The recent appointment of the Rev Garnett Roper to the presidency of the Jamaica Theological Seminary (JTS) is quite encouraging. This appointment appears to signal a shift in orientation in the seminary. This is said without fear of contradiction. There is no fear given that the board was careful to accentuate President Roper's contribution to public life in Jamaica as well as the fact that Roper himself is almost, by definition, one who will engage with public issues.

Poised to influence

As, arguably, the premier evangelical school of theology in Jamaica, JTS is at a place where it can affect the lives of a significant number of Jamaicans of the Christian faith. Jamaican Evangelical and Pentecostal theologies have often refrained from being as active in the public sphere as they could. The intrepid manner in which Garnett Roper has engaged the minds of many Jamaicans in the business of nation building, from the pulpit as well as through his better known radio programme, has left me with the conviction that theological training will once more confer a sterling contribution to making our nation a better place.

I am, etc.,

GREGORY JOHN ROBERTS

g3210ster@gmail.com

Dept of Theology and Religion

University of Birmingham