The month of February is being observed as Black History Month. DNO has researched and is now publishing some articles which highlight the contributions of some Dominicans and others that have helped to shape and enhance our story as Black people. We begin with a Dominican whose work has been recognized all over the world – a past leader of the World Council of Churches (WCC) who was unswerving in his pursuit of Christian unity – Reverend Dr. Philip Alford Potter.
Reverend Dr. Philip Alford Potter was born in Roseau, Dominica, on 19 August 1921. His father was a Roman Catholic and his mother, a Protestant. His family was well-known and relatively prosperous in the town of Roseau. A scholarship took young Philip to the Dominica Grammar School, followed by legal training in the attorney general’s office.
Potter went on to become the general secretary of the World Council of Churches from 1972-84 and one of the foremost and most admired international church leaders of his time. He became active in the ecumenical movement through student communities of the Caribbean churches.
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary, wrote about Rev. Potter’s life after his passing on March 31, 2015 in Lübeck, Germany.
He expressed, “As a young lay pastor and newly ordained minister, Philip took the gospel to the island of Nevis and to Creole-speaking people in Haiti; later, he served on the staff of the Methodist Missionary Society in London. He represented the Jamaica Student Christian Movement at the 1947 world conference on Christian youth in Oslo, Norway.”
Tveit continued, “He then served as a spokesperson for youth at the first two assemblies of the World Council of Churches, at Amsterdam (1948) and Evanston (1954). He continued to be an active participant in every WCC assembly in 1948 to the 9th Assembly at Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2006.”
Reverend Potter’s work seemed to increase with age. Among the most memorable achievements of the WCC during Philip Potter’s tenure were the theological consensus document on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry and the continuation of a courageous campaign against apartheid in Southern Africa. He also tackled other forms of racism throughout the world, a vigorous debate on the nature of post-colonial Christian mission, a co-ordinated witness for peace amidst East-West tension and the threat of nuclear annihilation, as well as an exploration of new forms of spirituality, common prayer and music drawing on the diverse traditions of the church.
At the time of his retirement, a resolution of the WCC central committee described “the underlying unity in all Dr. Potter’s efforts” as his commitment to “one ecumenical movement, one fellowship of churches moving together along one pilgrim way, the hope of the one humanity promised by God.”
More information on Reverend Potter, click the links below:
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/tributes/philip-potter
If he is yet alive that means he is 98 years old.
“Who appointed you God over us”( Phillip Potter).
He ask that question while serving on the island Barbados somewhere in 1963/64 or there about in reference to a white man who thought the British whites should forever rule over their Church.
Weeks ago at Londonderry someone said prior to the Labor Party, people could not send their children to Secondary School, if that is the case how did this man happen to get a scholarship almost a hundred years ago to attend secondary school?
So, you see how the myths and lies told by the clowns at Londonderry two weeks are are exposed. I know a lady, born 1890, lived to be 103 years old, and died in 1993, she was smart educationally and was part of the back to Africa Movement: “Macous Gravy.” Her parents paid a penny per month for her education; thirty-one years prior to Potters birth.
That lady was my grandmother!
Thanks for sharing DNO. I’m elated to have been told about this great Dominican.
I admire the effort of DNO, however, I am disappointed in this deprived account of the Philip Potter. There is a huge gap between his scholarship to grammar school, his legal educations and then *braps* WCC Secretary. There should be more mention of what happened in between inclusive of his status as an ordained Methodist Minister!
Aah here we go again, Black History month, the time of year when only the despersed recall so called great black people.
Why is it there is no white or Chinese or Indian or Japanese history month, makes me wonder.
PEOPLE, Black is a colour, not your ethnicity or race.
Somehow I feel the same way as you, if we continue to speak of “Black History” it gives me the impression someone is simply truing to look for recognition that we are here.
Black people are the history of the world, considering that every other human alive owes their life to the original first human to inhabit the earth. I don’t think had it not been for bigotry, and prejudices which plays on the mind of those Black people with an inferior complex the term anything black would be talked about.
History is what it is; and black people are part of it, there is nothing special about any particular set of people; the Pyramids of Egypt were built by Black people, nevertheless when they want to discriminate they show pictures of staving sick people in Africa, and Haiti, whereas in the Mississippi Delta the same conditions exists.
They do not mention the Pyramids; too scientific; but all one need to remember King Tott was a Black man!
Why does it offend you so much? You are even referring to us as ‘the dispersed’, which indicates your awareness of the brutal oppressors who indeed took us away from our homeland and scattered us all over! ( Don’t bring up that old hackneyed made up story that their own kind were to blame) Jah is Mighty and His Mercy endureth Forever. Keep on with your mockery and stay on the sidelines gnashing
your teeth.
The Rev. Dr. Phillip Potter was a great , great Dominican. Even though a lot of his work was done on the world stage, they were still of benefit to us all over as people of color. Not the least of which was his fight against apartheid in South Africa.
The eulogy at his funeral in Germany was delivered by Bishop Desmond Tutu.
A most moving memorial service was held in his honor at the Bethesda Methodist Church in Roseau.
Good thing to know our black history. Thank you, DNO.