Last October at the Anglican Provincial Synod in St Vincent, the House of Bishops in the Province confirmed the extension of Bishop Rawle Douglin's stay as Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago for an additional year from January 17, 1999.
As D-day approaches, it has been decided to elect a Bishop Coadjutor, who, according to the Canons of the Province and regulations of the Diocese "shall on the death or resignation of the Bishop of the Diocese without further election or confirmation succeed as Bishop of the Diocese as from date of such death or resignation.... At his enthronement, the Coadjutor shall take and subscribe the Declarations and Oath prescribed in Canon 8. Section 13."
In the meantime, the Coadjutor will provide episcopal assistance for Bishop Douglin, who himself was the first coadjutor in the Diocese in 1992 as successor to Bishop Clive Abdulah in 1993.
The Elective Assembly (Synod) met on September 9 at St Crispin's Church in Woodbrook, where by majority vote it was decided that the Assembly would meet again on October 2 to elect the Coadjutor, rather than delegate the choice to a Selection Committee appointed by the Assembly.
Those closely connected to the process preferred not to make predictions. Bishop Douglin was clear "that's not the Bishop's role to have anybody in mind."
Dean Knolly Clarke preferred not to predict.
Rhona Ince, assistant secretary to Synod, chairman of the Northwest Regional Council and a member of the Diocesan Council had reservations but definitely would prefer a local Canon rather than an outsider: "I am not one for foreigners. Above all I want a dynamic, caring, spiritual cleric who would take the church out of the doldrums and turn it around into a thriving institution of God in the new millennium."
On the very touchy subject that the decision taken by the Diocesan Council more than a year ago to retain Bishop Rawle because it was felt no one was yet ready for this highest appointment, Ince said "it was more a case that the Bishop's 65th birthday crept up on us and no machinery had been put in place for a new appointee."
Dean Clarke dispelled the myth that to be appointed to this top position in the Diocese, one must be higher than just a priest. "I seem to remember Bishop Abdulah was just a respectable priest in his Jamaican parish when he was selected by the Electoral College to be Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago."
" In the early church, Ambrose of Milan, a lay person, was elected Bishop in the fourth century when he went to clear up confusion in the church and the people started crying out: Ambrose for Bishop. He was one of the best Bishops ever."
"In such a case, the three vows will have to be conferred at the same time, the diaconate, priestly and episcopal vows, before the person can be ordained a Bishop."
In the case of the coadjutor, who has already taken all three vows, the Dean of the Cathedral automatically enthrones that person when the Bishop demits office. Should the coadjutor die, resign, become senile or infirm, a Bishop will have to be chosen when the diocesan bishop demits office. In Jamaica, there are suffragan bishops to assist with episcopal matters only, whereas the coadjutor does the same thing but automatically becomes bishop as he is the one chosen to succeed the bishop.
Nominations for the upcoming election close at midnight on Friday September 24, with candidates nominated by a member of clergy and seconded by a lay person. A clear two-thirds majority vote is needed for the winning candidate. If this is not forthcoming, a second ballot is taken, and again a third if necessary. In both instances, if there are more than two nominees, the one with the lowest vote is removed from the ballot sheet.
Should there be still no clear winner, a new meeting of the Elective Assembly is called with a completely new slate of candidates. If there is still no winner, the matter is referred directly to the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies, who then selects a Provincial Committee to name the new Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago. Ironically, the present Archbishop of the West Indies, Primate and Metropolitan, His Grace, The Most Reverend Drexel Wellington Gomez, was elected in this manner as Bishop of Barbados in 1972, when the local Diocesan Assembly failed to agree on a Bishop.
NEWS ITEM
By Newsday Reporter
On October 2, 1999, the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago will elect a Bishop Coadjutor, to succeed Bishop Rawle Douglin as Bishop when he demits office. Bishop Rawle's stay in office was extended for a year from January 17, 1999, by the House of Bishops in the Province.
The two priests who are being touted for elevation to the highest position in the Diocese are sixty year old Canon Noel Titus, principal of Codrington College, Barbados and fifty year old Canon Winston Joseph, rector of All Saints Anglican Church for the past twenty-five years.
Tobago-born theologian Dr Noel Titus, a former student of Bishop's High School, Tobago, who was recently elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, was ordained a deacon and priest in Trinidad, and served as curate and parish priest in Trinidad and Tobago, before responding to a request to become a lecturer at Codrington College. While Canon Joseph, a former Trinity College student, graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and lecturer in the Diploma of Theology programme, known for his 'mas playing during Carnival, for many years, is reported to have said that should be be considered for this high office, his mas playing days will definitely be over.