According to Mark A. Kellner, News Editor, Adventist Review
(www.adventistreview.com ), Dr. Patrick Allen, president of the
church's West Indies Union, is expected to take office as
Jamaica's sixth Governor General in late February. Jamaican
Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced his appointment in a
Parliament session on January 13, 2009.
"It is astounding and I don't think I can wrap my head around
it, and I'm not sure what the Lord is doing here, but He has
some Joseph and Daniel role for me to perform," Allen told
Adventist Review in a telephone interview the same day from
Freeport, Bahamas, where he was helping to conduct an audit.
"I'm just praying about it and making myself available for God
to use me in whatever way He chooses best."
Kellner reports that Allen will resign his present position as
West Indies Union President, and a special executive session
will be held February 10 to name a successor, said Israel Leito,
Inter-American Division president.
"The church serves the community and we can do this from within
the chuch organization or as individuals in other activities,"
Leito said in a statement.
"The appointment of Dr. Allen as Governor General of Jamaica is
something historic in Jamaica and the world field. As far as
memory goes, this [appointment of an Adventist pastor as a
Governor General] has never happened before. But the
Inter-American Division is so pleased that one of our leaders
through the high standing of the church, has reached such a
distinction that he could be considered for such a position,"
said Leito.
Leito added: "We wish Dr. Allen all the best, realizing the
serious challenges he will have -- to be the leader with
non-political authority but still in leadership position for a
whole nation. The church will always be praying for him in this
position."
Orville Parchment, assistant to the president of the General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, said the world church
leadership was happy at the news.
"On behalf of Pastor Jan Paulsen, President of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, and our worldwide church family, we
congratulate Pastor Allen on his new appointment. We pray for
God's continued blessing as he carries out his new civic
responsibilities," he said.
Allen, who turns 58 on Feb. 7, replaces Sir Kenneth Hall, who
was appointed Governor General in February of 2006, and who
reportedly resigned for health reasons. Ironically, Sir Kenneth
presented Allen with the Order of Distinction on the country's
2006 Heroes Day for his contribution to the church and religion
in Jamaica.
Kellner says that according to the Jamaica Information Service
(JIS), the Governor General "represents the Queen on ceremonial
occasions such as the opening of Parliament, the presentation of
honors and military parades."
Jamaica's constitution gives the position additional powers, the
JIS reported, including "appointing and disciplining officers of
the civil service, in proroguing [dissolving] Parliament and so
on, but only in [a] few cases is he empowered to act entirely on
his own discretion. The Governor-General also exercises the
prerogative of mercy on behalf of the Queen" including "the
power to grant [a] pardon to any person who has been sentenced
to death."
Kellner reports that Golding, who has held the Prime Minister's
office since November 2007, is married to Lorna, a Seventh-day
Adventist. The Goldings are regular attendees at Adventist
worship services. Allen said the church's work to improve life
in Jamaica brought his name to the leader's attention.
Allen was educated at Moneague Teachers College in Jamaica, and
church-owned Andrews University, where he studied for
undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees. He holds a
Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision, a Masters
degree in Systematic Theology, and a Bachelors degree in History
and Religion.
He is an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He was elected to the position of President of West Indies Union
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in October 2000 and
re-elected in 2005.
Prior to that, Allen served in many other posts within and
outside of the Adventist Church. He served as President of
Central Jamaica Conference, Director of Education and Family
Life at West Indies Union Conference, and District Pastor. As a
trained teacher he also served as principal of Schools, and
Adjunct Professor at West Indies College, which is now Northern
Caribbean University. Allen currently chairs NCU's board of
trustees.
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