The Rt. Rev. Leon Paul Golding is the Diocesan Bishop-Elect for the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
Bishop Golding received 204 of the 214 votes cast by Clergy and Lay Representatives who attended The Special Synod, known as the Elective Assembly, which was held at St. Luke’s Church Hall in Cross Roads today. This result represents a two-thirds majority of the votes cast separately in both the House of Clergy and the House of Laity, as required under the Constitution and Canons of the Church.
The results will now be sent to the Rt. Rev. Phillip Wright, Bishop of Belize and Senior Bishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI) who will seek written confirmation of the choice made from the Bishops of the other seven Dioceses in the Province.
Bishop Golding, who succeeds The Most Rev. Dr. The Hon. Howard Gregory, who retired in December 2024, will serve as the 15th Diocesan Bishop.
Nurtured in the Cathedral Church of St. Jago de la Vega, Spanish Town, his journey in the ordained ministry started in 1984 when he was ordained a Deacon and a priest in 1985. Bishop Golding has served as a Deacon at the St. Andrew Parish Church; and as Rector of the St. Mary Parish Church (1988-1990); St. Jude’s Church, Stony Hill (1990-2000); Kingston Parish Church (2002-2008); and Church of the Holy Trinity, Westgate, Montego Bay from 2008-2012 when he was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay. He is also a former Archdeacon of Kingston and Montego Bay. Since the retirement of Archbishop Gregory, he has guided the affairs of the Diocese as Canonical Administrator.
In thanking the clergy and laity following today’s election, Bishop Golding expressed his commitment “to serve Christ and the Church in the best way I can.” He acknowledged the contribution of his predecessors, especially Archbishop Gregory, under whose leadership many new development strategies were introduced.
“We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, and we all have a responsibility to carry that legacy forward. I hope we will do what is God’s will in this time,” the Diocesan Bishop-elect stated.
Bishop Golding holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and the Diploma in Ministerial Studies from the United Theological College of the West Indies, and the Master of Philosophy Degree from the University of Birmingham in England.
He is married to Lauren and has three children – Lisa, LeeAnne, and Luke-Paul.
