By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING his release from prison yesterday, disgraced bishop Randy Fraser will “never” be allowed to return to leadership at Pilgrim Baptist Temple.

Church trustee board chairman Renee Glinton said that the congregation could not bear added shame after working so hard to restore public confidence, adding that Fraser has remained unrepentant despite his conviction.

A sparse crowd of supporters gathered across the street from Fox Hill Prison to witness the former senior pastor’s release yesterday afternoon.

When The Tribune arrived shortly after noon, six persons were standing on the side of the road while others remained in their vehicles in an attempt to shield themselves from broadcast media. 

While most supporters – a mix of family members and close friends – refused to comment on record, Fraser’s release elicited sighs of relief and excitement from the crowd.

Upon release, Fraser nodded to the press as he walked from the prison to a waiting vehicle in the outer parking lot. 

He did not answer the barrage of questions put to him, mostly on reports that he had formed a new ministry.

Long-time friend Leon Taylor underscored the importance of showing solidarity.

“It’s important (to be here),” said Mr Taylor. “When you are a good friend, the love is good you show love, love is the key, and I believe in giving love and showing love.”

Mr Taylor said he could not confirm whether Fraser has a new church, adding that he would have to talk to him about it.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mrs Glinton claimed that the vote held earlier this year to keep Fraser at the helm of Pilgrim Baptist had been compromised.

“We were the laughing stock of the world,” Mrs Glinton said, “how could people after hearing what the president of the Appeal Court Justice Anita Allen called the man – ‘a sexual predator’ – how can you allow a sexual predator to come back and lead your church. You can’t do that, impossible.

“His thing was that this person or those people didn’t like him, but the facts are there, unassailable facts.”

“The church is doing so well now,” she said, “things are turning around. Members who have left years ago are coming back, our young people are in conference now, and the youth ministry has kept growing.”

Mrs Glinton added: “He was not coming back in this church, we could not take that embarrassment any longer. He is certainly allowed to return as a member, we will extend fellowship because all of us have sinned, we want him to come. He can be a member of the church, but he will never be pastor in that church again.”

Fraser was imprisoned during a retrial in November 2011 for having sexual relations with a young girl he was supposed to have been counselling. The incidents took place during 2005 and 2006.

About two weeks later, his bail request was denied pending the outcome of appeal.

In June 2012, he attempted to have the judgment overturned in the Court of Appeal, but lost and was ordered back to prison.

Despite his imprisonment for unlawful sexual intercourse, 133 members of Pilgrim moved to keep Fraser as the senior pastor in March.

The decision was later overruled by a newly elected Board of trustees, who voted last month to oust the senior pastor.

Mrs Glinton explained that the decision was made after Fraser sent the board a six-page letter from prison outlining the terms under which he would return to the helm.

Mrs Glinton said: “The board prior to our board, based on that bogus election they had in March, sent a two-page letter (to Fraser) giving the terms and conditions that he would be reinstated under. Around the time that (the new board) were elected, it was determined that the March election was null and void, and we made a resolution based on that and the fact that he would not accept the former board’s terms.”

She added: “The election they held was faulty, they allowed non-church members to vote, and the question was also faulty.”

Some 200 registered church members voted on the question: “Do you agree to terminate the services of Bishop Earl Randy as Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Temple?”

Mrs Glinton explained that the wording confused many members, who voted no under the false impression that it meant they no longer wanted Fraser at the helm.

Fraser was terminated for gross misconduct and gross indecency, according to Mrs Glinton, who charged that his wife’s admissions to the court that the couple engaged in sexual intercourse in the church’s office was sufficient grounds for dismissal.

Mrs Glinton said: “We were in bondage for seven years with him, at no point did he say that he was innocent to us. He never said it. All he said was trust me. If he had come to the church and said sisters, brothers, they are lying on me it is not so, but he never said so, and yet he never admitted to it.”

“There was no remorse, he’s not remorseful at all, no humility, still full of pride and boastful.” 

She added: “I love my God, I love my church, I love my country, and I will not let anyone destroy any one of them.”