11 Apr Jamaica Conference Celebrates 60 Years

Phil Whipple, Bishop

I had the privilege of attending Jamaican Conference this year as they celebrated their 60th anniversary. The sessions and services were held the Battersea UB church in Mandeville.

The event kicked off on Wednesday, March 9, with “Jamaica Night, which included music, dance, and skits–some religious in nature, some related to Jamaican cultural.

The conference business began Thursday morning and continued into the afternoon on Friday. I spoke during their Thursday night service.

Friday night featured a big banquet, with probably 250 people attending. It was very elaborate, and many of the women wore formal gowns. They gave plaques to longstanding members of their churches, persons who had been members of their church for a least several decades. The wives of district superintendents (they have three districts) gave out the awards, and a photographer recorded everything. I would guess they honored at least 50-60 people. If the person couldn’t attend, someone received the award for him. Brian Magnus, bishop of the UB Church in Canada, spoke that night.

Nothing was planned on Saturday, conference-wise. Instead, they scheduled a bus to take us to Malvern to see the building project at the camp. Then we had lunch at a restaurant on the beach.

They expected 1200 people for the closing service on Sunday, and they were packed out. The tabernacle area was full, and there were lots of people roaming outside the doors. That service service was held at Missionary Church campground in Mandeville.

Rev. Jasper Green spoke in the morning, and after lunch we had an afternoon youth service. Then in the evening, Bishop Winston Smith spoke. After his message, they read off the stationing committee report, telling where pastors would be assigned during the coming year. I was told it was a year with more transitions than normal.