Clarendon pastor whose two sons drowned stepping down

A week after returning home from Martha's Vineyard in the US state of Massachusetts where his two sons drowned, Clarendon pastor Reverend Keith Bulgin has announced that he will be taking a back seat from his church.

Bulgin, who has been pastoring the Palmers Cross New Testament Church for the past 25 years, made the announcement during a press conference at the church. Bulgin's sons, Tavaris, 26 and Tavaughn, 21, drowned after jumping from a bridge on August 14. The Bulgin brothers were on seasonal employment at Norman's Restaurant in the town of Oak Bluffs. The brothers and two others jumped from the American Legion Memorial Bridge, more popular called 'Jaws Bridge', and got into difficulties. The other persons were rescued.

"Even though I feel good enough to keep going, I think wisdom is the principal thing and I think that I have been driving people, sitting around the steering wheel for over 25 years. [I have been] right here at one place, driving people through their difficulties and so on. I believe the time has come for me to now sit in the passenger's seat and allow somebody to drive me for a period," said Bulgin. According to him, if he is going to bounce back and do so within a considerable time, he will have to manage himself as well as his family and church family.

Commenting on Bulgin's decision to take a back seat, Bishop Rhoan Parkins, spokesperson for the family, said Bulgin will continue to be part of the ministry, but he will see the work being supported from the national office and the local congregation. He also informed that the family has been receiving counselling support.

"Through the national offices of the New Testament Church of God, further counselling and psychosocial support are being structured for the entire family. There is also support with respect to this congregation," he said.

Bulgin explained that as he processed the devastating news of his sons' deaths, he remembered telling God that he needed an answer.

"I realised that the only place I could find the answer was the Holy Script (Bible) and as I opened it, my eyes were fixed on Joel chapter 3 and there is a clause which says ' let the weak say I am strong' [verse 10]. I have to be strong for the family, I have to be strong for the church, I have to be strong for those who are themselves in need," he shared.

Bulgin, in remembering his sons, spoke about their closeness, and said that on reflection, he said he was not surprised that they died together.

The funeral service for the brothers will be held on Saturday, October 1 at the New Testament Church of God Convention Centre, Rhoden's Pen, Old Harbour, St Catherine, with interment taking place at Deeside in Trelawny.