DR SEAN JACKSON, one of America’s and Barbados’ most highly trained and certified organists and pianists, seemingly experienced a catharsis on a recent Sunday afternoon when sub-zero temperatures in Brooklyn had made it the year’s coldest day.
“It was good to see him smiling and playing the organ with such strength and excellence,” said Anglican Canon Ryan Boyce, a Bajan who is priest-in-charge of St Augustine Episcopal Church, in Atlantic City in New Jersey.
“The Bible teaches us about second chances, understanding and forgiveness and it was clear that those factors were present.”
The occasion was evensong at the Resurrection Anglican Congregation and it was the first service at which Jackson had played the organ at St Leonard’s independent church, where the Congregation worships. Scores of Barbadians and other West Indians braved the extreme temperatures to attend Jackson’s installation as the organist by Canon Llewellyn Armstrong and to enjoy his mastery of the musical instrument.
Jackson endured a gut-wrenching experience in 2014 that saw his name splashed across newspapers in Connecticut and Barbados after he asked a young female student to remove her “undergarments,” not her panties.
“In 2014 I had two major life-changing decisions to make,” the organist told the congregation of more than a hundred Bajans and other West Indians.
“The first one came at the end of April during a piano lesson I was teaching to one of my young (female) students at the time. I had a choice and I made the wrong one. The decision I made back then was a gross error in judgement on my part which I do regret and which led to accusations being levelled against me.
“So what followed was another life-changing decision,” he explained.
“I was left with the choice to fight the accusations tooth and nail and bring along with me on that fight all the people who were ready to support me in proving my innocence – or tell the truth about what happened that day and forfeit my reputation as I knew it, the respect of others, my job, my marriage and ultimately my freedom. I distinctly heard the Lord whispering to me, ‘Walk in obedience and I will take care of the rest’.
Professional suicide
“So at the end of July 2014, I decided to commit professional suicide – that’s certainly how it felt at the time – confess my wrongdoing to those closest to me, turn myself in to the authorities and tell them what happened,” Jackson said.
“Though what followed was not always easy or pretty, I am here today as living proof that God is faithful and has more than kept his promises to me. My wife and I have experienced enough mercies and miracles over the past year and a half to write a book about, and who knows, I may just.”
He entered a plea deal with prosecutors, admitted to committing a felony and was placed on three years of probation while undergoing counselling. In exchange he escaped going to jail and wasn’t forced to register as a sex offender.
“It does not change what happened,” he told the worshippers, among whom were several Combermerians who were in the congregation to show their support for the former student of the school at Waterford. “What I did was wrong and I am now doing everything in my power to ensure that I learn from it.”
In a sermon, Canon Boyce, a former priest- in-charge of St Catherine Anglican Church in Barbados, said Christianity was about forgiveness and giving people a “second chance”.
Canon Armstrong said he made the offer to Jackson because he felt he should have an opportunity to use his enormous talent in the church and to move on after the ordeal.
The priest also presented police officers assigned to the 81st station house with a plaque of appreciation for their “excellent work” in protecting the community.
Tony Best is the NATION’s North American correspondent. Email [email protected]
