Jamaican Clergywoman Awarded Top Post In New Jersey

Jamaican-born Reverend Veronica Palmer was named one of three District Superintendents of the Greater New Jersey Methodist Conference. Rev. Palmer, Pastor of Trinity Church in Highland Park, New Jersey, will oversee the Raritan Valley District which has approximately 110,000 parishioners.
Rev. Palmer was born in Braeton, St. Catherine, and attended Braeton Primary School and Stratford High School.
Discussing plans with JIS News following her new appointment, she said: “My vision for the superintendency is one that embodies servant leadership at all levels, among laity and clergy, practices partnership in ministry and ignites spiritual vitality in local congregations and their communities”.
Rev. Palmer names her grandmother Phyllis Heron, mother Doxie Sewell and godmother Joyce Dawman, all of whom still reside in Jamaica, as her mentors. It was this sisterhood, she said, that served to mould her into the person she has become.
“While I had much support from my father and uncles, the sisterhood formed by those three women nurtured me in the faith and laid a sure foundation,” Reverend Palmer said.
“When I go back to Jamaica to preach in the Braeton Methodist Church and see them, still strong.still committed to the Lord.I am renewed,” she added.
After she migrated from Jamaica in 1972, Rev. Palmer moved to Canada where she earned divinity degrees from Canada Christian College and the School of Graduate Theological Studies. After moving to the United States in the mid 80’s, she completed a Masters degree in Sacred Theology from Drew University and a Masters degree in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Though not an exhaustive list, Bishop Palmer has contributed much to the New Jersey community having served on the Greater New Jersey Conference Board of Ordained Ministers, Bishops Convocation Committee and the New Jersey Council of Churches.
Currently, Bishop Palmer also holds the position of Assistant Dean at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, a post she has held for nearly four years.