Forgiveness and Justice: Insights from Dean Dr. Jeffrey Gibson on Community Restoration at Legal Year Ecumenical Service

Forgiveness must be a deliberate part of the community, says Dean Dr Jeffrey Gibson, but the part it plays in the justice system will have to be worked out by the practitioners.

He made the point during the ecumenical service to mark the start of the Legal Year 2024-2025 at the St Michael’s Cathedral, St Michael’s Row, The City, recently.

“Some may dismiss the principle outright. There is the suspicion that the guilty would get off scot-free. However, that need not be the case because there’s mediation and in it, there is the acceptance of guilt.

“With mediation already in place, the opportunity ‘to come closer’ might help offender and victim to heal the breach,” Gibson stated.

He explained that forgiveness worked face- to-face and through such closer encounters, the stage could be set for the lifelong task of restoring wholeness to individuals and communities.

His sermon on the theme Bridging The Gap Between Law And Society: The Role Of Neighbourly Principles was based on the biblical accounts of Joseph and his brothers who betrayed him, and Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus.

In several scenes, the Anglican cleric said, Scripture describes the loss of peace (shalom) and its re-establishment, and in societies influenced by the Judaeo-Christian ethos, there has been a tendency to focus on retribution.

However, a deep reading of the biblical faith reveals that forgiveness is at its roots, he added.

“The restoration of harmony where the society has been damaged is the goal. This aspect has not sufficiently influenced the societal norms. We take comfort in retribution.

“For there to be balance, there is a need to find room for reparation, where like the brothers of Joseph and Zacchaeus, the offender takes responsibility for his or her own action. But it is a community activity; the entire community needs to be involved in the reconciliation,” the Dean told the congregation which included President The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, Attorney General Dale Marshall, Chief Justice Leslie Haynes, judges, lawyers and others in the legal profession.

He said broken peace was re-established by ‘judging’ and doing right, and faith communities could be part of this process through the ministries of justice, peace and love.

Gibson said slain United States black civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr had a vision building the “Beloved Community”, one of “a peaceful, happy and safe society and in that, all life is valued and respected”.