Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer
THOUSANDS OF Moravians from across the island converged on the Kendal Conference Centre in Manchester last Sunday for a service which served as the climax for a year-long series of celebrations recognising the church's 250th anniversary in Jamaica.
From as early as 9:00 a.m, motorcades from Walderston, Porus and Mandeville arrived simultaneously at the venue, in what onlookers considered a massive display that lent pomp and pageantry to the church's 250-year tenure in Jamaica.
President of the Provincial Elders Conference (PEC), Reverend Dr. Paul Gardner, delivered a message of hope, renewal and redemption to the large gathering.
CRITICAL TIME
"We come together today in this final act of praise and thanksgiving of our 250th anniversary celebration. Our celebrations have happened at a very critical time, if not difficult time in the history of our country and world," he intoned.
The Moravian church was established in Jamaica on December 9, 1754, when three missionaries arrived from Herrnhut in Germany. The original Herrnhut Community dates back to 1722 when the Moravians in central Europe found refuge in Germany from religious persecution. They called their new home 'Herrnhut', which translates to "the Lord's protective care."
FIRST CHURCH
The Moravians set up the first church, 'New Eden', at Elim in St Elizabeth, and began evangelising to slaves. They ultimately established schools and churches islandwide. The 250th anniversary celebrations began on December 9, 2004, and were held under the theme 'Rekindle the Flame'.
The PEC president used the occasion to criticise certain double-standards and hypocrisies he had identified in the society.
"The next 250 years must see us functioning differently from how we have functioned up to this point. We have become the murder capital of the world, our citizens are seen as danger to public order overseas," he said.
"Many people are looking for solution from persons other from themselves. There is a sense in which some of our private sector leaders are schizophrenic. They campaign for a peaceful crime and violence-free society, yet at the same time they are the major sponsors of coarse and antisocial behaviour sponsoring bling culture."
Those in attendance were bishop of the Moravian church in Jamaica, Reverend Robert Foster, as well as Reverends Stanley Thomas, Stanley Clarke, Raymond Seymour and Charmane Daley.
