Santa Cruz*
Sunbury
Whitefield*
Western Regional Mission Council
(WRMC) Brownsville
Discovery Bay
Farm Heights
Sterling*
Hampden

* Congregation/Charge with a Settlement Arrangement or served by an Intern, Settled/Acting Minister, or full-time Lay Pastor

Synod Administration

• Miss Anissea Bremmer, Human and Mission Resource Manager has been confirmed in that position effective April 17, 2022.
• Mr. Michael Gordon, resigned as Administration Assistant for Youth and Children’s Ministry in the HMR Unit, effective March 21, 2022.

Financial Matters

Central Assessment Contributions
We wish to celebrate and affirm those congregations that continue to keep faith with their Central Assessment payments on a timely basis during 2022. Your efforts have allowed us to keep faith with our financial obligations during the period even as we have put in place measures to reduce expenditure and implement cost-cutting/saving initiatives.

Norbert D. Stephens (Rev)
General Secretary

Posted by: Administrator Friday Jun 10, 2022 12:00
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