Devon Dick | The Kingston Keswick Convention is a symbol of church unity

On Sunday, the 58th Kingston Keswick Convention ended at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Andrew with the main speaker, Rev. Dr. Dylan Toussaint, pastor of the Edgewater Circuit of Baptist Churches, giving the final charge.

In 1875, the Keswick Convention started in Keswick, England and was established by an Anglican Canon, T.D. Hartford-Bathersby, and a Quaker, Robert Wilson, under the theme ‘All One in Christ Jesus’, which is the theme no matter where in the world the convention is held.

This special Christian gathering promotes Christian Unity and practical holiness by exploring the effects of sin, victory over sin, the Lordship of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer and the mission of God to the world through making disciples of all nations.

There was a time when the Kingston Keswick Convention was held at the Ardenne High School Auditorium. And according to Val Seymour, deacon emeritus of Boulevard Baptist Church, it has been held at the Boulevard Baptist Church for the last 38 years.

The Anglicans and Quakers are not active in the leadership of the Kingston Keswick but nevertheless, persons from various denominations have served as chairman.

Among them was the Rev. late Cleve Grant of the Church of God in Jamaica. The immediate past chairman, Peter Spencer, is of the Missionary Church and the current chairman, Stephen Samuels, is of the New Testament Church of God.

The Kingston Keswick Convention has changed over the years, with different sub-themes such as ‘No Matter What’, ‘Image or Impact’ or ‘Challenging Times’.

Another change is that the main speaker no longer does daily Bible studies; the main speakers are no longer largely foreigners, instead locals such as Donald Roberts, Roy Notice, Stephen Jennings, etc., dominate.

There have been additional Lunch Hour Bible study centres over the years, including one at the Norman Manley International Airport.

This year, many different church groups, including Fellowship Tabernacle Praise Team, Bethel Baptist choir, Rev. Dr. Orville Neil of an Independent Church, Evangelist Errol Rattray, Bishop Rowan Edwards and Dr. Wayne West, participated.

CHRISTIAN UNITY

Christian unity is uppermost in the minds of the participants and all are encouraged to focus on what Christians have in common. To preserve unity, the leaders of the convention go to great lengths to avoid offence.

One leading denomination in the convention does not allow for women to have leadership roles in certain matters. Hence, the deacons, elders and pastors who administer the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening last were all male and the speaker was a male, the Rev. Karl Johnson. In addition, the main speaker has always been male and those who sit on the higher platform for the evening meetings are all males.

Another feature of the Kingston Kewsick Convention is the encouraging of Christians to read, hence there are books on sale. These books are mainly devotional and are designed with the goal for the spiritual health of the Believer and the community of faith. The books are largely foreign in origin with a few books by locals.

The convention is known for rich traditional hymn singing, choruses and worship songs. Each night there is a different choir and someone who conducts the congregation as a choir, enhancing the worship of God.

The convention will get greater crowd support from the denomination from which the main speaker originates but there are some faithful persons and denominations who have supported the convention rain or sunshine.

The convention is being obedient to the mandate consistent with the prayer of Jesus, that we be one and anyone who sows disunity should be accursed.

- Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of 'The Cross and the Machete', and 'Rebellion to Riot'. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com