Christopher Codrington’s Will: A Personal Reflection on Anglican Theological Education in the Caribbean

The Revd Carlton Turner

Abstract:
In this paper I wish to comment on Anglican Theological Education at Codrington College, the Anglican regional seminary for the Province of the West Indies. The death of ex-colonial governor, ex-captain general and commander-in-chief, and plantation owner Christopher Codrington in 1710 meant the bequeathing of his Barbadian estates to the ownership of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) with an odd condition: that it always hold three hundred negroes on the plantation. This was clearly mixed with a desire for the estate to become a college, training in both medicine and divinity. Through the years it became the regional seminary. Even now in the 21st Century much of the colonial mentality from the 17th and 18th century hinders the advancement of holistic mission in the Caribbean.  The ambiguity in Codrington’s will – of both advancement and enslavement – persists in theological education. Clearing up this ambiguity is vital to effective theological education and effective ministry within the Caribbean context

Introduction
I find the juxtaposition of the imageries of ‘Ivory Towers’ and ‘Muddy Grounds’ fascinating as they convey an inherent conflict within Caribbean society and indeed the theological education that I received having studied at Codrington College, Barbados. Having undergone training in the Caribbean context and now furthering my training in the area of contextual theology here at the Queens Foundation, University of Birmingham, I wish to bring my own ‘personal’ reflection taking into account my journey in theological education and my view point as to where it needs to go if it is to be relevant and effective for the context in which I live and minister. 
Two things will stand out in this paper: firstly, theological education in my context contends with the reality of colonialism. In many respects, etched into the Caribbean mindset is the notion that what is legitimate and sound is that which is Eurocentric and ‘Ivory Tower’.  ‘Muddy Grounds’ encompass all the other voices within the Caribbean mix of cultures. Secondly, there is an urgent need for a more inclusive approach to theological education both in content and in methodology, where all voices within the Caribbean milieu interface in the training process. To effectively do this, this paper will be divided into three sections:

• My Training within the Caribbean Context
• Codrington College: An Ambiguous History of Theological Education
• Suggestions Towards a More Relevant Approach to Theological Education...

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