April 5, 2007 — Although the Rev. Vincent Hoover Adams Gordon, 75, has reached the retirement age set by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, that won't keep him from continuing to play a part in ministering in his church and in the community.
His retirement officially begins next week, but it does not appear he will be slowing down much.
According to Gordon, his retirement years will be spent reading a lot of poetry, philosophy and theology. He'll also counsel young people, and he says he won't forget the elderly, who have so much to offer.
Born in 1930 in Christiansted to Vernon Gordon and Vivian Thompson Gordon, Pastor Gordon grew up in a large family in the Gallows Bay area. His mother and grandmother were very active in the church and passed their beliefs on to him.
Gordon said in a recent interview, "The calling has always been with me. As a young child, I would set up a little chapel with two or three kerosene crates and a little cross, and I would be there keeping church, giving sermons, and practicing Sunday school lessons."
Gordon attended Christiansted Public Grammar School and graduated from Christiansted High School. He said his parents had hoped he would become a doctor because he had an interest in bush medicine and in helping older folks who needed doctoring.
He left St. Croix for Atlanta, where he attended Morris Brown University to study philosophy. He studied theology at Drew University in Madison, N.J., and received his doctorate in 1956.
He returned to St. Croix and became an elder, deacon and then pastor at St. Luke A.M.E. Church in Grove Place, where served for 22 years.
In the late 50s, while at St. Luke, he organized and sponsored numerous Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girls Scout troops. He also organized four choirs during his ministry at St. Luke. Gordon said, "My heart has always been in music, thanks to my mother who was always singing 'Jesus For Me.'"
In 1956 Gordon began a teaching career when he became a substitute teacher eventually spending 42 years with the V.I. Department of Education.
He taught elementary school, but most of his time was spent teaching English at Central High School. The students called him "PG," which stood for parental guidance.
Gordon explained, "Many students didn't have anyone to look up to. I was like a parent to them."
Central High School band director Stan Joines said, "During all those years at Central, Pastor Gordon was like a reference point for kids with a lot of patience. His whole family is like saints. Everything they do comes from love." Joines also worked with the children Gordon got started in music.
In 1978 Gordon went on to serve at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Christiansted. His love of music and children carried over to Bethel, where he sponsored and organized the Bethel Band for Children. The church would buy instruments for children that showed an interest in music. All the church asked of them is they acknowledge, share and learn hymns.
Gordon said, "We have had very good results with the children. I'm so proud of them, sometimes they are the only kids from the Caribbean at A.M.E. Conferences."
Two years ago, he started a string section that has 11 children participating. Gordon said, "There is not enough emphasis on helping and challenging young people. It takes a lot of time, study and practice with the stringed instruments."
One of Gordon's latest accomplishments was seeing the church through the nearly completed purchase of the vacant lots on both sides of it.
In his natural way, Gordon gave credit where he thought credit was due. "The Lord helped us get the land," he said. "We needed more room for activities and to make the church more presentable."
In 1963, he married Vineta Hinds, with whom he had three children: Vincent Jr., Jacqeline and Anna Marie. Living on St. Croix, all three are teachers at Central High School. Gordon said, "The Lord has kept me and my family very well and has provided for us." In 1999, after more than three-and-a-half decades of marriage, Vineta, passed away.
He emphasized that the most lasting memories of his ministry on St. Croix will be all of the marriages and baptisms he has performed, numbering in the hundreds.
Technically, his last day of preaching will be Easter Sunday. There will be a Virgin Islands A.M.E. Annual Conference of the 16th District held on St. Croix beginning April 11. At that time a new pastor will be announced and begin serving the Bethel A.M.E. Church April 15.
Bishop Carolyn Tyler, the head of the 16th Episcopal District, which encompasses almost the entire Caribbean, has spearheaded a Golden Jubilee Celebration for Pastor Gordon to commemorate his 50 years in the ministry.
The celebration will be April 14 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Gertrude's Restaurant on Hess Rd. The event is open to the public.
Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased by calling Pastor Jocelyn Dowdye from Z.L. Grady A.M.E. church at 778-1099 or 778-7757.
The menu will include stuffed Cornish hen, fish and a sparkling cider toast with souvenir keepsake glasses. Speakers from the community will include former Lt. Gov. Kenneth Mapp.
Dowdye said, "The church people are really going to miss him. Nobody can come close to catching up to what he has done. Everybody respects him."
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