NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE AND RALLY

It’s that time again. Time to start preparing for National Youth Conference and Rally!

WHEN IS IT?

Conference and Rally 2010 will be held between November 25 and 27 (Thursday through Saturday).

WHERE IS IT?

The weekend begins at the Nutshell Conference Centre (Thursday) and concludes at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church (Saturday).

WHAT’S OUR FOCUS?

The Youth Department’s theme for the period 2009 – 2011 (Christ’s Hope: Hear It; Be It; Share It!) will be the overarching guide to the activities for this year’s Conference and Rally.

WHAT WILL WE DO?

The programme for the weekend will incorporate a variety of activities and sessions and will, as is customary, comprise a business and training aspect - Youth Conference, and corporate celebrations and worship - Rally.

• YOUTH CONFERENCE & BUSINESS MEETING

The Youth Conference this year will run from Thursday evening (November 25) through to Friday evening (November 26) and will be held at Nutshell Conference Centre, Trelawny.  Given that the Youth Department now operates on a two-year term, in this intermediate year of the 2009-2011 term, elections will take place for only one position, that of Chairman Elect. This therefore provides us with the opportunity to use much of the Conference to accommodate training and teaching sessions for our youth and youth leaders.  We therefore urge you to assist us in ensuring that as many youth as possible attend the Conference which promises to be truly rewarding.

Please click here for the Youth Conference and Rally 2010 Correspondence

Youth Rally Competitions

For the 26^th National Youth Rally, we are putting together a tremendous package for fellowship, worship, celebration and thanksgiving to God! We have increased the number of competitions for this year, relative to 2009 when we had our Anniversary Celebrations.

The areas of competition for this year are:

Speech

Music

Dance

Bible Quiz

Culinary Art

Art and Craft

THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL FEATURES!!!
National Youth Conference and Rally 2010 will feature a special items!

• Mission Challenge – This is not a competition area, but has been incorporated with a view to encourage youth to be and share the Hope that is found in Christ Jesus. A special area will be provided for participants in the challenge to display the activities they engaged throughout the duration of the project.

We eagerly anticipate your presence as we prepare to fellowship in the presence of our Holy God.

Bible Quiz

For this years Bible Quiz please note the following:

1. For the Parish Eliminations, questions will be taken from the books of Ruth & Revelation, chapters 1- 10
2. For the Area Eliminations, questions will be from Revelation, chapters 11-22
3. For the National Rally, questions will be from both the books of Ruth & Revelation

Below is a selection of documents on Baptist beliefs, current affairs and history. All questions on Baptist beliefs, current affairs and history asked in the Bible Quiz competitions during the Parish and Zone eliminations straight through to the finals at the National Youth Rally will come from the documents below. Please see the end of each section for a printer-friendly downloadable version of the information found on this page.

A.         OFFICERS

President – Rev. Cawley Bolt

Vice President – Rev. Trevor Edwards

Vice President- Rev. Luke Shaw

General Secretary -Rev. Karl Johnson

General Treasurer - Mr. Phillip Rattray

Secretary, JBUMA - Rev. Michael Shim-Hue

B. Assistant General Secretary – Rev. Merlyn Hyde-Riley

Youth & Training

C. Associate General Secretary – Finance and Property
_____________________

D. Clerk - Rev. Franklin Small

E. Warden, United Theological College of – Rev. Glenroy Lalor

The West Indies

DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

Christian Education - Dr. Cynthia Anderson

Youth - Miss Kerry-Ann Martin

Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation - Mrs. Wilma Grandison

Jamaica Baptist Union Brotherhood - Mr. Richard T. James

PARISH ASSOCIATIONS

Portland -Rev. Dayne Grant

St. Mary -Mrs. Linda Sutherland-Hinds

Trelawny – Rev. Kevin Stewart

St. James - Rev. Conrad Thomas

Westmoreland - Rev. Douglas Fowles

Hanover - Rev. O’Niel Brown

St. Elizabeth/Manchester - Rev. Claude Williams

Clarendon - Rev. Michael Cunningham

St. Catherine - Rev. Valentine Wallace

Kingston & St. Andrew - Rev. Eswine Haye

St. Thomas - Rev. Roy McPherson

St. Ann - Rev. Michael Campbell

ELECTED MEMBERS (10 of 20 Nominations)

1.     Rev. Dr. Devon Dick

2.     Mr. Edward Anthony Falloon

3.     Rev. Karl Henlin

4.     Rev. Everton Jackson

5.     Rev. Karen Kirlew

6.     Rev. Jeffrey McKenzie

7.     Ms Celia McKoy

8.     Ms Yvonne Pitter

9.     Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor

10.  Rev. Dr. Davewin Thomas

JBU Youth Department Executive Committee 2009-2011

OFFICERS

CHAIRMAN -Kerry-Ann Martin – Linstead

VICE CHAIRMAN (Youth Fellowship) – Keri-Ann Bethune – Red Hills

VICE CHAIRMAN (Young Adults) – Dahlia Kildare-Fletcher – Phillippo

VICE CHAIRMAN (Uniformed Groups) – Orrane Francis – Linstead

VICE CHAIRMAN (Student Affairs) – Dimario Sullivan – Linstead

SECRETARY – Danique Williams – Salem/Mona

ASSISTANT SECRETARY – Teisha-Ann Pinnock – Buckingham

TREASURER – Dalmain Black – Brown’s Town/Mona

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN – Lance Fisher – Mona

COMMISSION HEADS

Cultural – Venessa Harriott-Trail – Ebony Vale

Sports – Mark Williams – Brown’s Town

Camps – Conrad Thomas – Maldon

Discipleship – Janel Brown – Linstead

AREA COUNCIL REPS

Area Council 1 (Portland/St. Thomas) – Adli Lewis – Belle Castle

Area Council 2 (KSABA/SACABA) – vacant

Area Council 3 (Clar/Manche/St. Elizabeth) – Kevin South – Mandeville

Area Council 4 (St. Ann/St. Mary/Trelawny) – Peart Rose – Browns Town

Area Council 5 (St. James/Westmoreland/Hanover) – Tamika Dixon – Townhead

Members at Large

Derri-Ann Palmer – Linstead

Rani Sittol – Moneague

Andre Alleyne – Ebony Vale

Aldeen Simmonds – Mineral Heights

JBU Ex-officio

Merlyn Hyde-Riley – Ass. Gen. Sec., JBU

Arlene Henry – Programme Coordinator, JBU

Celia McKoy  – JBU Exec. Nom.

Franklin Small – JBU Exec. Nom.

• Baptist Publications

JBU Youth Department – IMPACT

Jamaica Baptist Union – The Reporter

Caribbean Baptist Fellowship Youth – CBF Youth News

Baptist World Alliance – Baptist World

• Denominational and Ecumenical Institutions

Baptist World Alliance – BWA

Caribbean Baptist Fellowship – CBF

World Council of Churches – WCC

Caribbean Council of Churches – CCC

Jamaica Council of Churches – JCC

United Theological College of the West Indies – UTCWI

Nutshell Conference Centre – Camp site

Garland Hall Home – for Children

Horizon Home – for the Elderly

Baptist World Alliance (BWA)

President – Rev. David Coffy

Gen. Sec. – Rev. Neville Callam

Youth Chairman – Mr. Eiji Osata

Caribbean Baptist Fellowship (CBF)

President – Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor

Executive Secretary/Treasurer – Rev. Peter Pinder

Youth Chairman – Dr. Michael Taylor

• JBU Affiliated High Schools

Calabar High School

William Knibb Memorial High School

Westwood High School

Download a copy of this document…coming soon

• A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION
  1849-1999

(excerpts from Jamaica Baptist Union150^th Anniversary Magazine – 1849-1999)

In 1983 the Baptists of Jamaica celebrated the bicentennial of Baptist witness in the Island. This paper is concerned with the Baptists as an organized body thus there will be limited reference to the period 1783 to 1849. Readers who have an interest in this period are asked to consult the bibliography at the end of the article.

When the Jamaica Baptist Union came into being, Baptist Witness was already well established in Jamaica. The witness which began with George Liele, the freed slave from Georgia, U.S.A, in 1783, had already spread from Kingston to St. Catherine and east to St. Thomas through to St. Ann.

Moses Baker, another black American from New York, who was baptized by Liele, was responsible far establishing Baptist work in the west, mainly in St. James. Baker began his work in the West in 1788.

The next phase of Baptist work began with the arrival of missionaries from the newly organized Baptist Missionary Society of England. Coming on the invitation of Liele and Baker, a partnership began which, in a sense is still in existence. The English not only helped the existing churches, but planted new ones. Above all, they led in the fight against slavery.

Being English and white, the BMS missionaries were closely related to the establishment and the plantocracy. This relationship not only gave them the kind of privilege their black brethren did n not enjoy, but served to’ transform the Baptists from being just a church consisting of black slaves, to one with white leaders who could speak on their behalf. Among the BMS missionaries who made outstanding contributions at this time were James Phillippo, and Thomas Burchell who arrived in 1823 and William Knibb who came in 1825. These men were not only responsible far starting new churches, leading the fight against slavery, laying the foundation far a new society following emancipation, but far laying the foundation far the formation of the Jamaica Baptist Union.

By the 1820’s the need far closer co-operation so as to render mutual support began to’ be keenly felt. This resulted in the formation of an Association of Ministries and Churches in Kingston in 1827. Later, this became known as the Eastern Union. This was led by Phillippo. In 1829 the Baptists of the west led by Knibb and Burchell organized the Western Union at Falmouth.

FOUNDING OF THE JBU

The formation of the Union can better be described as the amalgamation of two Associations or Unions, Eastern and Western. The date which has received general acceptance is 1849. However, same other dates are relevant. In 1845 at a meeting held at Mt. Carey it was decided “to’ draw existing churches together into a helpful corporation union”. At another meeting held at Falmouth in 1854 Phillippo moved a motion that the ward “Western” be dropped and “Jamaica” be substituted and that instead of “Mission” the ward “Union” be adapted”. The motion was passed the following year. It is of significance that Phillippo was not only attending the meeting of the Western Union, but was playing a leading role. On this question of date, we can accept the conclusion of Dr. Horace Russell who wrote, “It would seem, therefore, that the process which had begun in 1845 and accelerated by the Trust Deeds of 1847 was by 1849 legally accomplished, but it took until 1854/55 to make it real among the people;

It should be noted that when the JBU was formed in 1849 the following were already in place:

1. There were Baptist churches in nine parishes of the Island. Many of our present churches were already in existence.
2. The churches had declared their independence of the Baptist Missionary Society of London and had founded their own missionary society. This was done in 1842.
3. In 1843 the Baptists had taken the unprecedented step to establish Calabar College for training of teachers. The College continued in existence until it became part of the United Theological College of the West Indies in 1966.

GROWTH, DECLINE AND STAGNATION

Baptists showed steady growth in membership and number of churches up to the granting of full freedom on August 1, 1838. Growth and expansion increased in the immediate post emancipation period. This was not only due to the fact that the exslaves were now free to worship and build churches, but it was an expression of their gratitude to the missionaries for the part they had played in the fight against slavery. The increase in the number of ministers due to the founding of Calabar also played a part.

From now on the work of the Union was characterized by growth decline, and stagnation in membership and the planting of new churches. The following figures are revealing. In 1832 the membership stood at 27,000. In 1839, one year after emancipation, 24,000 and in 1841 it went back to 27,000. By 1868 it had fallen to 16,000 and in 1878 it went back up to 21,856. The membership peaked in 1908 when it stood at 39,000. In 1938 it dropped to 25,500. In the 1970’s it reached 40,000 for the first time.

These fluctuations in membership were largely influenced by economic factors, natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and the outbreak of cholera. It should be noted that Baptist witness grew rapidly during and immediately after slavery. The world-wide Depression of the 1920’s unleashed untold hardship on the Jamaican people especially the very poor who made up the bulk of the membership of Baptist Churches. This helps to explain not only the drop in membership in the 1930’s but the low morale of the work. When to this is added, what became known as the “Baptist impasse”, it is not difficult to explain why this period can be regarded as the worst in the history of the JBU. While the impasse was essentially a conflict between the President of Calabar, the Rev. Ernest Price and the Calabar Committee, the fact that it led to the temporary closure of the College, and was fought out in public, caused it to have disastrous effects on the entire Union. Compared to the first sixty years of the history of Baptist witness in Jamaica, this period was not only characterized by little growth, but stagnation and decline.

CONSOLIDATION, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

The closing years of the 1930s and the 1940s can be viewed as marking a watershed in the history of the Jamaica Baptist Union. Space prevents a detailed discussion of all that took place. However, it should be noted that they did not happen in a vacuum. There were the riots and the awakening of the national spirit in 1938 and the beginning of the Second World War in 1939. Then there was the granting of Universal Adult Sufferage to Jamaica in 1944 which started the march to independence in 1962. An event of great significance was the founding of the University College of the West Indies in 1948.

As far as the JBU is concerned, for this writer at least, the arrival in 1948 of the Rev. Keith Tucker as the new President of Calabar, and the Rev. David Jellyman as Tutor marked the beginning of a new era in Baptist witness in Jamaica. Together, these men laid the foundation for a highly academically qualified ordained ministry. Their work not only attracted more qualified men to the College, but resulted in general improvement in Baptist life. The lasting contribution of these two men can be seen in the fact that the JBU still has one of the most academically qualified ministries in Jamaica. It could be said that their work in this direction reached its zenith with the appointment of Horace Russell to the staff of Calabar College and later President of the United Theological College of the West Indies. But Tucker’s contribution was not limited to ministerial training. He played an active role in every facet of the work of the Union, and played a pivotal role in the institution of the Central Fund, the forerunner of the present Global Financing Scheme. His emphasis on our Baptist heritage gave Baptist a great sense of pride and denominational identity at a time when they were most needed.

The period saw the birth of departments and organizations which were destined to play significant roles in the growth and development of the Union. In 1922 the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation was organized by the wives of Baptist ministers. The Federation later founded the Garland Hall Home for homeless children. The Spiritual re-armament Conference which brought young people once a year to Calabar for fellowship and the discussion of issues of concern to the denomination and the nation came into being as a result of the vision of Dr. Sylvia Lowe in 1838. The Rev. Walter Foster of Calabar High School assisted by Doris Morant of the Ministry of Education organized the ‘Young People’s’ Department in 1940. The Rearmament Conference and the Youth Department were instrumental in strengthening the JBU’s hold on its young people and challenged them to remain Baptists.

During the 60s and 70s the JBU undertook very important structural and leadership changes which resulted in the strengthening of the administration and the work in general. These were greatly facilitated by the establishment of the Union’s Headquarters at 6 Hope Road in 1959 and the appointment of its first full-time General Secretary in 1961. The appointment of Rev. Azariah McKenzie as full time Secretary served to centralise the administration of the Union office a national symbol not only for Baptists, but for the nation and international bodies.

The establishment of the Union Headquarters facilitated the bringing to a successful conclusion the passing of the Act of Incorporation in 1969. This was after nearly a century of trying to provide a legal framework to protect church properties.

There were also important changes in the leadership of the Union. The General Secretary was now appointed for five years instead of being elected annually. The leader of the denomination became President 

Other important changes and developments of this period include:

1. The expansion of Baptist work in the Corporate area. Up to 1950 there were only six Baptist Churches in the Corporate area. Three of them (Tarrant, Denham Town, Mamby Park) were very small. The growth of the JBU took place at the time of the great urban drift, the expansion of the city, and the great increase in the middle and intellectual class. The Rev. Luther Gibbs and Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor came to the city at the right time to lead the challenge which faced the denomination.
2. In the late 50’s to the historic partnership with the BMS was added one with the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This relationship led to greater emphasis on Evangelism Christian Education, Stewardship, and the building of the Conference Centre at Duncans.
3. There was renewed interest in education. This interest began with George Liele and continued in the post emancipation period with the building of elementary schools. However, Baptists were not only involved in elementary education. Phillippo opened a secondary school in Spanish Town. A normal School for the training of teachers was attached to Calabar College at Rio Bueno. In later years, Westwood High School was started by the Rev. James Webb of Stewart Town, while Calabar High School was founded by the Rev. Ernest Price. The Rev. Stephen James founded the William Knibb High School at Falmouth. This interest in education waned during the period when the churches and denomination were in a state of stagnation and decline. With renewed growth and development, the Union once again resumed its interest in this vital area of service.

WHITHER THE JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION?

There is much in the history of the last 150 years that is worth remembering and can prove useful in the present. There is also much to challenge us. Take the question of growth. If growth is looked at only in numbers, not only are we not growing, but we are declining. The figures for membership given earlier must be seen against a population of under one million. With a population of nearly three million, our membership is still under 40,000. However, when growth is seen also as development, we have much for which to say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”. The next fifty years and the new millennium challenge the Jamaica Baptist Union to fulfil its ministry to the churches and the nation.

For Further Reading

Gayle, Clement, George Liele, Pioneer Missionary to
Jamaica, Jamaica Baptist Union, Kingston, Jamaica 1982 Jamaica Baptist Union, An Hundredfold, Kingston,
The Gleaner Co. Ltd. 1949
Knight, R.A.L. Liberty and Progress: A Short History of the Baptists of Jamaica, the Gleaner Co. Ltd. 1938.
Russell, Horace O. Foundations and Anticipations: The Jamaica Baptist Story 1783-1892, Brentwood Christian Press, Columbus, Georgia 31904
Sibley, Inez Knibb, The Baptists of Jamaica, Jamaica Baptist Union, Kingston 1965
Underhill E.B, The West Indies Social and Religious Conditions Connecticut, Negro University Press, 1970.

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A Brief History of the Jamaica Baptist Union 1849-1999

• WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS?

TOWARDS AN EXPRESSION OF JAMAICA BAPTIST IDENTITY

Neville Callam

1. We confess faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Called into being by God, this Church manifests itself in the Baptists of Jamaica.
This is one manifestation of the Church.
Although some aspects of our historical origins may be traceable to the Reformation in Sixteenth century Europe, the Baptist movement of seventh century England, and the missionary work of African-American Baptists of the eighteenth century, the faith of the churches in the Jamaica Baptist Union is continuous with that of the apostles. We accept that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is a true witness to the faith of the Church.

We hold membership in the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist World Alliance, the Jamaica Council of Churches, the Caribbean Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

2. We affirm the need for personal faith in Jesus Christ and for each believer in Christ to pursue a life of Christian discipleship.
We believe that Christian baptism is on the profession of faith within the Christian community. We emphasize the importance of each believer bearing witness to his or her personal faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Having repented of sin and turned toward God, the Christian is renewed daily by the Holy Spirit and manifest this in a life of service to others. In word and deed, the Christian proclaims the Gospel in both the private and public domain, thereby giving expression to the love of God and to God’s care for everyone, especially the dispossessed. Through this means, Christians also give expression to Christ’s love for all of creation.

The church co-operates with agencies of society in serving Christ through care for the World for which Christ died. She does this in faithfulness to Christ.

3. Our final authority in faith and practise is God as revealed in Jesus Christ, set forth in the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament, testified to in various creeds of the Church and present among us through the Holy Spirit. By this authority, all other authorities within both Church and State are to be judged.
As Christians gather together, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, God enables theme to discern what the Spirit is saying. Because there is no possibility of contradiction in God, the guidance of the Spirit will be consistent with the revelation of God’s will in and through the Scriptures.

4. We recognize the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the normative authority for knowing God’s revelation in Christ.
Inspired by God, the Scriptures bear witness to God’s supreme Word, Jesus Christ. As the Church, led by the Holy Spirit, fixed the bounds of the canon of Scripture, so the Church is bound by the same Spirit to test the claims made in writings by Christians and even the creeds formulated by the churches to ensure their consistency with the Scriptures. Yet, the dynamic working of the Holy Spirit enables the Church to receive new light springing from the Scriptures in every generation, making possible the renewal of the Church in every age.

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the individual believer is expected to discern what God is saying. Yet, being a creature of community, the individual is careful to appreciate the wisdom of the believers discerning together in community what is the will of God. In the same way, the congregation of believers listens to the testimony of other local Baptist congregations concerning what they hear the Spirit saying. Similarly, the churches of the Jamaica Baptist Union listen to other churches and association of churches both in Jamaica and elsewhere so that we may learn from each other as we continue our pilgrimage in faith.

5. The spotless bride of Christ, creature of Word and Spirit, the Church is manifested as a fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus who belong to God and who share the table of the Lord.
Each local congregation of God’s people constitutes a valid expression of the one, holy, apostolic Church in its fullness in time and space. The believers’ common life in Christ finds expression in worship and fellowship, in mission and service. Their bondedness as a people incorporated in the body of Christ finds central expression in the gathering around the Lord’s table in the Holy Communion. In this gathering, we welcome others who have not yet been engrafted into Christ. This includes the children who are being taught and guided in the way of Christ with the prayer that, in due time, they will come to a personal faith in Christ as Lord.

We welcome as participants at the Lord’s Supper not only the members of the local congregation but also all other Christians who share personal faith in Christ as attested in their baptism into Christ and their ongoing nurture in the faith of the Church.

6. We practice baptism into the Body of Christ for professing believers.
We believe that baptism is practiced in obedience to our Lord as a sign of our new life in Christ. Administered by immersion into water in the name of the triune God, baptism means participating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who came for baptism are persons who have confessed their sin and have experienced conversion of heart. The Holy Spirit works in their lives before, in and after baptism. Through baptism, they are incorporated into body of Christ, being joined with Christ, with other Christians, and with the Church of every time and place.

We find in the practice of the Church in the earliest period, baptism as immersion into water, in the name of the triune God, of those who confess personal allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord. Some of our churches acknowledge that in other traditions where infants are baptized and have come to faith, their full participation in the community of believers is not a matter in dispute. As a result, while some churches require the rite of believers’ baptism on personal profession of faith as a condition of membership, others accept letters of transfer from churches of persons not baptized on their own profession of faith. These persons are normally asked to confess their personal faith as a condition of admission to membership.

7. We affirm the “priesthood of all believers” in which by virtue of their baptism, all members of the church are called to engage in Christian ministry some among them are called to exercise spiritual leadership, which is always to be understood as ministry of service.
We believe that according to the will of God, the Holy Spirit distributes gifts to the whole people of God for the edification of the church and for the church’s ministry of reconciliation. All members of the church are expected to exercise the gifts the Holy Spirit has given to them.

We believe that every Christian disciple is called to witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and that the Church shares in the whole mission of God in the World. God has given to some Christians the spiritual gifts which fit them for the exercise of oversight in the Church. The churches are expected to recognize those to whom these gifts are given and, working together through the Jamaica Baptist Union, help to prepare these women and men for the pastoral office. The Holy Spirit, working through the members of the Church with whom those gifted for oversight are inseparably linked as fellow Christians, ordains them to the pastoral office through the laying on of hands in the name of God. Those so endowed have responsibility for preaching, teaching and pastoral care. As well as discerning those whom God has called to the Christian ministry, the local church gathered in a church meeting is charged with the responsibility of selecting deacons to assist in the spiritual oversight of the church. In some churches, deacons are ordained to the ministry of the diaconate, while in others they are commissioned to that same ministry of sharing in the oversight of the church.

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WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS? Excerpt from 150th Anniversary Magazine – Neville Callam