Report from the 2018 Session of the Windward Islands Annual Conference
By Rev. Gail Meridin, 16thEpiscopal District
“Renew, Ascend and Soar” is the theme for the 16thEpiscopal District during this conference year and is supported by Isaiah 40:31. It was under this mandate that we enjoyed an outstanding Windward Islands Annual Conference. It was held on March 8-11 and was preceded by the Women’s Missionary Society’s Convention on March 7 at Hotel Normandie in Trinidad. Chaired by the vibrant, excited, poetic, God-fearing woman of God, Bishop Anne Henning Byfield together with Supervisor Ainsley Byfield, the Conference was nothing less than awesome. We thank Almighty God for wisdom and insight.
We applaud Presiding Elder Wayne Anthony, for hosting a well-organised conference. Presiding Elder Anthony, who is still recovering from a victorious battle with cancer, was able to give capable leadership and service. The very steadfast associate presiding elder, the Rev. Anthony Parris, retired this conference year after tireless service to the Barbados District, the Windward Islands, and the AME Church in general. The Rev. Godfrey Emmanuel Mitchell hosted the conference with admirable competence. We must be grateful to the spouses of these great leaders who gave mammoth family support and sacrifice to make this event memorable.
The preachers for the conference were the Rev. Roy Francis, the pastor of Todd Road AME Church in Trinidad; the Rev. Rostant Paul, the pastor of McKenzie AME Church; the Rev. Lisa Blake-Williams, the pastor of Hickman AME Church in Grenada; Brother Denzel Green, the youth night preacher; and the Rev. Adrian Sieunarine, the ecumenical night preacher from the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago. Each preacher preached a dynamic sermon on the conference theme and encouraged members to move from a position of mediocrity to a point of excellence. Preachers reminded the attendees that waiting on the Lord does not mean sitting idly without hope but rather keeping busy preparing yourself for what the Lord has in store for you.
We were blessed that the children from the Blakely AME Pre-School at Metropolitan AME Church graced us with a singing presentation. Sister Sandra Pyke-Anthony read the report on behalf of the principal, Ms. Kathy-Ann Whiskey.
The Windward Islands are very thankful to the Revs. Maurice and Joretha Wright and the members of St. John AME Church in Huntsville, Alabama, for being Conference Institute facilitators. The Rev. Maurice certainly inspired us with his teachings on leadership and his ordination sermon entitled, “Thankful for My Scars.”
The Conference was elated to present to the world our newest elder, the Rev. Kurt Luckie and welcomed the Rev. Carlene Sobers as the first female presiding elder in the Windward Islands and the only female presiding elder in the 16th District. She takes up the mantle after the retirement of the Rev. Parris and will serve in Barbados. Her robe was given to her by Mr. John Thomas III, the Editor of The Christian Recorder. He is also a Barbadian.
Bishop Henning Byfield preached the sermon entitled, “We are Champions,” for the Commissioning Service. The sermon ended with the Conference singing, “Champions.”
We look forward to meeting with the other conferences in Jamaica, July 24-27, 2018, for the 16thDistrict Planning Meeting. The Christian Education Leadership Congress will also be held.
A highlight after the annual conference was the invitation to the prayer service for Ms. Paula-Mae Weekes, the newly-elected president of Trinidad and Tobago. The Rev. Gail Meridin, president of the Christian Council of Trinidad and Tobago and Bishop Henning Byfield attended.
