The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING the controversial dissolution of the entire executive board of the Grand Bahama Christian Council in March amid homosexual allegations involving an executive, a new slate of officers was elected Tuesday night.

Rev Peter Pinder, pastor of Zion Baptist Church, was voted in unopposed as the new president of the GBCC. Pastor Robert Lockhart of Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church was elected first vice president, Apostle Anthony Grant of Agape House, second vice-president, and Apostle Rita Stuart of Community Holiness Church becomes Secretary. Pastor Cedric Beckles of Life Community Church is Treasurer and Prophetess Quinty Sears is Commissioner of Mass Communications.

Appointments will be made for the other posts, including assistant Secretary, assistant Treasurer and the five commission seats on the council, within two weeks. The new council will serve for the next two years.

An interim council, led by five former past presidents, was appointed on March 18 when the previous Council was dissolved. It was the first time that an entire slate had been removed. A new election date was set for May 13.

Former GBCC president Rev Keith Meadows, Judah House of Praise pastor, was elected in January. However, he lost the support of a majority of the council members when he refused to address homosexual allegations that surfaced early in his administration.

This created a rift between him and several executive members, who took a vote of no confidence in February. The vote was considered unconstitutional because the constitution did not allow for such a removal.

On March 18, the matter came to a head during a special council general meeting at the Church of God Temple, Peach Tree Street, where Rev Meadows first publicly addressed and denied the gay allegations and made accusations against a small number of executives.

At that time, a motion was put by Bishop Arnold Pinder, the immediate past president, to dissolve the entire council. Twenty-eight of the 32 financial member churches voted in favour of the motion.

Rev Peter Pinder says he is excited to be serving as president of the GBCC. “I believe God is doing this. I had no personal interest in offering myself. I was approached by some pastors, and I was about to say no, and I said, ‘okay let me pray about it’.

“I was in prayer with my family for several days and we came to the conclusion that God was saying, ‘yes go ahead’.”

The fact that he was unopposed, Rev Pinder said, was further confirmation that God had a hand in it. “I think God orchestrated it,” he said.

When asked about the dissolution of the previous council, he commented: “I believe that what appeared to be bad has turned out for good. Since then we have seen a tremendous turnaround in terms of support.”

Rev Pinder noted that under the interim administration the annual March to Calvary was one of the largest in years. He said the Healing Service at Independence Park was also well attended. “For a number of years the GBCC has not had the kind of support that was needed, and I see this as the beginning of a major turnaround,” he added.

Rev Pinder said the unfortunate situation also allowed for the temporary suspension and revision of the constitution and the regularisation of certain things that needed to happen.

Rev Pinder said his main goal is to increase the membership of the council. He noted that less than 25 per cent of the churches on Grand Bahama are financial members.

“There needs to be a substantial membership drive. If we are going to have the kind of influence and impact that we need to have, we need the involvement of the churches.”

The Baptist clergyman believes that the churches need to be united. “There are a growing number of churches and denominations on the island. Every time you turn around there is a new church – that has not served to unite us, it served to divide us.

“But I believe if we can celebrate our diversity and work together that would make a significant difference in what will happen in the body of the church.”

Rev Pinder said the spiritual level of the country is low. “We call ourselves a Christian nation, but we are really not. I feel there is a need for a major thrust to raise the spiritual level of the people,” he said.

The installation of the new executive council will be held later this summer.