Clive Orminston Abdulah

The Rt Rev Clive Ormiston Abdulah is a former Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago who continues to serve the Church as an Assistant Bishop [ [http://trinidad.anglican.org/Our%20Bishops.html Details of career] ] and a member of the Anglican Consultative Council [ [http://www.anglicancommunion.org/communion/acc/meetings/acc9/participants.cfm ACC9] ] . Educated at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Toronto, he was ordained in 1954 and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy in Kingston, Jamaica. He was then Rector of "Highgate" and Rural Dean of "St Mary’s" in the same country before his elevation to the Episcopate. A noted Freemason [ [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,75961.html Conducts service for Trinidadian Lodge] ] , Bishop Clive has spoken out about political deadlock in Trinidad [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2008/03/080331_briefingup.shtml Comments on behaviour of politicians] ] .

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http://trinidad.anglican.org/Our%20Bishops.htmlBishop Clive Orminston Abdulah B.A., S.T.M., F.C.P., D.MIN., D.D, was the first Native to be unanimously elected and Consecrated as Bishop of Trinidad & Tobago. This was at a most difficult time in our nation – the aftermath of the Black Power disturbances and a State of Emergency. His consecration on September 29, 1970 was very welcome, and one may still be able to recall that propitious day. A graduate of Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain, Abdulah then went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where he became the first Black President of the Canterbury Club, and graduated with a B.A in 1950. His thirst for knowledge did not end there, for he later went on to Trinity College, Toronto to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. It is said that “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth,” and Bishop Abdulah clearly illustrates this. He continued on, graduating with a Master's Degree in Theology in 1965, and the degree of Doctor in Ministry in 1993 from the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, USA. Bishop Abdulah’s career spans all of forty-nine years and counting, beginning with his ordination as deacon in Trinity College, Toronto for the Diocese of Jamaica, May 17, 1953. One year later, June 27, 1954, he was ordained Priest in the Parish Church of Kingston, Jamaica. While still in Jamaica, he served as Rector of Highgate, Rural Dean of St. Mary (1957-66), and Stony Hill (1966-70). In 1984, Bishop Abdulah was made a Fellow of the College of Preceptors [F.C.P. (Honoris Causa)] , London, England. He had the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) conferred upon him at the Trinity College, Toronto in 1971. He is the only Bishop who from 1971 to 1975, has served as a member of the University Council, U.W.I., and as Chairman to the Government appointed Commission of Enquiry on Prison Reform from 1975 to 1980. Bishop Abdulah, not new to “first” experiences, is the first West Indian Bishop to serve on the Board of Directors of the Anglican Centre in Rome, 1992-95.

Given his long and illustrious career, Bishop Abdulah retired as Bishop of Trinidad & Tobago in 1991, and now serves as interim Rector of All Saints’ Church, Newtown.