Rev Cyril Paul has had a distinguished career as a Presbyterian clergyman. He is a past student of Naparima College and was ordained as minister in the Presbyterian Church in July 1971. Paul has served as minister in a number of churches, including–San Juan, Santa Cruz, Woodbrook, Susamachar in San Fernando, Aramalaya in Tunapuna, Guaico, Curepe and St Joseph. He was also moderator of the synod of the Presbyterian Church on three occasions. So it may come as little surprise that upon retirement from the church, he has decided to put together his speeches from 1979 to 2006 in a book titled–Response to a Call.
In the preface, Paul stresses that the book deals with his speeches, and not sermons, that were delivered throughout the country. He noted that all his speeches and sermons delivered between 1971 and 1981 "were destroyed in a flood when I worked at the San Juan Presbyterian Church." Paul does not, therefore, account for speeches delivered between 1979 and 1981. For example, in the book is his address given at the formal opening of the Supreme Court for the 1979/80 law term at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain. But, one thing is certain about Response to a Call–Paul has delivered speeches over the years to myriad and diversified audiences.
These include speeches delivered at the Idris Hamid Institute for Ecumenical Studies, the Valsayn Teachers' College, the 25th anniversary of the Strolling Players Drama Group, the Rotary Club of San Fernando, the 50th anniversary of the San Fernando General Hospital, graduations of the St Francois Girls' College, St Joseph's Convent, St Joseph, and the San Juan Government Secondary School. Paul has also delivered speeches at the retirement of Anna Mahase as principal of St Augustine Girls' High School in 1992 and Dr Allan McKenzie from Naparima College in 1993 as well as at memorials for the later prime minister Dr Eric Williams and Archbishop Anthony Pantin.
In the foreword, Dr Jennifer Yamin-Ali said Paul "endears himself to many for varying reasons; for his voice, for his humour, for his down-to-earth manner, for his wisdom and caring." His humour is evident in the memorial of Pantin delivered on May 7, 2000. Paul gave a story about the visit of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Trinidad and Tobago. He said members of the Christian Council were told that they were invited to an ecumenical breakfast with Tutu, but their spouses were not allowed. He said the atmosphere of the meeting "started to get somewhat uncomfortable. Archbishop Pantin who had not said a word so far suddenly quipped, 'Shucks, I was planning to bring my wife.'" The mood of the meeting changed immediately.
Response to a Call is printed by El Dorado Printing and Packaging Ltd, Tunapuna, and has more that 30 speeches delivered by Paul.