Moravian ministers case transfer decision delayed again

Jermaine Gibson, (left) and Rev Dr Paul Gardner

In a follow up to the previous post on cover-ups and obfuscation related to pastoral care this latest development today smells of convenient delays in my eyes. 

Also see: On pastoral abuse, celibacy, cover-ups & passing the buck

meanwhile

The clergymen involved in the highly talked about sex scandal will have to wait another 12 weeks to find out whether or not their case will move to the Home Circuit Court in Kingston.

Sheesh! 

Now with such a sensitive matter our creaking justice systems ever so often ignore or forget the old addage "Justice delayed is justice denied" and the impacted individuals have to suffer so much more, albeit they might have supportive services since but for the resolution of the matter there must be some speed on this.

Reverend Dr Paul Gardner and Jermaine Gibson, who appeared before the Manchester Circuit Court this morning, had their bails extended and are expected to return to court Wednesday May 24.

According to attorney Peter Champagnie, the defence presented some documents to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has requested some time to ventilate them.

Gardner and Gibson were charged for sexual misconduct arising from a series of incidents dating back to 2002.

earlier in January this came to hand: 

Moravian pastor battered with tambourine ... activist regrets not using a block

Head of the Moravian Church in Jamaica, Dr Paul Gardner, was reportedly clouted in his head with a tambourine by an enraged protester at last Sunday's service at the Nazareth Moravian Church in Manchester.

The protester, who has been identified as activist Stella Gibson, was among a group of 14 women who were once victims of sexual abuse.

They staged what they described as a peaceful protest at the church in light of the sex scandal now rocking the church, in which Pastor Rupert Clarke, 64, was charged with having sex with a minor.

Gibson has been very vocal about the tambourine ordeal on social media, and has since started a hashtag, #TambourineArmy.

Further clarification

In one post to her Facebook wall, Gibson wrote "I am happy I gave Paul Gardner one [expletive] lick inna him head with a tambourine." She then added, "I should have used a block instead of a tambourine."

When contacted for further clarification on the incident, Gibson explained that she will not be speaking on the tambourine beat down in mainstream media, as she wants her engagement in the media to be survivor-focused.

She said she does not want the tambourine incident to overshadow the real issue at hand.

"I don't see any value in talking about it to the media because I know that something like that will become the highlight or the spotlight, and I'm trying as much as possible to avoid that," she said.

"What we are trying to do is to engage persons who do healing work, and counselling and support kind of work, to provide safe spaces, physical and virtual, for survivors of sexual violence. We are also trying to let people understand the concept of sexual grooming," she added.

Gibson also took the opportunity to encourage abused persons to speak up and name their aggressors.

Meanwhile, Gardner, and his deputy, Jermaine Gibson, have resigned from their posts. Their resignations comes after the continued developments in the sex scandal.

It has been reported that a minister provided a string of emails proving that the church leadership was aware of the embattled pastor's sexual misconduct before he was caught, although they previously denied having prior knowledge.

Clarke, who is also being investigated for other sexual misdeeds, is out on $800,000 bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on February 13.

A group of 14 women who were once victims of sexual abuse staged a peaceful protest at the Nazareth Moravian Church on January 8, citing the silence of the church following the arrest and charge of their pastor for sexual misconduct.

The women, who were there independently of the different organisations they represent, were clad in T-shirts bearing messages against sexual abuse.

Different intervals

They said their main aim was to show support to the victim.

According to one, Caitu Heron, the women appeared at different intervals during the service, but were not all readily accepted.

"They weren't forced out of the church or anything, but they definitely received some verbal attacks ... we pressed on though, and we sat in the church in the front pew. The women who came after entered without any opposition," she said.

Heron said members of the Moravian Church hierarchy acknowledged them and afforded them the opportunity to speak.

"The President of the Elders Council of the Moravian Church welcomed us and made an effort to list the church's strategies to move forward, and was open to the assistance of external organisations," she said.

Heron says the silence of church members can no longer be accepted as the problem of sexual misconduct among ministers is not new to the country.

So have to wait for this

Peace & tolerance

H