“My sisters and brothers in Christ, I present Laish, Bishop in the Church of God.”
With these words, followed by an organ fanfare from the organ loft in Christ Church Cathedral and applause from the congregation, Bishop Laish Boyd was formally introduced to members of the Anglican communion by Archbishop Drexel Gomez.
Earlier, on Thursday, droves of Anglicans, dignitaries and well-wishers had flocked to the George Street cathedral to witness the ordination and consecration service of the new Bishop.
Bishop Boyd, formerly known as Father Boyd to the Anglican community in The Bahamas was officially given his pectoral cross, skull cap, liturgical headgear, pastoral staff, and a ring to be worn on his third right finger by Archbishop Gomez at the ordination and consecration ceremony to signify his transition from Father to Bishop in the Anglican church.
The Rt. Reverend Dr. The Hon. John Holder, Bishop of the Diocese of Barbados, who delivered the sermon at yesterday’s service, reminded the newly-appointed Bishop that his journey as a spiritual guide was one of faith, and he would face many challenges. The decisions he makes as a religious leader must be “grounded by the scripture, guided by reason and influenced by (the Anglican) tradition,” Bishop Holder admonished.
“As bishops, my brother, we have a critical role to play as leaders of the church,” he continued. “We must have a vision of where we ought to be heading. We must have the spiritual and intellectual resources and capacity to lead others there.
“Let us never ever believe that for one moment that we are the ones and the only ones who hold the key to the future of God’s church… for we surely do not.
“We must never let go of the conviction of Saint Paul that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.”
In an earlier press interview, Bishop Boyd, displaying humility over his new appointment, said that with the help of God, he stood ready to serve the Anglican community.
“The idea is to open myself to God so that He can do through me what He wants to do.
Because he knows why he called me. He knows what He wants me, specifically to accomplish. And the good thing about having a God is that you don’t have to know everything, if you trust God,” said the new Bishop.
“My earnest struggle even as I look at what I am about to do from the outside is for me to be more rooted and grounded in my personal relationship with God than I have ever been. More available to direction of His spirit so that whatever he has for me to do I will be in place and ready to do it.”
Government officials, joined by local and foreign dignitaries, and Anglicans from throughout the Province of the West Indies and the wider Anglican Community who were in attendance to witness and participate in this occasion all expressed a feeling of pride to see Father Boyd elevated to his new position as Bishop.
Over the past 18 years Bishop Boyd served as a parish priest. However, for the past nine years he served as the rector of Holy Cross on Soldier Road.
Archbishop Gomez is expected to demit office in December, 2008. Bishop Boyd will take on the responsibility as Archbishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos islands in January, 2009.
The 179 members of the Elective Assembly, comprising the House of Clergy and the House of Laity on February 24, elected then-Father Laish Boyd coadjutor of the diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The House of Bishops unanimously confirmed him on March 21.
By LaShonne Outten, Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter
