Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Jamaican men have been challenged to take back their place in the society to create order and save boys who are losing their way because of a lack of male role models.

This charge was made on Friday evening by Bishop Lennox D. Walker of the Praise Cathedral Worship Centre in Toronto, Canada, who was guest speaker at the opening ceremony of Jamaica's national men's conference, held under the theme, 'Covenant: Jamaica's Men on a Mission'.

"Men, where are you? Our sons are calling: Daddy, where are you? We need you to come out of hiding," Bishop Walker said at the Mona Visitors' Lodge and Ruins, St Andrew.

He noted that men were put in charge by God, and it was no coincidence that the male sex was created physically stronger.

The conference, which ended yesterday, was organised by laymen from various churches in Jamaica who are concerned about the perceived diminishing role of men in society. It is seen as a platform from which a national men's movement will arise.

"I believe that God has raised up this movement to ask men to take back our position to create order in the society," said Bishop Walker.

"Our men are in hiding; they are still playing the blame game ... they are absent fathers ... women ill-treaters," said the father of three who has been married for 25 years.

men lagging behind

He noted that women were pressing ahead while men were lagging behind. This, he said, was evident by the number of men who are incarcerated and the number of women who graduate from university each year.

"We have to stop our men from going to prison. Fathers, we need to stop that and demonstrate to our sons what it is to be a man," said Bishop Walker, adding that something radical has to be done to change the psyche of men in preparation for the next generation.

Bishop Walker, who was unable to read at age 14, said children were losing the battle in education because too many fathers were absent from the home.

"Fathers, go home! God made you the head and do not apologise for that," said Bishop Walker in an inspirational address to scores of men at the ceremony.

Meanwhile, conference chair, Courtney Campbell of 'Covenant: Jamaica's Men on a Mission', yesterday described the staging of the all-day men's seminar as a success.

"It seems that we are on our way to achieving our objectives," he told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.

He disclosed that the organisers were able to pull out some 500 men from the inner city, business sector and other areas of the society.

"I believe that everybody here will be able to leave with something that is tangible that they can do to make a difference not only in their lives, but in the lives of those we are challenging them to mentor," he said.

The conference was sponsored by The Gleaner Company, RJR Communications Group, National Commercial Bank and the Hilton Kingston hotel.