By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – A former executive of the Grand Bahama Christian Council says that there was no conspiracy to oust Rev Keith Meadows from his post as president.

Rev Sidney McIntosh, former vice president, said Rev Meadows was given numerous opportunities to address the homosexual allegations made against him, but he refused to do so.

“What he did on Tuesday was what we had been asking him to do for the past several weeks; we were willing to support him and we gave him several opportunities and when he would not do that, we took a vote of ‘no confidence.’ ”

The “‘no confidence” vote was chaired by Bahamas Christian Council president Dr Patterson in February when nine of the executives voted for Rev Meadows’ removal.

Rev McIntosh believes that the dissolution of the Council on Tuesday was “biased and unethical.”

“I don’t feel good about how it was done; there was no justifiable reason given for the motion to dissolve the council,” he said.

“I think what happened that night was very biased and unethical.

“I believe they chose the coward’s way out, and I think people’s intelligence was played.”

The 12-member council was elected on January 21.

Last Tuesday (March 11), a young man came forward about his alleged involvement with Rev Meadows, the then Council president .

However, at a special Council general meeting held at Church of God Temple on Tuesday, March 18, Rev Meadows, pastor of Judah House of Praise, EMR, said that homosexual rumours and allegations are lies and untruths, and has vowed to clear his name.

“This is unfortunate and pathetic to see how people would stoop to any extent to destroy another brother’s character in the name of holiness and righteousness,” he said.

Rev Meadows claimed that a small number of executives, who were out for power, had risen up against him to pull him down.

After Rev Meadows made his statement, past president Bishop Arnold Pinder brought a motion that the entire Council be dissolved.

A vote was taken and 28 of the 32 financial member churches voted in favour of the motion.

Rev McIntosh felt that the “no confidence” vote taken on February 14 should have also been addressed at the general meeting. He wanted to know why Bishop Pinder put a motion on the floor for the entire Council to be dissolved.

With the council now dissolved, six past presidents have been chosen to act on behalf of the Council until elections are held for a new executive board.

Bishop Ricardo Grant, pastor of Universal Household of Faith; Bishop Leslie Woodside, retired pastor of Church of God Fairfield; Bishop Arnold Pinder, pastor of Mt Sinai Baptist; Canon Father Harry Bain, Christ the King Anglican Church; Rev J C Wallace, pastor of New Mt Olivet Baptist Church; and Bishop Sobig Kemp, pastor of Freedom International have been chosen to act on behalf of the Council.

Bishop Grant will act as spokesman for the Council.

Rev McIntosh said that there needs to be healing in the Christian community and in the Grand Bahama community.

“There are a lot of pastors on Grand Bahama that are living this lifestyle and God is going to reveal them,” he claimed.

The Big T tried to reach Dr Patterson, however we were told that he was off the island.