By: Josephine Nyeweah in Kenema district
Thousands of residents in Kenema and Kailahun districts were on the streets in Kenema city to honor the newly elected Bishop of the United Methodist Church Sierra Leone.
The Bishop who was in Kenema for three days was first received by current and old students of the Government secondary school KOSA in Kenema with a procession from the Clock Tower to the Government secondary school campus where he met with his school mates both new and old students.
The principal, Alhaji Mansaray, recounted their school days when discipline was top of the agenda in the days of Principal Saffa Koroma and his team at that time.
The Bishop James Boye-Caulker, in his statement, thanked all and sundry for the positive welcome he and his entourage received in Kenema.
He called on the new students to always be peaceful and disciplined and to give the utmost attention to their studies so that they, their family members, the community, and the nation will continue to benefit from their efforts.
On behalf of him and his wife and family, he gave 20,000 New Leones to the school as his little contribution towards the ongoing development projects in the school.
The Bishop and his entourage processed from Capital Foods along Hangha Road, through Blama Road to Seyia Street Sembeck section to Kercher Memorial United Methodist Church, where several prayers were offered for all and sundry, including the President and his cabinet and the nation as a whole for continued peace, unity, and development in the country. He called on his membership to always remain peaceful, as reconciliation is always the best in any situation.
Several stakeholders across the nation were in attendance.
The Deputy Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Augustine Ngobie, on behalf of him and his family, donated 15 town lots in the Small Bo chiefdom with all its documentation to UMC and also pledged to donate 3 bundles of 8-foot corrugated iron sheets to be put on the church at Seyia Street.
Bishop James Boye-Caulker prayed for all, the president and cabinet, and the nation, and he called for unity among members across the nation at all times.
Giving a brief biography of the bishop, at the government secondary school, an elderly member of the United Methodist Church, Jacob Quee, disclosed that Bishop James Boye-Caulker, resident bishop, United Methodist Church, Sierra Leone, got the position in December 2024.
Bishop James Boye-Caulker was born on January 9, 1964, to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Boye-Caulker.
He started his primary education at the United Methodist Church primary school (Lower), Rotifunk, from classes 1-4, and the United Methodist Church primary school, Njagboima, in Bo, from class 5-7.
After successfully completing his primary education, he gained admission to the government secondary school in Bo, where he schooled from forms 1-3 and later proceeded to the government secondary school Kenema from forms 4-6 and sat for the GCE O & A levels examinations, and like the Selective Entrance Examination, he came out with flying colors.
After his A level, Bishop James Boye-Caulker had the sacred call to the ordained ministry and responded by enrolling at the Sierra Leone Theological College, where he read for the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Studies (HCPS) from 1987 to 1990. He was appointed Student Union President at the Sierra Leone Theological Hall and Church Training Center in 1989.
Upon graduation, he was ordained as a probationer (deacon) in 1991 and assigned to the Kercher Memorial United Methodist Church, Kenema, as assistant pastor. He served at the Kercher Memorial United Methodist Church until he was ordained elder in 1993. At Kercher, Rev. Boye-Caulker brought both the young and the elderly together, which made Kercher Memorial one of the most outstanding churches in the Kenema Circuit under the Bo District. He was appointed Acting Pastor at Kercher Memorial United Methodist Church, Kenema, from 1993 to 1996.
Bishop gave special thanks to his wife for the motherly support he is receiving from her at all times.
