Call to serve 'a risky business'

... Jamaica Council of Churches president speaks about life from the pulpit

Mel Cooke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

As far as titles go, the Rev Dr Paul Gardener is a man of substantial letters before and after his name. Currently he is president of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC), as well as the worldwide Moravian Church and of that denomination in Jamaica.

However, within two years most of Gardener's titles will disappear, as term limits and re-election limitations truncate his time in the various offices. Presidency of the JCC will go first, in September, and Gardener - who seems rather unawed by the man in the mirror - laughs, as he says he will still be a preacher. He describes his current pulpit role much as a 'special occasion preacher', called in to deliver the word at various churches.

While being on the pulpit is a somewhat solitary role, the JCC presidency requires a collaborative process.

"People do not understand the process of a group of churches trying to work together; you have different denominations with different theological, sometimes doctrinal bases on how they even engage social issues. At the end of the day, what we want is to ensure that you get the views of your members before you speak out to the public. That is important. And, so, people will say that sometimes the JCC is slow in coming to positions," Gardener said, noting that the JCC works closely with the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches.

"The JCC has always been strong on social issues, and the JCC has never been afraid to speak out and be advocates on issues affecting people - social issues, poverty, crime, injustice, governance. By the nature of how we understand ourselves as a church we are not afraid," he said. That is even when their position goes against the government of the day.

"Some other denominations or some other groups of churches may tend to be more careful. And some people don't want to rock the boat. In a sense, when you are called, understand your calling as a church and a calling as a people, it's a risky business," Gardener said.

Always involved

Gardener grew up in Fairfield, Manchester, attending the Moravian Church there. "I was always involved in the church; but like many young people you ... deviate," he said, with a burst of laughter. He speaks about experience and experimentation, but "by the time I was about 16-17 years old, I started to have a more sobering reflection about what I wanted to do and be, and, therefore, my involvement in church took on new meaning and significance".

He attended Cross Keys High and Beaumont, a private high school in Mandeville. "I was quiet, (and) troublesome. I was not one the teacher would pick out as troublesome, but my friends knew otherwise," he said.

Gardener played cricket, bowling spin and batting at number 11. Still, even with his decidedly low batting ranking there was one community match where he was sent in as night watchman and was still there at the end of the innings.

There was some track and table tennis as well.

He entered the church through "a gradual sense of call. As I said, I grew up in the church, my involvement in the youth work, my youth ministry ... all of that kind of sharpened my awareness about my usefulness for the church and the things that I was doing and whether or not I want to do this. And, certainly, I was aware of the need for ministers in the church; and I would have had a conversation with my pastor."

Very early into his studies at United Theological College, Gardener was ready to call it quits. "Two weeks after, I packed my bags and was ready to leave, because I felt that was not the place for me ... just a sense that this is not the thing I want to so.

"I said 'bway, the more I hear 'bout this ministry thing, me no sure me waan do this'. And I packed. And my friends said, you can't leave. What you going tell the people who send you here? I did not have an answer," Gardener said.

He stayed. "I decided I cannot be a quitter. If I am going to quit I must have good reason to quit," Gardener said. He graduated in 1987 and says, "I have no regrets".

He spent "10 wonderful years" in Westmoreland, including a four-year stint teaching sociology at Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar, which was a very important part of his development.

Marriage

Gardener got married in June 1988 and laughs as he says that his wife fell all over him. She was at Mico and, as part of the Moravian students' group, they went on a hike to Hollywell, St Andrew. On the way back he slid, clutched at anything nearest him - which turned out to be her. She slid as well and ended up on top of him.

They have since had three children, the older two doing law and linguistics at university and the last, who broke with the tradition of attending Campion College, now at Kingston College.

From Westmoreland, Gardener went to Christiana for five years ("wonderful years too") and then North and Duke Street Redeemer in Kingston for two years, which is where he was posted when elected head of the Moravian Church in Jamaica.

When all the positions he currently holds go, the last by 2013, Gardener says, "I will remain a minister of the Moravian church. And, after 2013, I will see what happens. I have no idea how I will be involved, but I will be involved in the Moravian church in some way," he said.