By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter, karan@nasguard.com

The membership of the Bahamas Christian Council decided to go with a new man at the helm of the religious organization when it held its annual general meeting and election of officers on Tuesday evening.

Rev. Patrick Paul, 48, superintendent for the Assemblies of God was reportedly overwhelmingly elected after securing the majority of the 100 possible votes in his run against Bishop John Humes, the National Overseer of the Church of God in The Bahamas, who was seeking re-election.

The elections were held at the Church of God Convention Center located on Yamacraw and Joe Farrington Roads.

During his first day in office, Paul said top on his agenda is a unification effort for churches in the country, and to carry out the general agenda of the Bahamas Christian Council.

"The new leadership of the BCC feels more than ready to serve as appointed. We believe that the time our country is presently in needs us to serve with some mindfulness of the fact that times are changing, and we are more than ready to do so," he said.

"There were only two nominees for this post and I am happy to have the support of the BCC members as I take on this new role."

He said that the BCC has a general objective, and that during his time in office he wants to be able to provide a meeting place for the council for fellowship, prayer and business seminars.

He also would like them to be able to conduct timely reviews and revision of the BCC constitution to ensure that they have the current mandate as it relates to the council. Paul also wants to see open discussion as it relates to important issues as they arise in the country.

"I also think we have to go back to the whole fundamental reason for the church, which is to lift up and exhort Jesus Christ, as it is important that we be united as a body of Christ, especially the Christian church," he said.

Paul served as a floor member of the youth department at his church, on the youth department's leadership board and as national Sunday School director.

A former pastor of Bethany Assembly, he has also served as the Presbyter for the New Providence District of the Assemblies of God in The Bahamas, a position he held for four years.

At the Assemblies of God in The Bahamas including the Turks & Caicos Islands' General Conference May 2003, Paul was elected to serve as General Superintendent, succeeding Rev. Vernon Moses, who held the position for 24 years.

He is a graduate of the Caribbean School of Theology, a lecturer at the Assemblies of God Bible College and an ardent student of the Word, presently studying for another theological degree. He is married to the former Charlene Rosetta Miller. The union is blessed with three children, Sheniqua, Jabez and Kezia and one adopted daughter Charlene.

Paul, who has served for one year as the Council's vice president, now succeeds Humes, who also served in his post for one year. Humes was the first Pentecostal president since Bishop Albert Hepburn in the early 1990s. Other past presidents include Bishop Simeon Hall, Bishop Samuel Greene, Bishop Ros Davis, Bishop Harcourt Pinder and Rev Dr. William Thompson.

Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez was not among the religious leaders in attendance at the elections, but he congratulated the new president.

"I just heard of his appointment today and I would like him to know that the Bahamas Christian Council does have the support of the Anglican Diocese," he said.

Dr. Thompson, who leads the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, was also not in attendance, but he too extended well wishes to the new president

"The president has my complete support. He was vice-president, and served well in that appointment so I am sure that he will do well in his new position," said Thompson.

In terms of Humes' removal, Thompson said that although Humes did "an excellent job, perhaps the amount of press he received worked against him."

Thompson said, "In the past, presidents were allowed to serve for a maximum of three years. However, sometimes the members of the council may feel there is a need for change, as it was in this case. However, as for the reason, in this case, I believe that the press may have worked against Bishop Humes.

"As a past president, I myself have seen how the press can work against you and, frankly, I don't trust the press much. It's no secret that when it comes down to the press I do not think it can work well for any president. I mean you can say something and they [the press] can take it and spin it as they want to and I think that worked against him. However, Bishop Humes did a wonderful job other than that fact."

Nominations for the position of BCC president were done during the annual general meeting, and the floor was opened to voting by secret ballot. Each registered church/denomination was allowed to cast six votes.