how a SDA GG a go mek Friday n Satiday social events

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Allen says his faith won't conflict with state duties

'G-G for all Jamaica'
Allen says his faith won't conflict with state duties

Friday, January 16, 2009


Dr Patrick Allen yesterday sought to ease public concern that <span style="font-weight: bold">his faith</span> would conflict with some of his duties as head of state, saying that there would be no need for him to attend every event, even those that are associated with the office of governor-general.

At the same time, Dr Allen made it clear that he would be governor-general for all Jamaica and said that instead of the trivia, what should take centrestage was the important question of whether he could carry out the constitutional functions of the office.

&quot;State functions do not fall on Sabbaths nor Sundays; usually Monday to Friday,&quot; Dr Allen said in response to an Observer question as to how state activities falling during the Sabbath will affect his faith as an Adventist.

&quot;These functions, I would think, are decided between Jamaica House and King's House,&quot; he said.
Since Tuesday when news broke that Allen would replace incumbent governor-general Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, who is retiring due to ill health, questions have been raised by members of the public and commentators as to whether Allen's faith would conflict with the duties of the office, some of which are social and held on Friday nights when Adventists observe the Sabbath.

Allen, president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is one of the church's most senior officials and, in his role as an educator, oversees
the network of Adventist-administered educational institutions in Jamaica which comprise 10 high schools, 22 primary schools and numerous basic schools.

Yesterday, he described the discussion about a possible conflict between his faith and the office of governor-general as &quot;much ado about nothing&quot; and said that &quot;people will get an opportunity to clear up some of the myths in their heads&quot;.
Asked how he would deal with The Governor-General's Stakes, a major horseracing event at Caymanas Park, Allen said: &quot;The Governor-General's Stakes does not mean it is mine. It is the title. Other governors-general who did not support racing allowed the use of the title. I would be their G-G too, representing everybody. The G-G does not have to be at every event nor personally support them, even though they are entrenched traditions.&quot;

Dr Allen will be sworn in at King's House on February 26.

<span style="font-weight: bold">his faith is not the issue...his faith is Christianity...wat is the issue is the iffy rules of him denomination...big difference between u faith, Christianity, and u denomination rules etc.... </span>

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'We're not fanatical'Seventh-day church leaders say G-G-desi

'We're not fanatical'
Seventh-day church leaders say G-G-designate has right to think independently
BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Saturday, January 17, 2009



The leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has sought to make it clear that it has no intention of dictating to, or manipulating the soon-to-be sworn in head of state, Adventist pastor Dr Patrick Allen.

Since Tuesday's announcement that Allen - who is president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists - will be succeeding Professor Sir Kenneth Hall as governor-general, concerns have been raised that his Adventist beliefs and standing could infringe on his work.


But at a press conference at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston yesterday, several church officials attempted to put the issue to rest.

&quot;Since his appointment, Seventh-day Adventists have been put under renewed scrutiny. We must make a distinction between being peculiar and being fanatical. We do not dictate. The Seventh-day Adventist church will not manipulate our head of state. We are not fanatical,&quot; president of the Adventist-owned and operated Northern Caribbean University, Dr Herbert Thompson, told reporters.

He said while some individuals were genuinely curious, there were others who wished to make mischief over a matter which was not in the least bit contentious.

&quot;There are people who are trying to pin Seventh-day Adventists into some sort of a corner. We are not sectarian, we are not fanatical, we are Seventh-day Adventist Christians, but we run universities, we run colleges, we operate businesses and make profit. There are over 245,000 of us in this country making an impression and trying to build our country,&quot; he argued.

Addressing concerns over whether the governor-general would be able to partake of certain items of food and drink while at functions, Thompson said, &quot;As for what we shall eat, this country has bigger issues to be addressed... we are in moral decline. We need to major in some major matters. Dr Allen as G-G will not articulate the position of the church&quot;.

Asked whether Allen would balk at signing death warrants, given Parliament's recent decision to reinstate capital punishment, he said &quot;he (Allen) will be signing not his conscience, but the law&quot;.

On the question of attending functions on Friday evenings and Saturdays when Adventists observe the Sabbath, Dr Thompson was quick to point out that state functions are not normally held on those days while noting that they would not be planned without consultation with the governor-general's staff. Furthermore, he said the governor-general was at liberty to designate persons to attend functions which he himself could not be present.

President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Glen Samuels, said the governor-general-designate &quot;comes to office with the full support of the church but with the right to think independently and fearlessly&quot;.

Dr Allen, who will be independent Jamaica's sixth head of state, is to be sworn in on February 26. The Union is expected to choose his successor at a meeting to be held on February 10 this year.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: 'We're not fanatical'Seventh-day church leaders say G-G-desi


I think it is time Jamaica divests itself of these Taliban Faiths and stop putting more power in their hands. Bruce Gelding is really a joke for trying to force an obvious misfit onto the Jamaican Citizens.