By the end of Monday, a new Anglican bishop of Barbados could be elected.
Elections reached a stalemate on April 25 when the elective synod of clergy and laity failed to give the last men standing – Dean of St Michael’s Cathedral Dr Jeffrey Gibson and rector of St George Parish Church and Rural Dean of St John, Rev. John Rogers – the required two-thirds vote to secure the position as head of Barbados’ largest denomination.
At the last voting process, a trend developed early in the third round where Rogers and Gibson were favourites, with the clergy’s preference for Gibson, while the laity held fast for Rogers. At 10 p.m. no decision had been reached, and diocesan administrator Canon Wayne Isaacs adjourned the proceedings.
Issacs confirmed yesterday there would be no Eucharistic Synod Mass before the voting process. However, the elective synod – comprising the House of Clergy, made up of all priests from the 44 Anglican churches, as well as the House of Laity – will reconvene at the Ivan Harewood Complex, Christ Church Parish Centre, to continue the process at 9:30 a.m.
“It would be difficult to say how long the meeting would last tomorrow (today). If we don’t reach a decision at the end of the proceedings, the Synod would decide the next step,” he said.
At St George Parish Church yesterday, Rogers was greeting parishioners at the end of the morning’s service. Many of them were overheard bestowing well wishes on the younger candidate.
He declined comment on the matter, only saying he and Gibson would have to go through the nomination process again.
When a NATION team arrived at St Michael’s Cathedral, Gibson had left for the day and subsequent efforts to reach him were unsuccessful. However, parishioners mingling in the churchyard were heard saying the dean “had it in the bag”. (RA)
