History of Principalship/Presidency

Jamaica Theological Seminary (JTS) is an institution grounded in the Christian community and primarily serving the people of Jamaica and the Caribbean, with a university-level programme of study.  The institution was launched in January 1960 to respond to the need in Jamaica and the Caribbean for culturally and contextually sensitive leadership education for the church and the wider society. 

The founding principal, Dr. Zenas Gerig, gave sterling leadership to the school from its inception to 1983.  Dr. Clive Afflick served as principal from 1984-1990.   Rev. Arthur Hall (1963-65), Rev. Garnett Roper (1987-89), and Dr. Claire Henry (1990-92) have served JTS as acting principals. 

The institution embarked on a new phase of its development in September 1992 when as a result of a collaborative agreement with Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST) a consensus emerged for the appointment of a president who would exercise executive responsibilities for the two institutions.  In 1992 Dr. Dieumeme Noelliste assumed the leadership of both JTS and CGST and was formally installed in January 1993.  Dr. Noeliste tenure as the president of the Jamaica Theological Seminary ended in June 2005.