Moravian ministers to answer to sex charges on February 1

The two senior members of the Moravian Church in Jamaica who were charged on Monday with sexual offences are to appear in the Manchester Parish Court on February 1.
  
Dr. Paul Gardner, 54, and Jermaine Gibson, 36 - former President and Vice President of the Moravian Church - were each offered $300,000 station bail on Monday evening.
  
Both men are charged with Carnal Abuse and Indecent Assault.
  
They were charged following questioning by detectives from the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).
 
A statement from the police said the incidents allegedly took place in 2002.

Church in anguish

In the meantime, the Moravian Church in Jamaica is reeling following the arrests of the two senior members for alleged sexual offences.
  
Reverend Phyllis Smith Seymour, acting President of the Moravian Church, said the Church is in anguish "that this could happen to them at this time."

The arrests came weeks after Rupert Clarke, Pastor of the Nazareth Moravian Church in Manchester, was charged for having sex with a minor in St. Elizabeth.
  
He has been released on bond, but CISOCA has said it is investigating other allegations against him.

Meanwhile, the executive of the Moravian Church in Jamaica is to meet this week to discuss the latest developments.
                          
When asked whether the Church is aware of other cases of sexual abuse involving its pastors, Reverend Smith Seymour said she had so far received no new reports.