George Henry-Reverend Dr. Paul Gardener

BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer
malvern, st. elizabeth:

Reverend Dr. Paul Gardener says the church, in general, continues to be relevant and must continue to respond to the various challenges and issues of the day.

Dr. Gardener, who is president of the Provincial Elders Conference of the Moravian Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, says the church should never allow vested interests to dictate its course.

"You have got to be very careful that other people are not setting the agenda for the church. I think the church must set its own agenda, the church must understand the context in which it is, and the church must be able to respond to those situations appropriately. We have got to be unbiased, and I think we must continue to remain the conscience of a nation, continue to be critical and continue to shape the whole morality and social agenda", Rev. Gardener said.

The church leader added that it is important for Jamaica to go back to what is right. He stated that Jamaicans must realise that it is important to be truthful, promote justice, and be peacemakers.

Rev. Gardener stated that we need to be unselfish and that there should always be concern for the other man. He added that too often persons pray for themselves and desire things for themselves without giving thought for our neighbours.

god's mandate

He believes that when we start to shift the focus from ourselves and begin to think and be concerned for our fellow men, then we will be on our way to fulfilling God's mandate. Although love of self is also important, the church leader pointed out that there must also be love of God and of neighbour.

The pastor wants men, in particular, to live up to the expectations of God. As the head of the home, Gardener said men must be more responsible, as it is important that they assume their responsibilities, be caring, genteel and not necessarily macho.

The father of Shasalini, Giovanni and Damani, and who is the husband of Sharon Chambers-Gardener, said there are far too many men who are irresponsible.

Rev. Gardener, who hails from the rural district of Fairfield in Manchester, is a past student of Cross Keys Secondary School, Beaumont Comprehensive, the United Theological College of the West Indies, Church Teachers' College, Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta and the University of the West Indies. He did a stint in the classroom, as he taught at Mannings High and Maud McLeod in Westmoreland, while serving as pastor. He also served as bursar at Maud McLeod.

He had his Christian walk when he was a child, but his call to Christian ministry started when he was 18 years old, while under the leadership of Rev. Leslie McCoy who was pastor at the Fairfield Moravian Church, as well as the Reverend.'s mentor.

Rev. Gardener's pastoral work started after leaving the United Theological College of the West Indies in 1987, when he went to serve in the Beaufort Circuit of Moravian Churches in Westmoreland. The young minister, at the time, was in charge of churches such as Ashton, Content, Cairn Curran and the Beaufort Moravian Church.

In 1997, Gardener went to the Zorn Circuit of Moravian Churches in Manchester, and he was the leader for congregations at Moravia, Zorn and Bohemia, before moving on to serve at the Redeemer Moravian Church at North Street in Kingston in 2003. He has been President of the Provincial Elders Conference since 2005.

To serve in the various capacities, according to the church minister, is his calling, despite the many challenges associated with his duties. However, he pointed out that he has been enjoying what he does. He said, despite the challenges, he would not give up his work for the Lord for anything.