EDITORIAL - Canon Weeville Gordon demonstrated faith in action

CANON WEEVILLE GORDON, the clergyman and energetic public servant who passed on earlier this week, will be remembered as one who served his religious calling, not only by scriptural proclamation, but by deep involvement in the life of the community and the nation. His 39 years of service in the community of Allman Town, Kingston, now referred to as inner city, is an example of the redemptive power of faith and works combined.

Ordained to the priesthood of the Anglican Church in 1953, Canon Gordon served briefly in two rural postings and then was called to St Matthew's in 1963 to become the rector. At that time, the surrounding community still bore the stamp of an aspiring middle class, but in succeeding years, as social values changed, it began to find itself diminished by the ravages of unemployment, neglect of its housing stock, the emergence of political tribalism, and the attendant loss of values, especially among the young, who had to wrestle with violence, drugs, gangs, and other social pressures.

The response of Canon Gordon and the St Matthew's congregation was to engage themselves not only in energetic worship, but to become more deeply involved with the community. This led to a vigorously pursued programme of social outreach in skills training, employment programmes, remedial education, sports, and the arts. Weeville Gordon did not just preach it from the pulpit, he walked the walk, mingling freely in the streets with even 'the bad men', who came to respect him. It was no surprise then when Canon Gordon retired from church duties in 2002, in response to community demand, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) renamed the street in front of St Matthew's in his honour.

Weeville Gordon gave service in other spheres as well, becoming the first clergyman to be named custos rotolorum of Kingston and accorded the honour to act when the governor general had to be absent from duties. He chaired a variety of community organisations and gave dedicated service to the Anglican Church, not only in Jamaica, but the Province of the West Indies. It is said that he was an ardent admirer of two of the Church's most revered leaders: Bishops Percival Gibson, the feisty, firebrand preacher, and Cyril Swaby, the quiet builder. Those two temperaments were reflected in Canon Gordon's demeanour, and this, with his missionary zeal, ensures him a place in the memory of not only his church, but the wider society.

In paying tribute, Steadman Fuller, who has succeeded him in the office of Custos of Kingston, describes Canon Gordon as "one of Jamaica's finest public servants". To the governor general, Weeville Gordon "encouraged many individuals, and inner-city youth in particular, to believe in themselves and the ability to achieve". Indeed, he was a good man.

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